Gathering

Call to Worship (Psalm 46:1-4, 10-11)

A:        God is our refuge and our strength,

a very present help in trouble.
C:         The Lord of hosts is with us.

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Therefore, we will not fear, through the earth be moved,

            and though the mountains shake in the depts of the sea.

            Though the rivers rage and foam,

            and though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

The Lord of hosts is with us.

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

 “Be still, then, and know that I am God;

            I will be exalted among the nations;

            I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord of hosts is with us.

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Gathering Song                   “A Mighty Fortress”                # 504

1. A mighty fortress is our God,
   A sword and shield victorious.
   He breaks the cruel oppressors rod,
   And wins salvation, glorious.
   The old satanic foe, has sword to work us woe,
   With craft and dreadful might, he arms himself to fight.
   On earth he has no equal.

All threatening to devour us,

We trembles not, unmoved we stand,

They cannot overpower us.

Let this world’s tyrant rage, in battle we’ll engage!

His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!

One little word subdues him.

Were they to take our house, goods, honour, child, or spouse,
Though life be wretched away, they cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us pray,

Most High and Gracious God, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people.  Keep us steadfast in your word, protect and comfort us in times of trial, defend us against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on us your saving peace.

Through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Romans, the 3^rd chapter.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰For ‘no human being will be justified in his sight’ by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

Word of God.  Word of Life.

Thanks be to God!

Gospel Acclamation (sung together)                                               page 142

Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Gospel

The holy gospel according to John , the 8^th chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

³¹ Then Jesus said to the Judeans who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ ³³They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

³⁴ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not abide in the house forever; the son abides there forever. ³⁶So if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

The Gospel of the Lord. 

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day        “The Church’s One Foundation”   654

1.  The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
   she is his new creation by water and the word.
   From heav’n he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
   with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

•  Elect from ev’ry nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
  her charter of salvation one Lord, one faith, one birth:
  one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
  and to one hope she presses with ev’ry grace endued.

•  Through toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
  she waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
  till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
  and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

•  Yet she on earth hath union with God, the Three in One,
  and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
  Oh, blessed heav’nly chorus! Lord, save us by your grace,
  that we, like saints before us, may see you face to face.

Creed

P:      We are made God’s people through our baptism into Christ.  Living together in trust and hope, let us confess our faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen

Prayers

            God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

P:      Into your hands, O God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord who teaches us to pray:

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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 and ever.  Amen

Sending

Announcements may be made.

Benediction              

Sending Hymn           “We Are All One in Mission”        # 576

1. We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
   our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
   A single great commission compels us from above
   to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.
2. We all are called for service, to witness in God’s name.
   Our ministries are diff’rent; our purpose is the same:
   to touch the lives of others with God’s surprising grace,
   so ev’ry folk and nation may feel God’s warm embrace.
3. Now let us be united, and let our song be heard.
   Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming Word.
   We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
   our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.

Dismissal

People of God, you have been called to be disciples of Christ.

Whatever you do, in word or in deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Thanks be to God!