Firelands Presbyterian Church

www.firelandschurch.org
September 5, 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 Bourree I and II Bach Cello Suite 3

Welcome and Announcements

*Call to Worship
In the silence before time began,
In the quiet of the womb,
In the stillness of the early morning,
Is Your beauty.
At the heart of all creation,
At the birth of every creature,
At the center of each moment,
Is Your splendor.
Rekindle in us the sparks of Your beauty
That we may be part of the splendor of this moment.
Rekindle in us the sparks of Your beauty
that we may be part of the blazing splendor
that burns from the heart of this moment
(The Call to Worship is from Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter, p 38.)

*Prayer of Invocation
Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downward. Give us an unconquered heart, which no
unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow on us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you,
wisdom to find you and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -
- Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274).

*Hymn O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Hymnal #610

Call to Confession
We turn to God in prayer not because we are compelled but because God invites us. We come to God not because of our
righteousness but because of God’s grace. In that spirit, we offer this prayer of confession and unburdening.

Prayer of Confession
Blessed Jesus, the crowds were all around You, many restless and searching, others broken and wounded, some curious and
questioning. You had compassion in Your heart, love in Your touch, and kindness in Your eyes. We confess that we are still
like the crowds. We hurt each other and carry the wounds of the past. We bear abuse too silently, speak too thoughtlessly.
We are curious but avoid commitment. We are looking for love in the wrong places, giving in to that which doesn't satisfy.
Holy God, loving Jesus, walk in our midst. Touch us and restore our faith. Set us on the right path. Touch our nation and turn
us from violence. Give us a heart big enough to care for the poor and a will large enough to follow You in the paths of peace
and deeds of justice for all. Amen.

Silent Confession

Assurance of Pardon
The God of creation is a God of mercy. God is quick to forgive and God’s promise of restoration is for all people. Friends, believe
the Good News of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.

WORD
Prayer for Illumination
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit, illumine the sacred page, we pray, that our minds may be open to receive your Word, our
hearts taught to love it, and our wills strengthened to obey it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen.

First Reading Psalm 112

1 Praise the LORD! Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in God’s commandments!
2 Their offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their homes, and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend; who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of bad news; their hearts are firm, trusting in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are steady; they will not be afraid, until they look in triumph on their adversaries.
9 They have distributed freely; they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish!

God of love, you adopted us as your children.

Grant that we may pass through this world with such integrity
That no one will have just complaint against us.
At the end, may we inherit what has been prepared for us in heaven;
Through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Second Reading Isaiah 35: 1 - 10

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2 it shall blossom
abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They
shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to
those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of
God. He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall
the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in
the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they
lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the
unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9 No
lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they
shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Gospel Reading Mark 7:24-37

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to
know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and
came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the
demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and
throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And
he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found
the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And
they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And
taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking
up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was
released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously
they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure
God, we thank you for Your Word.
The story of Your Grace

Sermon

Musical Interlude Sarabande Bach Cello Suite 1

*Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God above us, maker and sustainer of all life, of sun and moon, of water and earth, of male and female.
We believe in God beside us, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, born of woman, servant of the poor, tortured and nailed to a
tree.
A man of sorrows, he died forsaken. He descended into the earth to the place of death. On the third day he rose from the
tomb. He ascended into heaven, to be everywhere present, and his kingdom will come on earth.

*Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy Hymnal #435

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! They will come from east and west, and from north and south, to sit at table
in the kingdom of God. According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with his disciples, he took the bread, and blessed
and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. This is the Lord’s table. Our Savior
invites those who trust him to share the feast which he has prepared.

Prayer Of Consecration
 THE BREAD Because there is one loaf, we, many as we are, are one body; for it is one loaf of which we all partake. When
we break the bread, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? The body of Christ, given for you.

THE CUP When we give thanks over the cup, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The blood of Christ, shed for you.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

SENDING

*Hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Hymnal #275

*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; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

*Benediction
Now to the One, who by the power at work within our lives: Enable us to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or
imagine. To him be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. — from Ephesians 3:20-21

Postlude Sarabande in G Minor Jean-Baptiste Loeillet

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

Preacher: Rev. David Aber Preacher: Janeane Hopkins
Reader: Shirley Carlson Reader: Ed Carlson
Musician: Brian Shifflet Piano & Cello Musician: Susan Larcey
Facebook Recorder: TBD Facebook Recorder: TBD
Greeter: Marta Vielhaber Greeter: John McIntosh
Fellowship host(s): Marta Vielhaber & Fellowship host(s): Jim & Betty Layton
Ed Bettendorf Deacon of the Month: Betty Layton
Deacon of the Month: Betty Layton
 THIS WEEK AT FIRELANDS
Today WORSHIP 9:30 AM
followed by Fellowship
Monday LABOR DAY

Tuesday Dulcimer Group 3:00-5 PM

Wednesday Office Open 1:00-4:30 PM
Thursday
Friday Office Open 9:30-12:30 PM
Saturday
Next Sunday Sunday School 9:15 AM
WORSHIP 10:30 AM
followed by Fellowship
The Church Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 9:30-12:30 unless otherwise noted on the calendar
above and/or the calendar on the firelandschurch.org website.

Prayer Concerns
Nancy & Christopher Longaker, Diane Jordan, John & Karen Vardyan, Pam Coykendale, Jacqui, Jim & Patti, Barbara, Alan Somers,
Allyson Somers, Shane Kinnear, Doug, Karen Dietz, Sally Wahlers, 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.

Special Music next Sunday

Our last Summer Worship service
Brian Shifflet is leading the music for our worship service this morning. He will play his cello for prelude and interlude pieces and
play piano for the hymns.

Brian plays cello in the Sandusky Symphony Orchestra and is the son of Karen Shifflet.

Next Sunday September 12

Sunday School Begins 9:15
Worship Begins 10:30
Ernie McCullough will begin teaching the adult Sunday School at 9:15 on Sunday September 12.

Annual Congregational Meeting

September 19 after Worship
Our congregational meeting will be held following our Worship Services. A potluck dinner will follow. A sign up sheet is on the
gathering table for you share what items you will be bringing. The annual reports will be available on September 12 for you to take
home and study them.

Pastor David on Vacation

Pastor David on Vacation is on vacation September 6 – 13
Please call Janine for emergencies at 419-265-7298
Our Guest minister will be Janeane Hopkins
on Sunday September 12.
 Doris Rowbotham 90th Birthday Celebration
Her family is celebrating TODAY 2-4 pm with an open house at her garage.
Her address 341 E. Main St. Marblehead OH 43440
You may also send her a card but no gifts.
Thank You.

Widow’s Luncheon Change of Date

September 16
The Widow’s Luncheon will now be on the third Thursday of the month meeting at Bistro 163 at 11:30 AM. RSVP by September 12 to
Jo Coon by either texting or email. 419-350-8349 or email-jocoon09@gmail.com

Musical Art Series

Harmonia
folk music of Eastern and Central Europe
September 11 at 3:30 PM
Venue: Steele Memorial Band Stand, Lakeside-Chautauqua
RAIN DATE SEPTEMBER 18
Sponsored by: The Frederick Insurance Agency and Arby's Restaurant|You can buy tickets at the venue or go to
Musicalartsportclinton.com to order single tickets ($15) pick 5 ($65) or Season tickets ($100).

Artist Retrospective
Robert E. Reynolds Jr.
September 18, 2021,
11:00am—3:30 pm
The Arts Garage
137 W. Perry Street
Port Clinton, OH 43452

Join us at TAG for an opportunity to view a selection of Bob Reynolds watercolor paintings, prints and oil paintings. In addition,
there will be viewings of “The Maiden Voyage of the Onward”, a documentary of the first vessel to make the 9,000-mile trip known
as the Great Loop at noon and 2 PM. Bob Reynolds is a true Renaissance Man with many talents and life experiences, and you will
definitely not want to