Perfect Justice

This morning's guest speaker is Rev. Dave Mason.

Gathering  Around  the  Word                                        
 
Prelude                                                           Bob Senay
ANNOUNCEMENTS                               
 
CALL TO WORSHIP           
Leader: We sing praises to you, O Lord!
People: Our lips praise you and will not be silent.
Leader: We raise prayers to you, O Lord!
People: Our souls praise you and will not be silent.
Leader: We bring ourselves to you, O Lord!
People: Our deeds praise you and will not be silent.
 
INVOCATION                                                    Rev. Mason

*HYMN               Seek Ye First                                #175
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION               (UNISON)
Holy God, we confess that we struggle with the demands of servanthood. Where you have called us to repentance, we have comforted ourselves with superficial changes. Where you have set us apart for the purpose of showing your love to the world, at best we show a clouded image of it to each other. Although you have addressed us as sojourners who bear your name, we instead seek security. Lord, forgive us for ignoring your call, and remind us we are a baptized people, set apart for your purpose of love and mercy. Help us remember. Amen.
 
*Assurance of Pardon
*Response – Gloria Patri  (Hymnal page 581)
*Passing the Peace
 
L: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: And also, with you.
 
CHILDREN’S CHAT
                                    The Word of God
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture reading          Luke 18: 1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

​                        L: The Word of the Lord
                      P: Thanks be to God!
 
Sermon                          “PERFECT JUSTICE”
     
*HYMN     “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise         # 486
*Apostles Creed  (copy next to prayer list)
 
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (see insert)
Solo      “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry “
NEW MEMBER RECEPTION (see insert)
 
Presentation of our tithes and offering
Offertory                                                            Bob Senay
*Doxology (Hymnal page 606)
*Prayer of dedication
Concerns and Celebrations                                                
Prayers of the People                               Rev. Mason
The Lord’s Prayer
*HYMN    O Jesus, I Have Promised                724#
*Benediction
Postlude                                                           Bob Senay                                                   

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​BIRTHDAYS:      Rick McFeely, Hanna Miller, Shirley Hildebrand, Michael Durila, Jr.
 
ANNIVERSARIES:  Grant & Amy Molinaro; Wesley & Hope Shumaker  
 
SYMPATHY:  The family of Betty Anderson, Mary Hathaway's mother
 
ANNOLUNCEMENTS:
 Remember our Food Collection.  And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.”  Mark 6: 37. 
Please let Betty Fisher know of you are aware of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time.
 
North Buffalo Church will hold a joint Thanksgiving Eve Worship service on Wednesday, November 23. Rev. Mason will lead the service for our church and Upper Buffalo Church.
 
Our church will also hold a Hanging of the Greens gathering from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, November 26th.  Everyone is invited to come and decorate the sanctuary as the Advent season begins.
 
West Middletown Christian Church is inviting everyone to a community hymn sing, Sunday Evening, October 23rd at 7 P. M.  Feel free to bring your friends and neighbors.
 
A saying from Keith McGill’s collection of church signs when he traveled.
            T.G.I.F.   “ Thank God I am Forgiven”
             “ Faith – Focus – Follow-up = success”

CONTINUING PRAYER LIST
 
Melissa Pedigo, Aaron Blake, Chuck Dicks, Tim Knabenshue, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Elaine Belcascro, Sandy Stone, Matt Petrola, Nancy Hepinger, Betsy Martin, Ed Horne, Sarah Wilson, Bill Poland, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Betty Fisher, Haley Diedier, Fred Wilkinson, Jean Westfall, Evelyn Wood, Brandon Bell, Mary Tarnic, Ricci Amos, Milton Rice, Greg Duntz, Larry Fox, Nancy Diaz, Gianna Perry (4 yrs. Old,)  Marlene McFeely,  Susie Smith, Debbie Moriarty, Tiffany Cipoletti and her grandmother, Aldine, Diane Bednarski, John & Donna West Robert Paxton, Jim McCoy, Bill Berdine