SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY 21ST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

OCTOBER 18, 2015 10:30 A.M. GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

PRELUDE Fugue in C Major Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH The Lord be with you. And also with you. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS Nancy Metzler INTROIT Come to the Lord with Singing Jay Althouse Children’s Choir * CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 36: 7-10) Lindsay Malmut One: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

One: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! Many: All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. One: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Many: For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. One: O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! All: Let us worship our God who is faithful from generation to generation.

*HYMN Come Sing, O Church, in Joy No. 430 CALL TO CONFESSION Diane Giannola PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Faithful Lord, we know too well the path of least resistance. We look for courage but drift toward fear. We want to trust but follow the path of doubt. We proclaim our faith, but tread the streets of indifference. You are self-giving, but instead of generosity, we travel the road of the self-seeking. You are love, but the way of love seems uphill and the highway to bitterness is wide and smooth and gently downhill. Forgive us, O Lord, and grant to us the will and strength to follow the way you would lead us. Hear now, our silent prayers of confession … (silence)

Leader: Trusting your mercy, we lift these prayers to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our redeemer. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON * RESPONSE OF PRAISE Gloria Patri No. 567

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Amen. Amen.

*All who are able are invited to stand. Please turn off electronic devices.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD ANTHEM As the Deer Martin Nystrom/Wagner

“ … pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.

You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield.

I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy; you alone are the real joygiver and the apple of my eye.

You’re my friend and you are my brother, even though you are a king;

I love you more than any other, so much more than any thing!

And I long to worship you.” Chancel Choir

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP As the children first through third grades gather and recess to the Chapel for Children’s worship, the congregation is invited to join in singing:

What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

Congregation: The peace of Christ be with you. Children: And also with you.

What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

The children will return to join their families at the Doxology.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

READING FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT Matthew 1: 1-6 Pew Bible p. 1 READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Ruth 1: 1-18 Pew Bible p. 241 This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. SERMON Hesed Dr. Brown

RESPONDING TO THE WORD * HYMN My Faith Looks Up to Thee No. 383

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Scots Confession of 1560 – 3.08 That same eternal God and Father, who by grace alone chose us in his Son

Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world was laid, appointed him to be

our head, our brother, our pastor, and the great bishop of our souls. But since the opposition between the justice of God and our sins was such that no flesh by itself could or might have attained unto God, it behooved the Son of God to descend unto us and take himself a body of our body, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone, and so become the Mediator between God and man, giving power to as many as believe in him to be the sons of God; as he himself says, "I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God." By this most holy brotherhood whatever we have lost in Adam is restored to us again. Therefore we are not afraid to call God our Father, not so much because he has created us, which we have in common with the reprobate, as because he has given unto us his only Son to be our brother, and given us grace to acknowledge and embrace him as our only Mediator.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison) Diane Giannola . . . “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, and the power, and the glory, forever.” Amen.

SHARING OUR FAITH STORIES Tyler Gage

OFFERTORY Amazing Grace Traditional American Leigh Wardlaw * DOXOLOGY No. 592

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Faithful God, may Ruth’s witness be our offering. May the priority of our days be the work of steadfast love, loving kindness, and mercy for the sake of Christ our Lord. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD * HYMN Love Divine, All Loves Excelling No. 376

* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels’ wings, I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. Amen.

POSTLUDE May God Bestow on Us His Grace Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654)

The Worship Service Notes The Session of South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at 11:45 a.m. in the Chapel to receive new members. If you have interest in membership, please speak to the pastor following today’s service. The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of their parents by Pat and Barb Malo. Worship Teams: Elders and Deacons: Dean Elledge, Marianne Empie, Kathy Galati, Leanne Royster Ushers: Tim Morgan, Head Usher; Tracy Bower, Jeff Brockman, Terry Lane, Janet Morgan Acolyte: Will Hendrix A/V: Bruce Kroeschell Hospitality Teams: Welcome Center: Linda Thompson Greeters: Marge & Dick Kruse, Sarah Starr Coffee Grounds: Jerry Hawver; Sue & Ed Slezycki We offer childcare for infants through kindergarten in their Sunday school classrooms each Sunday during the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. Please drop off your 3 and 4 year olds in room 5, and kindergarteners in room 10.

THOSE NOT WISHING TO RETAIN THEIR COPY of this worship bulletin are asked to place it at the end of the pew to be recycled.

Please take your copy of the SMPC Weekly home as a reference to future opportunities to become more engaged in the life of our faith community.

Dr. Matthew S. Brown, Pastor

Diane Giannola, Parish Assistant-Missions & Outreach Audrey McConnell, Director of Music

SOUTH MECKLENBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 8601 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277-1615

smpcoffice@smpchome.org 704-544-0404 www.smpchome.org