Prayer for the Gathering: Proper 22 from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: Lyrics of Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Sin and despair like the sea waves cold
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold
points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin!
Call to Worship: 1 Peter 1:18-21
[18] For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. [21] Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Worship in Song
Worship Set for 10/8/2023
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing | All I Have is Christ | Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
The Word Preached: 1 Peter 3:8-12
Do No Evil
[8] Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, [9] not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
[10] For the one who wants to love life
and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit,
[11] and let him turn away from evil
and do what is good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
[12] because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against
those who do what is evil.
Response to the Word Preached
Response in Song: Give Us Clean Hands