Bethany Presbyterian Church

Bethany Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship 9:45AM , EIC 11:30am, BWO 12:15 PM, Spanish 3:00pm, Romanian 7:00pm - W Helping people grow in Faith, Love & Obedience to Jesus Christ.

Our services are lead by Reverend Thomas Lineweaver. Thank you for your interest in our church, we would love to see you there some time!

09/06/2026

Service of Worship
Bethany Presbyterian Church
September 6, 2026
WEEKLY READINGS: Exodus 12:1–14;
Psalm 149; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20

THE MORNING SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:9-21

Study: "Do Not Be Proud”

Please leave any prayer requests or other feedback in the comments. We are happy to have you here!

09/06/2026

“Do Not Be Proud”
September 6, 2026

Ro 12:9 Love must be sincere.

That seems like a funny start. Is it tempting to love without being sincere? Maybe he means don’t love superficially but stop to think about what is good and helpful, slow down.
Hate what is evil; [reject utterly]
cling to what is good.
Remember Jesus said:

Mt 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled
than to have two hands or two feet
and be thrown into eternal fire.

That sounds crazy, right off the rails. Can we dial it down in order to get a hold on it? It is hyperbolic, exaggerated to make the point stick; not meant to be taken literally. Whatever you learn causes you to sin get rid of it. Okay, but that is still hard. This is not the kind of advice we can had out without helping people. Think of all the struggle with addition, not so simple. “But for the grace of God there go I.”

I suppose it comes down to this: It is really important to do the right thing. We can’t always figure that out and we don’t always follow through on good intentions. But it is important in a world full of compromise, half-truths and lies that we keep our standards high, without becoming self-righteous and without being too hard on ourselves. Lord help us, one step at a time

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly [sisterly] love.

That sounds better, less hard, less bare knuckled. It is deep and maybe challenging. Although I am tempted to say we are kind of committed to each other around here.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Don’t be self seeking, “always looking out for number one.” Of course we have to take care our ourselves. But still:
Honor one another above yourselves.

This is whole section is meant to be recited and even memorized. It is so compact and full of substance and too much all at one.

11 Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.

Keep the fire burning. They used to say “mend the fire.” Make sure it has enough wood to burn and spaced to breathe, but not so far apart that it cools too much. Logs do not burn well alone they need to be kept together to keep the fire hot.

We are not meant to do the faith alone, the fire tends to die down. Though we do need alone time too. And some people have a real call to solitude, study and contemplation but most of us need to stay close together.

12 Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
It will not last forever, “this too shall pass” and the Lord has not left you
faithful in prayer.

There will be good days and bad days. Enjoy, when things go well, thank you Lord. When the wind is against you: “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you.” And stay at your prayers, trusting, asking, confessing and thanking.

13 Share with God’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.

Ro 12:14 Bless those who persecute you;
bless and curse not.

In your heart do no wish people ill. Maybe it is okay not to wish them success if they’re going to hurt someone but do not to wish them personal harm.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another.

We live in a course age where good manners are out and bluntness, rudeness, trolling, are in. But we need to row the other direction. Always look for a kind word to say.
Between thought and speech lies the realm of good taste
begging for your acquaintance.

Do not be proud,
but willing to associate with people of low position.

It is good to network, rub shoulders with people, just make sure you are connected not just to people that can help your but also people that you can help.

Do not be conceited.
Do not count yourself better than anyone.
Ro 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Never retaliate, always forgive. You may have to protect yourself from someone who has done you harm and intends to continue. Don’t let them. But don’t seek to harm them because they harmed you. Never retaliate, always forgive. Lord help us, one day at a time, trust and obey.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

As far as you can, consider other people’s feelings, wherever you are.
This is quite a list; we can’t take it all at once. It is not meant to pile up on us; it is meant to keep us going the right direction. I wonder if we should read this once quarter? Humm?

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone.

Jesus did say and teach many striking things that led to confrontation and conflict so we have to think about this one. Still, whenever possible be a peace maker.

19 Do not take revenge, my friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath,

He does “react” to evil, so to speak, but always measured, waits as long as possible. In our case restraint, self-control, proportionate, rules of engagement. These are the essentials of any moral use of force.

for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

Ro 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.

This gives us a lot to think and pray about. But not all at once, grab a couple of things to take to heart and pray.

