Author: Bill Norton

* Denotes all are invited to stand.
Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

March 16, 2025
Second Sunday in Lent

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome & Announcements:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

Minute for Mission:
Cleveland Evans – Mission Yearbook

Call to Worship:
The Lord is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of our life; of whom shall we be afraid
We seek your face, O Lord. Do not hide your face from us!
Do not forsake us, O God of our salvation!
Make us strong, and let our hearts take courage.
We wait for the Lord. Let us worship God!

* Hymn 41 “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Confession of Sin:
Brenda Norton, Worship Leader
Loving God, you have formed a covenant with us, committing yourself to us and inviting us to walk with you. Yet we have resisted, seeking other companions, going in different ways, thinking that we know best. Now we find ourselves far from life, further still from you. Have mercy on our waywardness. Help us find our way back. Give us faith so that we can hold the hand you have extended to us in Jesus Christ.
Silence for personal confession

* Assurance of Pardon:
…This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

* Song of Praise #695  “Change My Heart O God”
Please see Sanctuary screens for lyrics.

* Passing the Peace

Prayer for Illumination:
Brenda Norton, Worship Leader

First Scripture:
Genesis 15:1-18
1 After these events, the word of YHWH came to Abram in a vision:
“Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great.”
² Abram said, “But my Sovereign, My God, what good are these blessings to me, so long as Sarai and I will die in disgrace? My only heir is a foreigner who lives in my household, Eliezer of Damascus.
³ Since you have given me no offspring,” Abram continued, “an attendant in my house will be my heir.”
⁴ Then the word of YHWH came to Abram and said, “This person will not be your heir. Your heir will be of your own flesh and blood.”
⁵ Then God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can! As many as that, you will have for descendants.”
⁶ Abram believed YHWH, and God accounted it to Abram as righteousness.
⁷ YHWH then said to Abram, “I am YHWH who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.”
⁸ Abram asked, “Sovereign God, how am I to know that I will possess it?”
⁹ God answered Abram, “Bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
¹⁰ Abram brought all of these, cut them in half, and placed each half opposite the other — except the birds, which he did not cut up.
¹¹ Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
¹² As the sun was about to set, a trance fell over Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.
¹³ Then YHWH said to Abram, “Know this: your descendants will be aliens in a land that is not their own; they will be enslaved in that place and oppressed for 400 years.
¹⁴ But I will punish the nation that enslaves you, and in time you will leave that place with great possessions.
¹⁵ As for you, you will go to your ancestors peacefully, and be buried in your old age.
¹⁶ Your descendants will return here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet done.”
¹⁷ When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking brazier and a flaming torch appeared, which passed between the halves of the sacrifices.
¹⁸ On that day YHWH made this covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the River of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates…”
 The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem: “How Beautiful”
PCM Chancel Choir

Second Scripture:
Luke 13:31-35
31 Just then, some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “You need to get out of town, and fast. Herod is trying to kill you.”
32 Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Today and tomorrow, I’ll be casting out devils and healing people, and on the third day I’ll reach my goal.’
33 Even with all that, I’ll need to continue on my journey today, tomorrow and the day after that, since no prophet can be allowed to die anywhere except in Jerusalem.
34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a mother bird collects her babies under her wings­­­­ — yet you refuse me!
35 So take note: your house will be left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God!’ ”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for the Children:
Darla Holycross

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn 625 “O Lord My God” (“How Great Thou Art”)
Please see screens for lyrics.

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Hear our prayer.

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Invitation to Discipleship:

* Hymn #543  “God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Charge & Blessing

* Music for Departing

* Denotes all are invited to stand.
Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

March 9, 2025
First Sunday in Lent

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome & Announcements:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

Call to Worship:
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, say to the Lord:
My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.
For God will protect us from evil and commands angels to guard us in all our ways.
God rescues those who love God and is present with us in trouble.
God answers when we cry out and reveals our salvation to us.
Let us worship God!

* Hymn 410 “God Is Calling through the Whisper”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Confession of Sin:
Andy Cook, Worship Leader
As Lent unfolds before us, great God, we see how far we have to go to Jerusalem. The road is long, our sins are many, and our burdens are heavy. We can’t imagine new life, Easter life, because our current lives are filled with bad choices and failed efforts. Meet us in our weakness. Take up our sins. Ease our burdens. Carry us on the way. Bring us to Jerusalem, at last. Show us a love that is stronger than death, a love no tomb can hold.
Silence for personal confession

* Assurance of Pardon:
Walking this earth, facing temptation, defeating sin, Jesus has done for us
what we could never do for ourselves. This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

* Song of Praise #695  “Change My Heart O God”
Please see Sanctuary screens for lyrics.

* Passing the Peace

Prayer for Illumination:
Andy Cook, Worship Leader

First Scripture:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
1 Once you have entered the land that YHWH, your God, is giving to you as your inheritance, and you have taken possession of it and settled in it,
2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land that YHWH, your God, is giving to you, and put them in a basket. Take them to the place which YHWH, your God, will choose as a dwelling place for God’s Name
3 and say to the priest in office at that time, “This day I declare to YHWH, our God, that I have come to the land YHWH swore to our ancestors to give us.”
4 The priest will then receive the basket from you and will set it in front of the altar of YHWH.
5 Then you will declare before YHWH, “My ancestor was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien. There they became a nation great, strong and numerous.
6 When the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us,
7 we cried to YHWH, the God of our ancestors, who heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil and our oppression.
8 YHWH brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders;
9 YHWH gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
10 Therefore, I have brought now the first fruits of the products of the soil that you, O God, have given me.” Then you must set them before YHWH, and bow down before YHWH.
11 Then you all, along with the Levites, and the foreigner that live among you, will feast on all the good things that YHWH, your God, has given to you and your household.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem: “For Eternity”
PCM Chancel Choir

Second Scripture:
Luke 4:1-13
1 Jesus returned from the Jordan filled with the Holy Spirit, and she led him into the desert
2 for forty days, where he was tempted by the Devil. Jesus ate nothing during that time, at the end of which he was famished.
3 The Devil said to Jesus, “If you are God’s Own, command this stone to turn into bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “Scripture has it, ‘We don’t live on bread alone.’ ”
5 Then the Devil took Jesus up higher and showed him all the nations of the world in a single instant.
6 The Devil said, “I’ll give you all the power and the glory of these nations; the power has been given to me and I can give it to whomever I wish.
7 Prostrate yourself in homage before me, and it will all be yours.”
8 In reply, Jesus said, “Scripture has it: ‘You will worship the Most High God; God alone will you adore.’ ”
9 Then the Devil led Jesus to Jerusalem, set him up on the parapet of the Temple and said, “If you are God’s Own, throw yourself down from here,
10 for scripture has it, ‘God will tell the angels to take care of you;
11 with their hands they’ll support you, that you may never stumble on a stone!’ ”
12 Jesus said to the Devil in reply, “It also says, ‘Do not put God to the test.’ ”
13 When the Devil had finished all this tempting, Jesus was left alone. The Devil awaited another opportunity.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for the Children:
Chuck McGavren

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn 165 “The Glory of These Forty Days”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Hear our prayer.

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Invitation to Discipleship:

* Hymn #712  “As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Charge & Blessing

* Music for Departing

* Denotes all are invited to stand.
Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

March 5, 2025
Ash Wednesday

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome & Announcements:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Call to Worship:
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love.
For we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and make us a new creation.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation.
Then we will teach sinners your way and all creation will return to you.
O Lord, open our lips, and our mouths will declare your praise! Let us worship God!

* Hymn 415 “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Prayer for Illumination:
O Lord of light and salvation, let these words of Scripture live not only in our mouths, but in our hearts, that we will embody your truth and confess with our lives that Jesus is Lord.
Amen.

First Scripture:
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
20b …we implore you in Christ’s name: be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake, God made the One who was without sin to be sin, so that by this means we might become the very holiness of God.
6:1 As Christ’s coworkers we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 For God says through Isaiah, “At the acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!
3 We take pains to avoid giving offense to anyone, for we don’t want our ministry to be blamed.
4 Instead, in all that we do we try to present ourselves as ministers of God, acting with patient endurance amid trials, difficulties, distresses,
5 beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger.
6 We conduct ourselves with innocence, knowledge, patience and kindness in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7 with the message of truth and the power of God, wielding the weapons of justice with both right hand and left—
8 regardless of whether we are honored or dishonored, spoken of favorably or unfavorably. We are called impostors, yet we are truthful;
9 we are called unknowns, yet we are famous; we are said to be dying, yet we are alive; punished, but not put to death;
10 sorrowful, though we are always rejoicing; poor, yet we enrich many. We seem to have nothing, yet we possess everything!
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
⁵¹ I will share with you a mystery: we are not all going to die, but we will be changed.
⁵² It will be instantaneous, in the twinkling of an eye — when the last trumpet sounds. It will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed, too.
⁵³ For our present perishable nature must put on imperishability, and our mortal nature must put on immortality.
⁵⁴ When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal body has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true:
⁵⁵ “Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
⁵⁶ Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law —
⁵⁷ but thank God for giving us the victory through our Savior Jesus Christ!
⁵⁸ Be steadfast and persevering, my beloved [siblings], fully engaged in the work of Jesus. You know that your toil is not in vain when it is done in Christ.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Homily:
Rev. Aaron J. White

