Firelands Presbyterian Church

www.firelandschurch.org
August 15, 2021
2626 East Harbor Road Port Clinton, OH 43452
419-734-6211 https://www.facebook.com/firelandschurch
Pastor David Aber aberdavidrobert@gmail.com
 Welcome to Firelands Church, a community of believers gathered by the Holy Spirit and committed to serving God and growing
together in Jesus Christ.
We invite all of our worshippers to stay for fellowship following the service
so that we might become better acquainted.

THE ORDER OF THE LITURGY

*Those who are able are invited to stand.

GATHERING

Prelude Softly and Tenderly Thompson/Hayes

Welcome and Announcements

*Call to Worship
I am bending my knee
In the eye of the Father who created me,
In the eye of the Son who purchased me,
In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me
In friendship and affection.
Through Thine own Anointed One, O God, bestow upon us
Fullness in our need:
Love towards God, the affection of God, the smile of God,
The wisdom of God, the grace of God, the fear of God,
And the will of God to do in the world of the Three
As the angels and holy ones do in heaven,
Each shade and light,
Each day and night, each time in kindness,
Give Thou us Thy Spirit.
(The Celtic Vision: Prayers and Blessings from the Outer Hebrides, Esther de Waal, editor)

*Prayer of Invocation
Lord Jesus Christ, hasten the day when all of your people may know the joy, peace and harmony of your kingdom. Grant unto
to us this day the power to live within your kingdom. In the name of Christ. Amen.

*Hymn We Gather Together Hymnal ##336

Call to Confession
The Lord is a good and faithful God, yet we doubt and question God’s plans and intentions toward us. Let us confess our sins,
that we might be reconciled to Christ and one another.
Prayer of Confession
Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, we understand and accept how hard it is to be honest with You! It isn’t only those choices
we wished we could make differently that bother us. It is also the decision that seemed so well thought through but which
were so wrong. There is this nagging worry that we, maybe, just maybe, could have done more than we did; that we could
have been a bit more loving towards our families and friends, a little more trusting of the strangers we met, more generous in
our praise of someone else, and more generous in our stewardship and what we did with our money. Forgive us, we pray, for
those things which we regret, and for those things which we did not do better when we had the chance. Thank You for the
gift of this new day, and this time of a more honest look at ourselves as we worship in Your name. Amen.

Silent Confession

Assurance of Pardon
The Lord is slow to anger and quick to forgive. Friends, hear the good news and receive it with joy: In Jesus Christ we receive
pardon from sin and freedom to live as new creations. Alleluia! Amen.

WORD
Prayer for Illumination
Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world, a light that no darkness can quench. Upon your church wrestling with the darkness of
evil, battling against doubt, let your light shine. Amen.

First Reading Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is God’s work, and God’s righteousness endures forever.
4 God has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 God provides food for those who fear him; God remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of God’s hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 God sent redemption to his people; God has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is God’s name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. God’s praise endures
forever!

Second Reading 2 Samuel 23: 13 - 17

13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of
Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was
then at Bethlehem 15 And David said longingly, "Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem
that is by the gate!" 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of
Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord 17
and said, "Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?"
Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

Gospel Reading John 6:51 - 58

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, you will live forever. And the bread that I will
give for the life of the world is my flesh." 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his
flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last
day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me,
and I in you.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, you also will live because of me. 58
This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live
forever."
God, we thank you for Your Word.
The story of Your Grace

Sermon

Anthem Fly Away Home Mary McDonald

Serendipity Singers

*Affirmation of Faith
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. God then formed man and woman in his image, to bear the divine
image into the world. Humanity chose to disobey God, resulting in separation from God.
God saw us in our sin and loved us. God put into place a plan for redemption. God sent Jesus, God's only Son, to die, to take
our sins upon himself. He was crucified and buried, but he didn't stay dead! He arose! He is alive! His life now gives us life
once again.
We are his agents on this earth, working for the restoration of all things until he returns. He will come again and sin will be no
more! This is God's story.
This we believe.

*Hymn Come, Christians, Join to Sing Hymnal #267

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer (debts and debtors) p. 35

Communion

Invitation and Narrative

Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God. Our Savior invites those who are baptized in his name to share the feast
which he has provided.

Hear the narrative of the institution of the Lord’s Supper as it was recorded by the apostle Paul.

I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat the bread and drink the up, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and following his example, we take this bread and this cup and give thanks to God.
Prayer Of Consecration

The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.

The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Sending

*Hymn: Lift Every Voice and Sing Hymnal #339

*Charge
Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold onto what is good; return no one evil for evil; support the weak; help the
suffering; hoor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

*Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his
countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen

Postlude God Be With You … Timer/Alexander

Ministers in This Sunday’s Service Ministers in Next Sunday’s Service

Preacher: Rev. David Aber
Reader: Shirley Carlson
Musician: Susan Larcey
Facebook Recorder: Ed Bettendorf
Greeter: Jeanette Walls
Fellowship host(s): Dick & Karen Dietz
Deacon of the Month: Karen Dietz
Preacher: Rev. David Aber
Reader: Karen Dietz
Musician: Elders of Jazz
Facebook Recorder: Ed Bettendorf
Greeter: Ginny McCook
Fellowship host(s): Kay & John McIntosh
Deacon of the Month: Karen Dietz

Prayer Concerns
Christopher Longaker, Janet Miller, Ruth, Ron, Eric Pott, Tom Roush, Diane Jordan, John & Karen Vardyan, Margo, Jean Witkowski,
Jacqui, Jim & Patti,and John & Linda Fulton,

If you have a name to add to the prayer list, please contact the office. Names remain on this list for up to one month unless they are
resubmitted.
 THIS WEEK AT FIRELANDS
Today WORSHIP 9:30 AM
followed by Fellowship
Monday Office Open 10:30-1:30 PM
Racial understanding and Reconciliation Study 2:00-3:30
Knitwits 7-9 PM
Tuesday Dulcimer Group 3:00-5 PM
Wednesday Office Open 10:30-1:30 PM
Reflections on Sermons 10:30 AM
Healing Hearts Stein Hospice 11 - noon
Thursday
Friday Office Open 10:30-1:30 PM
Saturday
Next Sunday WORSHIP 9:30 AM
followed by Fellowship

The Church Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, 10:30 – 1:30 unless otherwise noted on the calendar above and/or
the calendar on the firelandschurch.org website.

Flowers on the altar

Flowers on the altar are given to the Glory of God in memory of Pat True by her Family.

Pat’s Memorial service was in the church yesterday.

Create a Garden for the Cure

Help us create a Garden for the Cure! This year we are creating a giant poster garden to honor and remember those who have battled
cancer.
This year we are asking you to select one of our handcrafted flowers to post on our board in honor or in memory of a family member
or friend.
Choose 1 flower = $3.00 or 2 flowers = $5.00 AND 5 flowers $10.00
Make checks to: Firelands Presbyterian Church and write American Cancer Society on the Memo Line.

The Elder of Jazz will be the musicians next Sunday

We welcome the Elders of Jazz who will be playing for our service.

Sunday Evening Vespers

Sunday August 29th at 5:30 PM(note the time change)
August Vespers will be in the Pavilion. Please bring a snack to share.

Stein Hospice Healing Hearts

This grief support group meets on the Third Wednesday 11 am to noon here.
This group is open to those who are in the midst of grieving.