This week in worship, we move from the history texts to the prophetic texts. We start with Amos who introduces us to God’s roar against the greedy injustice among God’s own people. All the words that we’ll be using in worship are below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.

PRELUDE                          Keep Your Lamps

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 146

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.

*HYMN #302     Hear Our Praises

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, sometimes we care too much about things that don’t matter to you. Sometimes we don’t care enough about the things that matter most to you. And, sometimes we just don’t care. We confess the fault and fickleness in our hearts and we recognize your willingness to sacrifice so that suffering can end. So, bless us with your Holy Spirit so that our minds can focus on justice and our hearts share your passion for the oppressed. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

ANTHEM            I Speak Jesus

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from Isaiah 58

Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
   and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then our light shall break forth like the dawn,
   and our healing shall spring up quickly;
our vindicator shall go before us,
   the glory of the Lord shall be our rearguard.
Then we shall call, and the Lord will answer;
   we shall cry for help, and God will say, “Here I am.”

*HYMN #53        Song of the Prophets

SCRIPTURE                        Amos 1:1-2, 5:14-24

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

And he said:
The Lord roars from Zion,
   and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds wither,
   and the top of Carmel dries up.

Seek good and not evil,
   that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
   just as you have said.
Hate evil and love good,
   and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
   will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord:
In all the squares there shall be wailing;
   and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! alas!’
They shall call the farmers to mourning,
   and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing;
in all the vineyards there shall be wailing,
   for I will pass through the midst of you,

says the Lord.

Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!
   Why do you want the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, not light;
   as if someone fled from a lion,
   and was met by a bear;
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
   and was bitten by a snake.
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
   and gloom with no brightness in it?

I hate, I despise your festivals,
   and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings,
   I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
   I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
   I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
   and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

SERMON             “Roar!”

*HYMN #295                    Let Justice Flow

(over)

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                      All The Days

*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 #950