First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport
August 4, 2024
Rev. Brian Copeland
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist
We do not live by bread alone,
but by the Word who became flesh and dwells among us.
Christ is the true bread of heaven,
the manna of freedom.
Come, let us worship and give thanks.
HYMN #485 To God Be the Glory
CALL TO CONFESSION Liturgist
God has given us a sign showing that love is stronger than death. The sign of the cross points to our exodus from bondage to sin.
Let us repent, seek God’s forgiveness, and enter into new life in Christ.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Liturgist
Holy One, whose love and justice condemn us, whose mercy and kindness feed us, we confess our sins and pray for your forgiveness. What terrible suffering we have unleashed. We have used other persons without regard for their dignity; we have abused the earth without care for its beauty or concern for future life; we have sought to bargain with you to smooth our way to heaven. God, change us.
Put the Spirit of Christ within us and cause us to grow into mature, faithful disciples of the one who came from you to save us from our sin. Free us from captivity to our selfishness, bind us to the whole body of Christ, and let us bear witness to the truth that your love holds everything together in perfect unity. We pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION MAY BE OFFERED
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Liturgist
The bread of life God sends
is the offering of the only begotten Son. Whoever comes in Jesus Christ
shall never be hungry; whoever believes in him shall never thirst.
Believe the gospel; in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CHILDREN’S TIME
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Liturgist
Creator of unity, Body of peace, Spirit of community, bind us together around your Word and send us out to do your justice, show your mercy, and embody your redeeming love, glorifying you, Holy Trinity. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 51:1-12 Liturgist
1Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
5Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people." 9 (When it says, "He ascended", what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON “Whole Body” Rev. Brian Copeland
HYMN #439 In Christ There is No East or West
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
God of tears,
you are the giver of joy.
Hear us as we pray for the sick.
We pray for those with chronic illness,
for those who have life-threatening conditions,
and for those with inadequate medical care.
Bring the healing we need.
Hear us as we pray for all who are hungry.
We pray for those who live in regions of drought and famine, for those who cannot afford nutritious food,
and for the vulnerable who are not adequately fed.
Give us the food we need.
Hear us as we pray for those who grieve.
We pray for those who mourn a loved one,
for those whose communities are no more,
and for those who cannot imagine a joyful future.
Give us comfort to restore hope.
Hear us as we pray for the world’s victims.
We pray for those who are caught in violence,
for those who are trapped in others’ self-seeking,
and for those who suffer from neglect.
Grant us freedom from all evil.
God of the poor and the poor in spirit,
we pray for your help against all that oppresses,
as we look forward to the kingdom you have promised
and are bringing even now through Jesus Christ,
in whose name we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING (Offering plates are on the front and back tables. Offering plates are not passed.)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Unison)
O Trinity,
your love creates us, your passion saves us from sin,
your power transfigures us into glory for you.
Thank you for giving us a place in your good creation, for giving us the bread of heaven to free us from slavery to sin and death and for filling us with the holy light of the gospel for the building up of Christ’s body in love.
We present offerings to praise you and to help in the service of the church.
Accept them as outward signs of our joyful discipleship in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
HYMN #438 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
CHARGE AND BLESSING
POSTLUDE
Reminders:
Aug. 14 – Doug’s to Go to benefit WFPC
Sept. 8 – Committee meetings and Session meeting following worship service
Sept. 9 – Food pantry, our church’s turn to volunteer
Sept. 11 – Blood Drive
Sept. 13 – Doug’s to Go to benefit Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund
