Welcome to worship at Northminster!

Thank you for worshipping with us today. If you are visiting with

us this morning we hope you feel the presence of God and the

hospitality of this congregation. If you have any questions about our

church please ask one of the pastors or a greeting host wearing a red

“Ask Me” badge.

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

July 29, 2018

«««««««««««««

* Those who are able, please stand.

Congregation responds in bold.

CENTERING THOUGHT

“… Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.”

-- Eugue Peterson’s The Message

1660 Kessler Boulevard, East Drive

Indianapolis, IN 46220

317-251-9489

www.northminster-indy.org

APPROACHING GOD

Please silence your cell phone before worship begins.

WELCOME Ruth Chadwick Moore

PRELUDE Praeludium in D Major Dietrich Buxtehude

(1637-1707)

CALL TO WORSHIP

God, your creation gives thanks to you.

And we, your servants, bless you.

We shall speak of the glory of your realm and tell of your power.

We shall let all people know your mighty deeds and glorious

splendor.

Let us worship in spirit and in truth.

*HYMN NO. 618 O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

DEO GRACIAS

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Robbie Foote

Loving God, you uphold those who are falling.

Therefore we confess our sins – for the things we have done

and the things we have left undone.

Have mercy on us.

Open your hands to us in an embrace of forgiveness and love.

*SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AND REFLECTION

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Beloved, through the power of the Spirit that is at work within us,

God forgives our sins and strengthens our inner beings.

We can live knowing the love of Christ, which surpasses all

knowledge, fills us with the fullness of God.

*JESUS LOVES ME JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

*SHARING THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

(Worshippers may greet one another with words of Christ’s peace.)

LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD

CHILDREN’S TIME Maureen Wilson

9:00 Preschool children may be excused for Church School at

this time.

11:00 Children may be excused for Church School at this time.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

PSALM 145: 10-18

EPISTLE LESSON Ephesians 3: 14-21 (Pg. 193)

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON A Prayer for the Church Ruth Chadwick Moore

SILENCE FOR REFLECTION

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from the Confession of 1967

God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole

of human life: social and cultural, economic and political,

scientific and technological, individual and corporate. It

includes the natural environment as exploited and despoiled

by sin. It is the will of God that the divine purpose for

human life shall be fulfilled under the rule of Christ and all

evil be banished from creation.

With an urgency born of this hope, the church applies itself

to present tasks and strives for a better world. It does not

identify limited progress with the kingdom of God on earth,

nor does it despair in the face of disappointment and defeat.

In steadfast hope, the church looks beyond all partial

achievement to the final triumph of God.

“Now to him who by the power within us is able to do far

more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory

in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever

and ever. Amen.”

INVITATION TO PRAYER Lord of the Small Dan Forrest

(born 1978)

Robbie Foote, Tenor

Praise to the Lord of the small broken things,

who sees the poor sparrow that cannot take wing,

who loves the lame child and the wretch in the street

who comforts their sorrows and washes their feet.

Praise to the Lord of the faint and afraid

who girds them with courage and lends them His aid.

He pours out his spirit on vessels so weak,

that the timid can serve and the silent can speak.

Praise to the Lord of the frail and the ill

who heals their afflictions or carries them till

they leave this tired frame and to paradise fly,

to never be sick and never to die.

Praise him, O praise Him all ye who yet live,

Who’ve been given so much and can so little give,

our frail lisping praise God will never despise:

He sees His dear children through mercy-filled eyes.

PASTORAL 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

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.

OFFERING(Please sign the pew pad and pass it to your neighbor.)

OFFERTORY The Call (from Five Mystical Songs)

Ralph Vaughan Williams

(1872 – 1958)

Robbie Foote, Tenor

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life; such a Way, as gives us

breath:

Such a Truth, as ends all strife; Such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength; Such a Light, as

shows a feast;

Such a Feast, as mends in length; Such a Strength, as makes his

guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart; Such a Joy, as none can

move;

Such a Love, as none can part; Such a Heart, as joys in love.

*DOXOLOGY LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 547 Go, My Children, with My Blessing

AR HYD Y NOS

*BLESSING AND CHARGE

Friends, we have been upheld and raised up by our God.

May God continue to strengthen your inner being and carry you

out into the splendor of God’s kingdom.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to

accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or image,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all

generations, forever and ever.