Invitation to Discipleship and Invitation to Observe a Holy Lent
Psalm 51:1–17
O God, have mercy on me! Because of your love and your great compassion, wipe away my faults;
Wash me clean of my guilt; purify me of my sin.
For I am aware of my faults, and have my sin constantly in mind.
I sinned against you alone, and did what is evil in your sight. You are just when you pass sentence on me, blameless when you give judgment.
I was born in sin, conceived in sin—
yet you want truth to live in my innermost being. Teach me your wisdom!
Purify me with hyssop until I am clean; wash me until I am purer than new-fallen snow.
Instill some joy and gladness into me; let the bones you have crushed rejoice again.
Turn your face from my sins, and wipe out all my guilt.
O God, create a clean heart in me, put into me a new and steadfast spirit;
do not banish me from your presence, do not deprive me of your holy Spirit!
Be my savior again, renew my joy, keep my spirit steady and willing;
and I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Save me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation— and my tongue will acclaim your justice.
Open my lips, YHWH, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Sacrifice gives you no pleasure; were I to present a burnt offering, you would not have it.
 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; you will not scorn this crushed and broken heart.

Litany of Penitence:
Holy and merciful God, we confess to You and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, O God.
We have not listened to Your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved Your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, O God.
We confess to You, O God, all our past unfaithfulness: The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives,
we confess to You, O God.
For our self-indulgent appetites and ways and our exploitation of other people,
we confess to You, O God.
For our anger at our own frustration and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
we confess to You, O God.
For our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
we confess to You, O God.
For our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
we confess to You, O God.
Accept our repentance, O God, for the wrongs we have done. For our neglect of human need and suffering and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
accept our repentance, O God.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
accept our repentance, O God.
For our waste and pollution of Your creation and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
accept our repentance, O God.
Restore us, O God of our salvation, and show us Your steadfast love.
Turn to us in Your mercy and redeem us.

Imposition of Ashes:
When invited to do so, you may come forward to receive the imposition of ashes upon your forehead. If you choose to instead receive the imposition of ashes on your hand, please extend your hand to the pastor, palm turned downward. If you choose not to receive the imposition of ashes you may cross your arms over your chest and hear the pastor’s call to remembrance.

Concluding Litany:
Accomplish in us, O God, the work of Your salvation,
That we may show forth Your glory in the world.
By the cross and passion of our Savior,
bring us with all Your saints to the joy of Christ’s resurrection. Amen.

* Hymn 433 “Sign Us with Ashes”
Please see screens for lyrics.

The Lord’s Supper:
Invitation
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. 
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. 
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore we praise you, joining the song of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
…great is the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
…God of glory, now and forever.
Amen

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Bread is Broken and the Cup is Filled.

The Communion of the People.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

The Prayer After Communion.

* Hymn #166  “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Charge & Blessing

* Leave in Silence

* Denotes all are invited to stand.
Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

March 2, 2025
Transfiguration of the Lord

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome & Announcements:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

The grace and mercy of the Blessed Trinity, One God, maker, redeemer, and sustainer of all things, be with you all.
And also with you.

Minute for Mission:
Susie Hollman,
Food of the Month

Call to Worship:
God of the mountaintop, you call us to journey with you.
Shine upon us; grant us sacred illumination; dazzle us with your beauty and glory.
In the midst of our weary souls and exhausted bodies,
Transfigure our imaginations and reveal to us what is possible.
In the face of unceasing violence and endless wars,
Transfigure our imaginations and reveal to us what is possible.
In the midst of crushing disasters, natural and humanmade,
Transfigure our imaginations and reveal to us what is possible.
Move us from scarcity and cynicism and transfigure our lowly visions to reveal the abundant life of your realm.
Help us to keep watch so that we might leave the mountaintop inspired to do your work of transformation in the valley below. Amen.

* Hymn 191 “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Confession of Sin:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader
Holy Lord, we confess that we do not always seek the light of your way. We are satisfied to dwell in darkness, holding fast to the comforts of material fortune. We ignore the needs of others, and selfishly look the other way when our neighbors are oppressed. In your merciful way, help us to establish your equity in the world. Move us to protect creation and ensure equality, that all of our siblings may have a share of your abundance and the safety of your peace, and that the light of your face may shine upon all creation.

Silence for personal confession

Assurance of Pardon
The Lord our God answers our prayers. The Holy One forgives us of our sin.
Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Thanks be to God.

Song of Praise:
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”

All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by his grace
And bids us, each to each restored, Together seek His face.
He bids us build each other up; And gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope, We hand in hand go on.