09/05/2026

Service of Worship
Bethany Presbyterian Church
September 6, 2026

WEEKLY READINGS: Exodus 12:1–14;
Psalm 149; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20

Elder Lector: Lanny Trapnell

Praise set
“Holy Spirit”
“In Control”
“Mercy, Mercy”

THE MORNING PSALM: 149:
LEADER: 1 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
PEOPLE: 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
LEADER: 3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
PEOPLE: 4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
LEADER: 5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.
PEOPLE: 6 May the praise of God be in their mouths Praise be to the Lod

LEADER: Now this is eternal life that they may know Thee, the only true God and Jesu Christ who Thou has sent (John 17:3)
PEOPLE: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

LEADER: Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Ps 55:22)
PEOPLE: This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (I John 5:4-5)
LEADER: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
PEOPLE: 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6-7).
LEADER: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)

PEOPLE: For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13
LEADER: 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

PEOPLE: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (II Cor. 4:16)
LEADER: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt. 6:31-33)

PEOPLE: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

LEADER: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
PEOPLE: 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17:

OPENING PRAYER: (all)
God of the ages, you call the church to keep watch in the world and to discern the signs of the times. Grant us the wisdom which your Spirit bestows, that with courage we may proclaim your prophetic word, and complete the work that you have set before us; through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREET ONE ANOTHER:

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Exodus 12:1–14:
LEADER: 1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
PEOPLE: 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
LEADER: 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
PEOPLE: 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
LEADER: 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
PEOPLE: 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD'S Passover.
LEADER: 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
PEOPLE: 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
LEADER: 14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.

THE EPISTLES: Romans 13:8–14:
LEADER: 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
READER: 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
LEADER: 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
PEOPLE: 11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
LEADER: 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
PEOPLE: 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in or**es and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
LEADER: 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 18:15–20:
LEADER: 15 “If your brother [sister] sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
PEOPLE: 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
LEADER: 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
PEOPLE: 19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
The Apostle’s Creed: (all)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified , dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sin; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN: “The Solid Rock” 92

“SEARCH MY HEART O GOD” (all)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. (from Ps. 51)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ez. 36:25-27)

PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER:
“You may ask me anything in my name and I will do it.” (Jn14:14)
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.
Gloria Patri 142: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

THE MORNING SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:9-21
STUDY: “Do Not Be Proud”

OFFERINGS AND GIFTS:
Offertory: Mark Steele
Doxology (382) 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:

HOLY COMMUNION:
LEADER: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
PEOPLE: I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

LEADER: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
PEOPLE: 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
LEADER: 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)
PEOPLE: For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (I Corinthians 11:26)
LEADER: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that one up at the last day (John 6:54).

PRAYER:
MUSIC: “I Surrender”
LEADER: The Peace of Christ be with you
PEOPLE: And also with you

PRAISE:
BENNEDICTION: “Sing (Like You've Already Won)”

08/30/2026

Service of Worship
Bethany Presbyterian Church
August 30, 2026
WEEKLY READINGS: Exodus 3:1–15; Psalm 105:1–6, 23–26, 45b; Romans 12:9–21

THE MORNING SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:21–28
STUDY: “The Things of God”

Please leave any prayer requests or feedback in the comments. We're happy to have you with us!

08/30/2026

“The Things of God”
August 30, 2026

Matthew 16:
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples
This was not easy for them to hear and it was new.
that he must go to Jerusalem [no other way] and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law,
All the religious leadership and Holy Torah twisted, “blind guides.”
and that he must [no other way] be killed
and on the third day be raised to life.

Remember, just moments before Peter had confessed “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.” To which Jesus said

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, [any human teacher] but by my Father in heaven.

To see who Jesus is, for it to grip our hearts the way it is meant to, is a gift of the Father, the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a thing to ask and pray for maybe above all other prayers. “Father, help me say with Peter, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God;” from the deepest places of my heart. Plant this word deep inside me.

Peter has had this sublime moment and then he hears these words from Jesus: Must suffer many things, be killed and raised to life. And it was too much for Peter, too much. Jesus seemed to be on the march to bring in the kingdom here and now, the new Jerusalem was at hand, so it seemed. And now all that was crashing down and it was too much.

Peter responds immediately, the way Peter so often did. He got it all out there in front of Jesus, maybe that was a good thing, spill it. It is hard to believe he was alone with these thoughts.

22 Peter took him [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he said.
“This shall never happen to you!”

This cannot be, no part of it can be true, you cannot say such a thing.
And then Peter received a full and immediate response:

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter,
And here it comes, we know this story:
“Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to me;

You would counsel me to avoid the very heart of the Fathers plan!? NO. Peter you do not know what you are saying.

you do not have in mind the things of God,
but the things of men.”

This is a demonic attack, a direct assault on the plan of God that twice “must” be, it must be so. This mission, this plan of God can never be pushed to the side or avoided.

It must be central to the way we understand who Jesus is and what the Father sent Him to do.

In it is the power of God to save and make right, all things good. (Rom 1:16-17)

And then second, Peter’s objection is a counsel of men, human, and not of God. It is understandable, this concern of one friend for another, understandable but also dangerous and wrong.

“The things [plans] of God” must come first even before this concern and kindness: The mission and calling to the cross

And then Jesus swiftly adds
24 Then Jesus said to [all] his disciples,
“If anyone would come after me,
Be a disciple, a follower of Jesus, a Christian.
he [she] must deny him/herself

My life is not my own anymore, I belong to Him. It is not complex but it is substantial.

and take up his/her cross
and follow me.