Go now, rooted and grounded in love, and make known to all

people the mighty deeds of God.

POSTLUDE AR HYD Y NOS Gerald Near

(b. 1942)

͏

Robbie Foote is assisting in worship today.

Teri Thomas is on vacation.

John Wright is on vacation.

MUSIC IN WORSHIP

The Offertory, “The Call,” appears in Ralph Vaughan Williams’

(1872 – 1958) composition for soloist, chorus, and orchestra, Five

Mystical Songs, 1911. The poem was written by the Welsh poet and

Anglican priest George Herbert (1593 – 1633), and is a moving

prayer calling on the Savior to enter our lives – ‘Come, my Way, my

Truth, my Life.” Vaughan Williams’ tune is a strong one and has

been included in several hymnals of recent years (The United

Methodist Hymnal, New Century Hymnal, and the Evangelical

Lutheran Hymnal).

This morning’s final hymn, No. 547 “Go, My Children, with My

Blessing,” was written by Jaroslav Jan Vajda in 1983 as a dismissal

or sending hymn. It is based on the benediction in the 6th chapter of

Numbers, as Vajda puts God’s words in the congregation’s mouth.

There may be some who take offense by blessing themselves as if

they are God. There are 20th and 21st century hymn writers who

have written hymns in this way without the links that clarify the

distinction between God and us. Over time, the Christian

community will have to decide whether this is an idolatrous move,

which is certainly not intended. A native of Ohio (born 1919),

Vajda chose the Welsh melody AR HYD Y NOS (“The Livelong

Night”), claiming the “soft and contemplative melody suggested a

setting of the benediction.” The hymn has appeared in numerous

hymnals, and makes its first appearance in a Presbyterian Hymnal in

Glory to God.

ALL-CHURCH FRIDAY NIGHT

August 24, 5:30-7:30pm

Inside Pitch-in Picnic

and Open Mic Night

Bring food to share.

All are welcome!

What’s Next?

Sunday Worship

August 5 – We continue through the Letter to the Ephesians.

The author talks of being bound together.

August 12 – The theme is peace. We’ll also bless backpacks for

school.

August 19 – We are challenged in Ephesians 5 to sing songs

and hymns and spiritual songs. Come and sing with us.

August 26 – We look at the armor of God and what it means for

us.

Mission and Outreach

Gathering of School Supplies for John Strange Elementary

School – yellow bin in the Gathering Place

IHN/Family Promise – August 12-19. Sign up in the Gathering

Place.

Deacon’s T-Shirt Sales – deadline is August 28. Shirts will be

available for Day of Caring.

Events and Education

Adult Education – Shakespeare and the Mysteries of Religion –

Hamlet’s Faith Journey -- Sundays, July 8-29, 10:15am.

Caregiver Support Groups – Wednesday, August 1, 1pm, and

Monday, August 6, 6pm.

Musical Presentation – Music Directors from Northminster,

Irvington, and Faith Presbyterian Churches – Thursday,

August 9, 11am.

Recycling Collection – Saturday, August 11, 10am-2pm, and

Sunday, August 12, 12:30-2:30pm.

Youth Fellowship – Indianapolis Indians Game – August 12,

1:15pm.

NorthStars Planning Meeting – August 16, 6pm pitch-in dinner.

Youth Fellowship – Pool Party at the Crooks – August 19, 5pm.

Northminster Choirs Resume – August 22.

All-Church Friday Night – Open Mic Night—August 24,

5:30pm.

Men’s Prayer Breakfast – Wednesdays at 7:30am.

3B Exercise – Monday and Thursday at 1:30pm.

For more information, check out our website

(northminster-indy.org).

Don’t forget to “Like” our page on Facebook

(facebook.com/Northminsterindy/).

To give by text message on a smartphone, text the amount you

would like to give to 317-316-3009. Our online giving system,

ShelbyNext, will then prompt you through a one-time set up for

giving.

MINISTRY

Teri L. Thomas

Pastor

Ruth Chadwick Moore

Associate Pastor

Maureen Wilson

Director of Education and

Youth Ministries

John M. Wright

Director, Music Ministries

Marko Petričić

Music Associate/Organist

Denise Harrington

Senior Ministry Consultant

Carol McDonald

Parish Associate

Carol Campbell

John Reed

Tony Dzwonar

Stephen Ministry Leaders

Donald R. Durrett

Associate Pastor Emeritus