* Passing the Peace
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 9:28-43a
²⁸ About eight days after saying this, Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up onto a mountain to pray.
²⁹ While Jesus was praying, his face changed in appearance and the clothes he wore became dazzlingly white.
³⁰ Suddenly two people were there talking with Jesus—Moses and Elijah.
³¹ They appeared in glory and spoke of the prophecy that Jesus was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.
³² Peter and the others had already fallen into a deep sleep, but awakening, they saw Jesus’ glory-and the two people who were standing next to him.
³³ When the two were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, how good it is for us to be here! Let’s set up three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah!” Peter didn’t really know what he was saying.
³⁴ While Peter was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and the disciples grew fearful as the others entered it.
³⁵ Then from the cloud came a voice which said, “This is my Own, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”
³⁶ When the voice finished speaking, they saw no one but Jesus standing there. The disciples kept quiet, telling nothing of what they had seen at that time to anyone.
³⁷ The following day, when they came down the mountain, a large crowd awaited him.
³⁸ A man stepped out of the crowd and said, “Teacher, please come and look at my son, my only child.
³⁹ A demon seizes him and he screams, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth. It releases the boy only with difficulty, and when it does, he is exhausted.
⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”
⁴¹ Jesus said in reply, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be among you and put up with you? Bring the child to me.”
⁴² As the boy approached, the demon dashed the child to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus reprimanded the unclean spirit, healed the child and returned him to his father.
^43a All present were awestruck at the greatness of God.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem:
PCM Chancel Choir

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
⁵¹ I will share with you a mystery: we are not all going to die, but we will be changed.
⁵² It will be instantaneous, in the twinkling of an eye — when the last trumpet sounds. It will sound, and the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed, too.
⁵³ For our present perishable nature must put on imperishability, and our mortal nature must put on immortality.
⁵⁴ When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal body has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true:
⁵⁵ “Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
⁵⁶ Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law —
⁵⁷ but thank God for giving us the victory through our Savior Jesus Christ!
⁵⁸ Be steadfast and persevering, my beloved [siblings], fully engaged in the work of Jesus. You know that your toil is not in vain when it is done in Christ.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Rev. Aaron J. White

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn #193 “Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship

The Lord’s Supper:
Invitation
Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. 
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. 
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore we praise you, joining the song of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
…great is the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
…God of glory, now and forever.
Amen

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Bread is Broken and the Cup is Filled.
The Communion of the People.
The Prayer After Communion.

* Hymn #192  “Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Charge & Blessing

* Denotes all are invited to stand.
Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

February 23, 2025
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome & Announcements:
Rev. Aaron J. White
Pastor

Minute for Stewardship:
Guy Shelton,
Elder & Chairperson Stewardship Committee

Call to Worship:
The way of Christ turns the world upside down.
God’s ways are not our ways.
It moves us beyond retribution and cycles of violence.
God’s ways are not our ways.
It leads us to enemy-love and scandalous forgiveness.
God’s ways are not our ways.
It calls us beyond reciprocity into radical giving.
God’s ways are not our ways.
So let us commit our way to the Lord together
until our righteousness shines like the dawn and our justice like high noon.

* Hymn 436 “God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Confession of Sin:
Jolene Schmitz, Worship Leader
O Christ, the economy of your love is beautiful, expending goodness and extending lines of forgiveness beyond our imagining.
The economy of our love is stingy and crooked.
We invest love where it can be repaid.
We spend mercy where it yields gain.
We advance blessing we can bank on.
We hold grudges with interest.
We do all of this with no recognition of how deeply indebted we are to you.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, we pray with our whole hearts.
Silence for personal confession

Assurance of Pardon
How are the dead raised?
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our weakness gives way to power, our dishonor disintegrates into glory, and we are raised with Christ.
This is gospel!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

Song of Praise:
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”

All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by his grace
And bids us, each to each restored, Together seek His face.
He bids us build each other up; And gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope, We hand in hand go on.

* Passing the Peace
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Jolene Schmitz, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 6:27-38
²⁷ “To you who hear me, I say: love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you,
²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
²⁹ When they slap you on one cheek, turn and give them the other; when they take your coat, let them have your shirt as well.
³⁰ Give to all who beg from you. When someone takes what is yours, don’t demand it back.
³¹ “Do to others what you would have them do to you.
³² If you love those who love you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.
³³ If you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ do as much.
³⁴ If you lend to those you expect to repay you, what credit does that do you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to other ‘sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
³⁵ Love your enemies and do good to them. Lend without expecting repayment, and your reward will be great. You’ll rightly be called children of the Most High, since God is good even to the ungrateful and the wicked.
³⁶ “Be compassionate, as your loving God is compassionate.
³⁷ Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Pardon, and you’ll be pardoned.
³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you: a full measure-packed down, shaken together and running over-will be poured into your lap. For the amount you measure out is the amount you’ll be given back.”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem:
PCM Chancel Choir

