We are drawing to the close of the summer break series, “You Asked For It!” and will be exploring the question, “how does God reconcile those people who don’t believe in Jesus?” It’s one of those questions that come up every year and another one that doesn’t have easy answers. We’ll explore some options this Sunday. All the words that we’ll be using in worship are below, but you can download a copy to print here.

PRELUDE                           Who Am I?                      

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 103

The Lord works vindication
   and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
   his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
   nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
   nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
   so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
   so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
   so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
   he remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass;
   they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
   and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
   on those who fear him,
   and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
   and remember to do his commandments.

*HYMN #571     Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, you are a god of vindication, but all so patient. You are a god of justice, but also full of mercy. In your presence we find a love that is steadfast and compassion that recognizes our faults and fears. You are willing to look past what we have done so that we can become who you are. Forgive us where we fall short and strengthen us with your Spirit. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

HYMN #343        Blessed Be Your Name

please remain seated

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from 2 Corinthians 5

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 

So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

ANTHEM            Come As You Are                          Jesus L

SCRIPTURE                        Isaiah 65:17-25

For I am about to create new heavens
   and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
   or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
   in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
   and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
   and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
   or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
   an infant that lives but a few days,
   or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
   and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
   they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
   they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
   and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain,
   or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
   and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
   while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
   the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
   but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
   on all my holy mountain,

says the Lord.

SERMON             Reconciling All Things   

*HYMN #743                    O God, You Are My God

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

OFFERTORY                      Truth I’m Standing On

*DOXOLOGY #965

Inclusive lyrics:  Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

              Praise God, all creatures here below

              Praise God, above ye heavenly host

              Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING SONG #930   This Little Light of Mine