Prelude:    

The Peace 

from Rubrics by Dan Locklair

David Moldenhauer, organist

from Rubrics: A Liturgical Suite for Organ
by Dan Locklair 
© 1988 Dan Locklair/ E.C. Kerby, Ltd.

Call to Worship:  

People of Hope, we come together as a community—

Called to worship our loving God,
To be united in service of others,
And to build on the traditions of the past to make a stronger church today.

So rise, people of God, in body and spirit. Lift your voices in praise.

**Processional Hymn:  

Come, Let Us Join with Faithful Souls

Come, let us join with faithful souls our song of faith to raise;
One family in heart are we, and one the God we praise.

Faithful are all who love the truth and perfect truth proclaim,
Who steadfast stand at God’s right hand and glorify God’s name.

And faithful are the gentle hearts to whom the power is given
Of every hearth to make a home, of every home a heaven.

O God of hosts, our faith renew, and grant us, in your grace,
To join the songs sung by the saints in every time and place.

Words: William G. Tarrant, 1892. Alt.
Music: Carl G. Gläser, 1828 

Welcome and Life of the Church   

Sacrament of Holy Baptism (8:30 a.m.)                      

Arcadius Solomon Carrasco

**Sharing of the Peace

Modern Lesson: from To Rebehold the Stars by Tiffany Yecke Brooks

Our Modern Lesson is from our Fall Study book, To Rebehold the Stars, by Tiffany Yecke Brooks. Hear these words:

Most of us have experienced cognitive dissonance—the discomfort or uneasiness that comes from simultaneous beliefs that are in conflict with one another or behavior that is contradictory to our values. This can be especially true in religious environments, when we may find ourselves supporting (or at least not protesting) doctrines, practices, or stances that do not actually reflect our beliefs. We often try to choke those feelings down, pretend they don’t exist, talk ourselves out of them, or explain them away because we aren’t ready for the questions they might raise or changes they might bring. Traditions, after all, can range from harmless to meaningful and even toxic if they stem from problematic beliefs or are manipulated over time to become something they were never meant to be! When we find ourselves starting to question our traditions, we can feel rebellious, disloyal, ungrateful, or sinful. 
After all, who are we to question the wisdom of our elders? 

Yet who are we not to? Do we not have a sacred responsibility to investigate what we have been taught to see whether it is true? Do we not want people to research claims diligently and responsibly before adopting and disseminating them? Why, then, would we not encourage the same behavior in our churches? 

May God bless the hearing of these new words. Amen.

Chorus                     

God of Wonders

Choir: God of all creation, of water, earth and sky,
The heavens are your tabernacle; glory to our God on high.

ALL: God of Wonders beyond our galaxy, you are holy, holy;

The universe declares your majesty. You are holy, holy;
God of heaven and earth, God of heaven and earth.

**God of Wonders beyond our galaxy, you are holy, holy;

The universe declares your majesty. You are holy, holy;
God of heaven and earth, God of heaven and earth,
God of heaven and earth. 

Words and Music by Marc Byrd and Steve Hindalong
© 2000 New Spring Publishing, Inc./Never Say Never Songs/Storm Boy Music

**Scripture Lesson: Acts 17:10-12   

One: Our Scripture Lesson is from the 17^th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Hear these words:

That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek members of the community. 

One: This is the Word of God for the People of God



All:    Thanks be to God. Amen. 

**Response                                   

God of Wonders  

God of Wonders beyond our galaxy, you are holy, holy;

The universe declares your majesty. You are holy, holy;
God of heaven and earth, God of heaven and earth,
God of heaven and earth. 

Words and Music by Marc Byrd and Steve Hindalong
© 2000 New Spring Publishing, Inc./Never Say Never Songs/Storm Boy Music

Sermon                                               

The Giving and Receiving of Tradition

Offering Call   

Offertory                                                       

God Is Here

Words by Fred Pratt Green, adapted
Music by Sheldon Curry
Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer,
may we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share.
Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts
wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts.

Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace;
here are table, font, and pulpit, here the cross has central place.
Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech,
here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.

Here all children find a welcome in the Shepherd's flock and fold;
here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us as of old.
Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore
what it means in daily living to believe and to adore.

Lord of all, of earth and heaven, in an age of change and doubt
keep us faithful to the gospel, help us work your purpose out.
Here, in this day's celebration, all we have to give, receive;
we, who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe!

Words: Fred Pratt Green © 1979 Hope Publishing Co.
Music and this arrangement by Sheldon Curry
© 2010 Alfred Music Publishing Co., Inc. and Hope Publishing Company

Communion       

Words of Institution      

Prayer of Consecration   

Let us pray.

Almighty God, send the power of your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of grape and grain. Make them be for us holy food that nurtures us in body and spirit, that by sharing this feast, we may know the presence of the living Christ. By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all of the world. Through Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory be yours, now and forever. Amen.

Invitation 

Music during Communion

Be Thou My Vision/Will You Guide Me

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Will you guide me when I can’t see?
Please, Lord, lead me; you’re all that I need.
Will you guide me when I can’t see?
Please, Lord, lead me; you’re all that I need.

Riches I heed not, nor life’s empty praise,
thou mine in heritance, now and always;
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
Great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Will you guide me when I can’t see?
Please, Lord, lead me; you’re all that I need.
Will you guide me when I can’t see?
Please, Lord, lead me; you’re all that I need.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.

Traditional Irish Hymn
Additional Chorus by Adam Lancaster
© 2004 Red Tie Music

You Know My Name

You are my Maker, you formed my heart.
Before even time began my life was in your hands.

You know my name, you know my every thought.
You see each tear that falls, and hear me when I call.

You are my Maker, you call me your own.
You’ll never leave me no matter where I go.

You know my name, you know my every thought.
You see each tear that falls, and hear me when I call.

You know my name, you know my every thought.
You see each tear that falls, and hear me when I call.

You hear me when I call. You hear me when I call.

Words and Music: Tommy Walker
© 1991 Doulos Publishing (BMI)

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll:

**Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Words: Horatio Gates Spafford, 1873
Music: Philip P. Bliss, 1876

**Prayer of Thanksgiving          

**Recessional Hymn:                                                                        

Bringing Grateful Live and Customs   

Bringing grateful lives and customs, rich beliefs, with truths to share,
Varied faiths here come together, each a voice raised up in prayer;
Sharing one another’s journeys in our stories, joys, or tears,
Thankful for the grace and blessing, wisdom gained throughout the years.

Lifting grateful hearts and voices we unite in joyful sound,
Giving thanks for nature’s wonder, for the splendor all around;
Seeking to be prudent stewards of the bounty from the land,
Tending hungry, thirsting bodies with an open, generous hand.

Joining grateful hands in action, this community is sent
To a world in need of healing; this, the work for which we’re meant:
Offering gifts of each tradition, lifting high our hope-filled praise,
Giving freely to serve others, singing thanks through all our days.

Words: Alan J. Hommerding © 2019 World Library Publications, 
a division of GIA Publications, Inc.
Music: John Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music, 1813

OneLicense.net License #A-705445 / CCLI License #123333

**Benediction   

Postlude for Dismissal

The flowers on the chancel are given by Randal and Kedzu Langdon in honor and celebration of their first wedding anniversary.