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:35–38, 42–50
³⁵ Perhaps someone will ask, “How are the dead to be raised up? What kind of body will they have?”
³⁶ What a stupid question! The seed you sow does not germinate unless it dies.
³⁷ When you sow, you do not sow the full-blown plant but a kernel of wheat or some other grain.
³⁸ Then it is given the body God designed for it—with each kind of seed getting its own kind of body.
[…]
⁴² So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is a perishable body, what is raised is incorruptible.
⁴³ What is sown is ignoble, what is raised is glorious. Weakness is sown, strength is raised up.    
⁴⁴ A natural body is sown, and a spiritual body is raised up. If there is a natural body, then there is also a spiritual body.
⁴⁵ The first Adam, as scripture says, “became a living soul,” but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit.
⁴⁶ That is, the natural comes first, not the spiritual; after that comes the spiritual.
⁴⁷ The first, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second is from heaven.
⁴⁸ As this earthly one was, so are we of the earth; and as the One from heaven is, so are we in heaven.
⁴⁹ And we, who have been modeled on the earthly, likewise will be modeled on the One from heaven.
⁵⁰ Put another way, [siblings], I declare to you that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kindom of God. Neither can the perishable inherit what is imperishable.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Kathy Sutula

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn #795 “Healer of Our Every Ill”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship

The Lord’s Supper:
Invitation
Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. 
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. 
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore we praise you, joining the song of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
…great is the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
…God of glory, now and forever.
Amen

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Bread is Broken and the Cup is Filled.
The Communion of the People.
The Prayer After Communion.

* Hymn #315  “In the Midst of New Dimensions”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Charge & Blessing
Friends, let us do to others as we would have them do to us.
Now may Yhwh (Adonai) who sent Joseph to Egypt and gave him tears of joy at reunion with his family, surround our days with strong visions, worthy work, reconciliations, and the strength to persevere, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God, Mother of us all. Alleluia!
Amen!

February 16, 2025
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

* Denotes all are invited to stand. Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome:
Rev. Cindy Harvey, Parish Associate

Let us rejoice in the living Christ, our Lord!
Praise to our living Lord!
Grace and peace to you from the one who is on high and yet regards the lowly.
Amen.

Minute for Mission:
Kathleen Keefer
Topic: Presbyterian Women Piggy Banks

Call to Worship:
Blessed are those who trust – in God!
We come in trust, to be grounded in God’s love.
Blessed are those who hope – in God!
We come in hope, trusting in the One who gives us life.
Blessed are those who delight – in God’s Word!
We come to hear God speak, hoping for healing and joy.

* Hymn 667 “When Morning Gilds the Skies”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Confession of Sin:
Cindy Denton, Worship Leader
We confess what we are afraid to face, Blessing God, that the seductions of this world gnaw away at our hearts. We have more and more to choose from at the market, and so we forget those whose only choice is hunger. Our sense that we are your favorites causes us to make fun of those we are convinced are not. We are so consumed with saving enough for the future, we overlook those who have so little this day.
Forgive us, Heartbroken God, for thinking we are the center of your world. Pour your living water into us, so we might send down roots deep into your heart, and so become those people who are blessings to others, as we have received the gift of new life from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

(Silence for personal confession)

Assurance of Pardon:
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Not even death can separate us from God’s love. This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

Song of Praise:
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”
(Lyrics)
All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by his grace
And bids us, each to each restored, Together seek His face.
He bids us build each other up; And gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope, We hand in hand go on.

* Passing the Peace:
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Cindy Denton, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 6:17-26

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem:
“Blessings”
PCM Chancel Choir
Marilyn Puett – Interim Director

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:12-20

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Darla Holycross

Sermon:
Rev. Cindy Harvey

* Hymn #172 “Blest Are They”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship:

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

* Hymn #852 “When the Lord Redeems the Very Least”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Charge & Blessing:
Grounded in God’s love, we are sent out
to share abundance with those who have so little.
Blessed with Jesus’ hope, we go forth
to fill the emptiness of those longing for justice.
Blessed with the Spirit’s delight, we dance into the world
to take the hands of our sisters and brother, and gather at the edge of living waters for a picnic.

* Music for Departing

February 9, 2025
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

* Denotes all are invited to stand. Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

Let us sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of our God.
Grace and peace to you from the one who is on high
and yet regards the lowly. Amen.

Minute for Mission:
Kristen Oertell
Topic: Christmas Card Report

Call to Worship:
You call us, O Christ, to live as your disciples,
with new life, by way of new paths, seeking new ways.
In your call toward deep waters,
grant us faith.
In your command not to fear,
grant us courage.
In your invitation to follow,
grant us surrender.
Restore to us the joy of living as your disciples,
that we might travel with you in the way of miracle. Amen.

* Hymn 441 “Hear the Good News of Salvation”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Confession of Sin:
Sarah Greer, Worship Leader
Merciful God, you call, but we seldom hear. You beckon, yet we turn away. Sin keeps us from responding to you, thwarting even our best efforts. Forgive our lack of attention to things that matter and restore our sense of your priorities. Focus us on your call to worship and serviceas we seek to follow after Jesus Christ.
(Silence for personal confession)

Assurance of Pardon:
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Not even death can separate us from God’s love. This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

Song of Praise:
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”
(Lyrics)
All praise to our redeeming Lord, Who joins us by his grace
And bids us, each to each restored, Together seek His face.
He bids us build each other up; And gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope, We hand in hand go on.