This is not a special category of Christian, above the norm. A disciple is simply a learner, a pupil, a student of Jesus. This is the heart of what it means to be a Christian.

Then as usual Jesus doubles and triples down. He does not want us to slip around and go back to “the things of men” instead of “the things of God.”

25 For whoever [anyone, anywhere who] wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me [attachment to Me, faith in Me] will find it.

“For me,” let go of whatever other plans or dreams they had so that they can follow me with all their hearts and lives, they will find true and eternal life.

Maybe that sounds hard, that would be understandable. Over the years I have heard people react almost like Peter to Jesus, this cannot be so, this cannot be what Jesus means.

Holy Spirit help us hear. On the other side of these words, so to speak, is “life.” This life “for me [Jesus]” is better than any plans we might have had for ourselves. We don’t really believe that if we seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, we will be the worse for it. (Matt. 6:33)

The clarity and challenge continues:
26 What good will it be for a man/women if they gain the whole world,
yet forfeits his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

What does it mean to lose one’s soul? At a human level we use this expression when someone “sells out” their deepest beliefs because of pressure or temptation. They go along at some critical moment against their deeper convictions, their true selves, they stop believing in themselves. “They will steal your soul if you let them, don’t you let them” (James Taylor?)

There is something to all that but it is not what Jesus is saying. Again, that is more “the things of men” than “the things of God.”

The real loss of soul is when we step back from trusting and following Jesus.

This is the call to the cross and the must that comes to each of us
he [or she] must deny him/herself

My life belongs to You Lord, and not to me. This is the decision at the heart of the matter. We may stay right in the life we had before this call came to us but things are not the same.

And of course, our decision to follow Him is forever flawed and uncertain in this life. We are saved by grace through faith and not based on the clarity and strength of our decision or will power.

Again, I can’t help but think of that moment when Peter’s faith failed him out on the water in the storm. He cried out “Lord save me,” and Jesus reached out and grabbed Him. (Matt. 14:30)

That moment, that little moment, we are given in the Gospel is so much a part of the good news by which we are saved, Peter in the storm.

Prayer: “Father we have heard again the great call and challenge to deny ourselves and follow You. Help us each with however that strikes and moves around in our hearts. Teach and lead us, Lord.”

08/29/2026

Service of Worship
Bethany Presbyterian Church
August 30, 2026

WEEKLY READINGS: Exodus 3:1–15; Psalm 105:1–6, 23–26, 45b; Romans 12:9–21 Matthew 16:21–28

Elder Lector: Sharon Trapnell

Praise set
“This Is Amazing Grace”
“Mighty to Save”
“Cornerstone”

THE MORNING PSALM: 105
LEADER: 1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
PEOPLE: 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
LEADER: 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
PEOPLE: 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
LEADER: 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
PEOPLE: 6 O descendants of Abraham his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
LEADER: 7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
PEOPLE: 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,
LEADER: 9 the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
PEOPLE: 10 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

LEADER: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
PEOPLE: 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

LEADER: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

PEOPLE: Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Ps 55:22)

LEADER: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
PEOPLE: 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6-7).

LEADER: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

PEOPLE: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)

LEADER: For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

PEOPLE: But we, in keeping with his promise are looking for to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (II Peter 3:13)

LEADER: 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
PEOPLE: 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Rom. 6:3-4)

LEADER: They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)
PEOPLE: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me. (Rev. 3:20)

LEADER: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

OPENING PRAYER: (all)
O God, author and giver of all good things, plant in our hearts the love of your name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREET ONE ANOTHER:

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Exodus 3:1–15
LEADER: 1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
PEOPLE: 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
LEADER: 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
PEOPLE: 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
LEADER: 7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
PEOPLE: 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
LEADER: Ex 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
PEOPLE: 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
LEADER: 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
PEOPLE: 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
LEADER: 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
PEOPLE: This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

THE EPISTLES: Romans 12:9–21:
LEADER: 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly [sisterly] love. Honor one another above yourselves.
PEOPLE: 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
LEADER: 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
PEOPLE: 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
LEADER: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
PEOPLE: 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Nicene Creed: (Pastor)
LEADER: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
PEOPLE: We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
LEADER: For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
PEOPLE: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
LEADER: We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

HYMN: “Lead on O King Eternal” 595

“SEARCH MY HEART O GOD” (all)
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise one boast of their wisdom or the strong one boast of their strength or the rich one boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they understands and know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares
the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12) In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives you all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.

PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER:
“You may ask me anything in my name and I will do it.” (Jn14:14)
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.
Gloria Patri 142: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

THE MORNING SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:21–28
STUDY: “The Things of God”

OFFERINGS AND GIFTS:
Offertory: Mark Steele
Doxology (382) 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:

PRAISE: “I Know The Way”
BENEDICTION:

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