We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Prelude: Have Thine Own Way, Lord/ George Stebbins
Gathering Hymn: Songs of Faith #9 Come People of the Risen King
Announcements:
Today:
- 9:00 Sunday School for all ages. Pre-k – 7th meet downstairs; the High School and Adult Class meets in the Sanctuary.
- 10:30 Worship in the sanctuary.
- Today we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
- 5:30 pm, tonight, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s. (Address in bulletin) Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, tonight, “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community groups at the church. We will enjoy a fellowship potluck together and sing as a large group. Then we will break into smaller groups for study and prayer.
- 6:00 pm, tonight, Piedmont Area “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community group (address in bulletin).
This Week:
- 6:30 pm, Tuesday, Loving Him Well (Women’s Study) at the church.
- 4:30 pm, Wednesday, Music Practice.
- 5:00 pm, Wednesday, Son Light Puppeteer practice.
- 5:30 pm, Wednesday, Kids’ Quest for grades pre-k-4th and the Middle School Youth for grades 5th-7th begin. Meal provided.
- 6:15 pm, Wednesday, High School Youth Group at the Community Center for grades 8th-12th. Meal provided.
- 6:30-7:30 pm, Wednesday, “The Study of Eschatology”
- 6 am, Thursday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
- 8 am, Saturday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
- 2:00 pm, Saturday, Women’s Tea and Fellowship at the church.
General:
- Following worship, October 22nd, Congregational Meeting with the purpose of electing deacons who have been previously nominated by the congregation, have completed training, and were examined by the session. The following men have been put forward for election: Daniel B., Thomas C., Clay K., Oriah L., and Aaron S.
- 6:00 pm, October 23rd, Session Meeting.
- 6:30 pm, October 26th, Mercy Ministry Team meeting.
- October 29th, there will be no Children’s Church. We have clipboards and kids’ bulletins to assist your child in learning how to take sermon notes.
- 6:00 pm, October 29th, Reformation Service with our sister churches. A time of refreshments and fellowship will follow.
- 5:00 pm, October 31st, Reformation Day Party. Join us for dinner and bring a fall dessert to share. All are welcome; there will be fun outside activities, and learning about key reformers. Medieval-themed costumes are welcome! Please sign the clipboard in the Foyer today so we know how many to plan on for the meal.
- 8:45 am, November 3rd, MOPS meets at the church.
- During the month of October, our Ministry Focus is the Elementary School’s Coat Drive. If you are contributing any new or gently used coats, please bring to the basket in the Foyer by October 29th.
- We are in need of a Children’s Church teacher for the date of November 26th. If you are willing to teach this day, please let Emily or Kristen know.
Responsive Call to Worship: Psalm 95: 1 – 7
Leader: Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
All: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Leader: For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
All: Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Hymnal #115 All Creatures of Our God and King (verses 1, 2, 4, 5)
We Confess Our Faith
Responsive Reading: The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn of Faith: Songs of Faith #1 Ancient of Days
We Confess Our Sin
Call to Confession: Adapted from Romans 3: 23 – 24
Leader: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; yet we are justified by the gift of God’s grace through the redemption that is ours in Christ Jesus. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin.
Silent Confession of Sin
Corporate Confession of Sin:
All: Lord, Your Word tells us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. But our lives are often a poor reflection of who You are. We know we are to work together to further the Gospel. Instead, we are distracted and too focused on our selfish ambitions. You call us to be a community of believers who are joined together by the joy of our salvation. Forgive us when we fail to be the body of Christ together. May we know what it is to be truly humble, to deny ourselves and to take up our cross to follow You. It is in the giving of ourselves to You that we find true grace and belonging. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Titus 3:4-7
Leader: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Hymn of Assurance: Hymnal #500 Rock of Ages
We Hear God Speak
Small Talk
(Following this time, a nursery is available, Toddlers’ Church for ages 2-4, and Children’s Church for ages 5-8.)
Prayer of God’s People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Gospel Faith in Gospel Truth Romans 14: 1
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 10-15-23 sermon notes
Audio Only:
We Prepare Our Hearts to Commune With the Lord
Hymn of Response: Songs of Faith #41 God Be Merciful to Me
The Lord’s Supper
A Word About Communion: Foothills Community Church welcomes all baptized Christians who are willing to forsake their sin and who are trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation to receive Communion with us. If you are not able to take Communion, we invite you to use this time to pray before God.
The Bread (is gluten-free)
The Cup (outer ring contains wine; inner rings contains grape juice)
Hymn of Response: Songs of Faith #8 Thy Mercy My God
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Responsive Reading: From Psalm 136: 1 – 3
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
All: For his steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Give thanks to the God of gods,
All: For his steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
All: For his steadfast love endures forever.
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: Sweet Hour of Prayer/ Wm. Walford—the text is thought to have been written by Walford in 1842, an obscure and blind preacher and owner of a trinket shop in England.
Doxology
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Hymn: Psalm 150 Sing Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! (verse 1)
Postlude: Be Still, My Soul/Finlandia – Jean Sibelius