* Passing the Peace:
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Sarah Greer, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 5:1–11
1 One day, Jesus was standing by Lake Gennesaret, and the crowd pressed in on him to hear the word of God.
2 He saw two boats moored by the side of the lake; the fishers had disembarked and were washing their nets.
3 Jesus stepped into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a short distance from the shore; then, remaining seated, he continued to teach the crowds from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Pull out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Rabbi, we’ve been working hard all night long and have caught nothing; but if you say so, I’ll lower the nets.”
6 Upon doing so, they caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point.
7 They signaled to their mates in the other boat to come and help them, and together they filled the two boats until they both nearly sank.
8 After Simon saw what happened, he was filled with awe and fell down before Jesus, saying, “Leave me, Rabbi, for I’m a sinner.”
9 For Simon and his shipmates were astonished at the size of the catch they had made,
10 as were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you’ll fish among human-kind.”
11 And when they brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem:
“Only a God Like You”
PCM Chancel Choir
Marilyn Puett – Interim Director

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1 [Siblings], I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received and in which you stand firm.
2 You are being saved by it at this very moment, if you hold fast to it as I preached it to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain.
3 I handed on to you, first of all, what I myself received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures;
4 that he was buried and, in accordance with the scriptures, rose on the third day;
5 that he was seen by Peter, then by the Twelve.
6 After that, he was seen by more than five hundred [siblings] at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have fallen asleep.
7 Next he was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Last of all he was seen by me, as one yanked from the womb.
9 I am the least of the apostles; in fact, because I persecuted the church of God, I do not even deserve the name.
10 But by God’s favor I am what I am. This favor that God has given to me has not proven fruitless. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others, not on my own but through the grace of God.
11 In any case, whether it be I or they, this is what we preach and this is what you believed.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Chuck McGavren

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn #170 “You Walk Along Our Shoreline”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship:

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

* Hymn #761 “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* News of the Kingdom:

* Charge & Blessing:
The Lord calls, saying: Whom shall I send?
Let each of us respond: Here I am! Send me!
Now may we be filled with the love of God and sing praises with our whole hearts,
giving thanks for the call of Christ in our lives and the community of the Holy Spirit,
the fulfillment of the purpose for which we were created.
Alleluia!
Amen.

* Music for Departing

News Of The Kingdom

Giving Statements
2024 end of the year giving statements are ready and available for pickup in the Commons. Statements are also available for viewing and download in your One Church profile.

February 2, 2025
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

* Denotes all are invited to stand. Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

Music for Gathering:
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome:
Rev. Aaron J. White, Pastor

Grace and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen!
The Lord is our light and our salvation!
Thanks be to God!

Minute for Mission:
Cleveland Evans
Topic: More Light Presbyterians

Call to Worship:
In you, O Lord, let us take refuge,
so we might never be put to shame.
In your righteousness, O Lord, let us find deliverance,
so we might experience your saving power.
In your presence, O God, let us place our trust,
so we might find confidence in you alone.
You are our rock and our refuge, our fortress and shield.
We turn to you again this day. Amen.

* Hymn 360 “Come, Worship God”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Confession of Sin:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader
Generous God, when we set our tables, we imagine who belongs. We are satisfied to welcome those who we call our own. Our boundaries are drawn for our own family, our own congregation, our own neighborhood. We limit the seating to those who make us comfortable, and lay out the welcome mat for those who we choose to welcome. But your kingdom has no boundary. Before our birth you have known, loved, and claimed each and every one. Soften our hearts to those we rage against. Restore us to your vision of who belongs at the table. Renew us with your abundant mercy and love, which know no end.
(Silence for personal confession)

Assurance of Pardon:
Jesus Christ satisfies each of our shortcomings. It is in God we are given the full vision of love, peace, and justice. This good news is for you: God claims you, Christ welcomes you, and the Spirit draws up your seat at the welcome table. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and restored.
Thanks be to our God now and forever.

Song of Praise:
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Passing the Peace:
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 4:21–30
^{21 Then [Jesus] said to them, “Today, in your hearing, this scripture passage is fulfilled.”
22 All who were present [with him in the Nazareth synagogue on that Sabbath day] spoke favorably of
him; they marveled at the eloquence of the words on Jesus’ lips. They said, “Surely this isn’t Mary and
Joseph’s son!”
23 Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly you’ll quote me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself,’ and say, ‘Do
here in your own country the things we heard you did in Capernaum.’
24 But the truth is, prophets never gain acceptance in their hometowns.
25 “The truth is, there were many women who were widowed in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the
heavens remained closed for three and a half years and a great famine spread over the land.
26 It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but to a woman who had been widowed in Zarephath, near Sidon,
27 Recall, too, that many had leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one was cured except Naaman
the Syrian.”
28 At these words, the whole audience in the synagogue was filled with indignation.
29 They rose up and dragged Jesus out of town, leading him to the brow of the hill on which the city was built, with the intention of hurling him over the edge.
30 But he moved straight through the crowd and walked away.}

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Anthem:
“Come Build A Church”
PCM Chancel Choir
Marilyn Puett – Interim Director

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13
1 Even if I can speak in all the tongues of earth—and those of the angels too—but do not have love, I am just a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy such that I can comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, or if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away everything I own to feed those poorer than I, then hand over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, and it is not snobbish;
5 it is never rude or self-seeking; it is not prone to anger, nor does it brood over injuries.
6 Love doesn’t rejoice in what is wrong, but rejoices in the truth.
7 There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.
8 Love never fails. Prophecies will cease; tongues will be silent; knowledge will pass away.
9 Our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect.
10 When the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. But when I became an adult, I put childish ways aside.
12 Now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror; then we will see face to face. My knowledge is imperfect now; then I will know even as I am known.
13 There are, in the end, three things that last: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Rev. Aaron J. White

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn #440 “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship:

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

* Hymn #691 “Lord, When I Came into this Life”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* News of the Kingdom:

* Charge & Blessing:
Friends, let us go wherever the Spirit sends us!
May the love of God help [us] to bear all things.
May the love of Christ enable [us] to believe all things.
May the love of the Holy Spirit inspire [us] to hope all things, so that [we] abide in faith, hope, and love this day and forever.
Alleluia!
Amen.

* Music for Departing

News Of The Kingdom

Confirmation Class
A new confirmation class is starting mid-February for students in grades 7-9. If you know a young person in these grades, even if they haven’t been attending Sunday school, they are welcome to join. Email Aaron.white@pcmomaha.org for more information or to register by Feb. 7th.

Giving Statements
2024 end of the year giving statements are ready and available for pickup in the Commons. Statements are also available for viewing and download in your One Church profile.

January 26, 2025
Third Sunday after Epiphany

* Denotes all are invited to stand. Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

Music for Gathering
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome
Rev. Aaron J. White
Pastor

Call to Worship
We praise you, God, for the diversity of your body.
By God’s Spirit, we are one.
From diverse backgrounds and diverse places,
by God’s Spirit, we are one.
From diverse cultures and diverse generations,
by God’s Spirit, we are one.
From diverse questions and diverse dreams,
by God’s Spirit, we are one.
We celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our unity.
By God’s Spirit, we are one. Hallelujah!

* Hymn 395 “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Confession of Sin
Kathleen Keefer, Worship Leader
Holy God, we confess that we have wandered from your light.We follow paths of self-indulgence,instead of focusing on our need of you. We passively accept the suffering of the world, expecting others to stand up and work for the change we would like to see. Lord, in your strength, renew us and compel us by your invitation that we may work to pursue your justice and mercy for all people, sharing your light in ways great and small.
(Silence for personal confession)

Assurance of Pardon
May the God of mercy, the Lord of strength, forgive you all your sins; and may the Holy Spirit keep you in new life.
Amen.

Song of Praise
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* Passing the Peace
May the peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:
Kathleen Keefer, Worship Leader

First Reading:
Luke 4:14–21
¹⁴ Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and his reputation spread throughout the region. 
¹⁵ He was teaching in the Galilean synagogues, and all were loud in their praise.
¹⁶ Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. Entering the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was his habit, Jesus stood up to do the reading.
¹⁷ When the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed him, he unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
¹⁸ “The Spirit of our God is upon me: because the Most High has anointed me to bring Good News to those who are poor. God has sent me to proclaim liberty to those held captive, recovery of sight to those who are blind, and release to those in prison—
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of our God’s favor.”
²⁰ Rolling up the scroll, Jesus gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
²¹ Then he said to them, “Today, in your hearing, this scripture passage is fulfilled.”

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Minute for Mission:
PCM Youth
Topic: Super Bowl of Caring

Anthem:
“Creator Rhythm”
PCM Chancel Choir
Marilyn Puett – Interim Director

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12:12–31a
¹² The body is one, even though it has many parts; all the parts — many though they are — comprise a single body. And so it is with Christ.
¹³ It was by one Spirit that all of us, whether we are Jews or Greeks, slaves or citizens, were baptized into one body. All of us have been given to drink of the one Spirit.
¹⁴ And that Body is not one part; it is many.
¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” does that make it any less a part of the body?
¹⁶ If the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” would that make it any less a part of the body?
¹⁷ If the body were all eye, what would happen to our hearing? If it were all ear, what would happen to our sense of smell?
¹⁸ Instead of that, God put all the different parts into one body on purpose.
¹⁹ If all the parts were alike, where would the body be?
²⁰ They are, indeed, many different members but one body.
²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” any more than the head can say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
²² And even those members of the body which seem less important are in fact indispensable.
²³ We honor the members we consider less honorable by clothing them with greater care, thus bestowing on the less presentable a propriety
²⁴ which the more presentable do not need. God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to the lowly members,
²⁵ that there may be no dissension in the body, but that all the members may be concerned for one another.
²⁶ If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members share its joy.
²⁷ You, then, are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
²⁸ Furthermore, God has set up in the church, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then miracle workers, healers, assistants, administrators and those who speak in tongues.
²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles
³⁰ or have the gift of healing? Do all speak in tongues, or do all have the gift of interpretation of tongues?
^31a Set your hearts on the greater gifts.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Time for Children:
Rev. Aaron J. White

Sermon:
Rev. Aaron J. White

* Hymn #692 “Spirit, Open My Heart”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

* Hymn #744  “Arise, Your Light Is Come!”
(Please see screens for lyrics.)

* News of the Kingdom

* Charge & Blessing
The Spirit of the Lord urges us to go, proclaiming the news of God’s favor! [So as] we go from this place on this day holy to God we rejoice in the strength of God, we fix our eyes on the grace of Christ, and we drink deeply of the Spirit, who makes us one. Alleluia!
Amen.

* Music for Departing

News Of The Kingdom

Congregational Meeting
There will be a congregational meeting following the Worship service today. Click here if you would like to open a PDF of the printed 2024 Annual Report.

Art For All
The Art for All monthly gathering to view and discuss art will be held on February 1st at 10:30 a.m. The event will be held at Joslyn Museum and admission is free. For more details, contact either Kathleen Keefer or Chuck McGavren.

Confirmation Class
A new confirmation class is starting mid-February for students in grades 7-9. If you know a young person in these grades, even if they haven’t been attending Sunday school, they are welcome to join. Email Aaron.white@pcmomaha.org for more information or to register by Feb. 7th.

Giving Statements
2024 end of the year giving statements are ready and available for pickup in the Commons. Statements are also available for viewing and download in your One Church profile.

January 19, 2025
Second Sunday after Epiphany

* Denotes all are invited to stand. Bold text indicates portions of the service to be spoken or sung by the congregation.

Music for Gathering
Brian Jay
Organist

Welcome
Rev. Cindy Harvey
Parish Associate

Call to Worship
We come in these endless days, Precious God, people in need of the constancy of your love:,
may we drink deeply from your fountain of life; may we continue to be guided by your Light.
We gather in these weary days, Water-changing God, people looking for signs of hope and wonder:
may we drink deeply from your fountain of grace; may our weariness be wrapped in your Hope.
We worship in these overwhelming days, Gifting God; May we be people who try to point others to Jesus:
may we drink deeply from your fountain of joy; may our life be strengthened by your Life…

* Hymn 327 “From All That Dwell Below the Skies”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Confession of Sin
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader
Delight of the Ages, we cannot remain silent, but must speak of the ways we misuse your gifts.  In our desire to have more and more, we cause more damage to your good creation.  In our obsession with ourselves, we have desolated the lives of those around us.  When we hoard what you have given us, we cannot be a blessing to other people. Forgive us, Restless God, so we might be restored to life.  May your steadfast love save and strengthen us to share our gifts with others, even as you have shared the Gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence for personal confession

Assurance of Pardon
God delights in you. So much, that God will not rest until you are at peace.
God will not remain silent, but will call you by name: ‘My Delight.’
God’s steadfast love extends to the heavens, and reaches down to
touch our hearts. Thanks be to God who forgives and saves us! Amen.

Song of Praise
“All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* Passing the Peace

Prayer for Illumination:
Michael Osborn, Worship Leader

First Reading:
John 2:1-11

Minute for Mission:
Michael Osborn
Topic: PCM Blood Drive – January 26th
Click Here to sign-up online for donating blood.

Anthem:
“Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”
PCM Bell Choir
Kristen Oertell – Director

Second Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Time for Children:
Darla Holycross

Sermon:
Rev. Cindy Harvey

* Hymn #644 “Give Thanks, O Christian People”
Please see screens for lyrics.

Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons

Pastoral Prayer:
Congregation Response:  Bless us with peace.

Invitation to Discipleship

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

* Hymn #761  “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”
Please see screens for lyrics.

* News of the Kingdom

* Charge & Blessing
God sends us out to the lonely, the forsaken, all those forgotten in these weary times.
We will go to gather them up into the heart of love, to welcome them as our siblings.
Jesus calls us to throw a party for those who are hungry for hope, who thirst for justice.
We will go to be with those who sit at empty tables, who long to taste the sweet bouquet of grace.
The Spirit sends us forth, transformed from the foolish to the faithful.
We will go to those who walk in the muck of life, who yearn for new days, of joy and wonder. Amen.

* Music for Departing