Christ’s Reformed Church – United Church of Christ

~ growing people of faith who live in Jesus, love one another and bear abundant fruit ~

September 17, 2023

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP
Bless the Holy One with our whole selves. Praise the Maker of our being!
Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.
The Sovereign One endows us with many gifts and equips us to do good work.
Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.
Holy Love entered the world without condemnation but with grace and forgiveness, mercy and
compassion, redemption and restoration.
Hallelujah! We give thanks for the mighty deeds and the good works of our God!

INVOCATION
God who calls, it is you who gathers us together and forms us as a community. It is you who makes us
uniquely individual and who designs us for companionship. Let us journey together this day in your
presence reminded of our interdependence with one another. May we see your glory and be inspired
to demonstrate your goodness and care through our lives. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE I Sing the Mighty Power of God (See Attachment)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of grace, we need your strength in our weakness. We confess that we can be judgemental and
hyper-critical of our neighbors, family, and friends. We project our own shortcomings on others in order
to deflect attention from our mistakes. We withhold and condition forgiveness, mercy, and grace from
those who wrong us at the same time we seek it for the wrongs we have done. Even still, we struggle
to forgive ourselves. You have shown us the better way. Help us to follow your path–receiving and
extending forgiveness in a world in need of an infusion of grace for transformation. In your mercy, O
God, hear our prayer, and let us forgive as you forgive. Amen. Moment of Silence

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Beloved, grace has always been part of God’s relationship with humanity. God does not want you
condemned or held captive by unresolved anger leading to bitterness. Rather, Creator desires you to be
released as both forgiven and forgiver so that all may live a life that is whole, free, and flourishing.

PRAYER RESPONSE Sanctuary (See Below or Attachment)

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living Sanctuary for You

OLDER TESTAMENT Exodus 14:19-31

19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them, and the

pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20 It came between the army
of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night;
one did not come near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.
The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, and the
waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for
them on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went into the sea after them, all of
Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the LORD, in the pillar of fire and
cloud, looked down on the Egyptian army and threw the Egyptian army into a panic. 25 He clogged[a] their
chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for
the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over
the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot
drivers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal
depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned
and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them
into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the
waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day
from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that
the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his
servant Moses.

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I

forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-
seven[a] times.23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to
settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand
talents was brought to him, 25 and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with
his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees
before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the
lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came
upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said,
‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me,
and I will pay you.’ 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the
debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went
 and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You
wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy
on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured
until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do
not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

The word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God

SPECIAL MUSIC Andy Hockman

SERMON Struggling with Scripture Rev. Esther Ziegler

*HYMN OF RESPONSE O How Glorious, Full of Wonder (See Attachment)

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, you are awesome! Show us who you are and how you want us to be. Make
earth more like heaven. Please give us what we need to keep going each day. Help us when we are
wrong and clean us up on the inside. Help us to let other people off and move on. Keep us from bad
stuff. You’re in charge! You’re strong and powerful and always there. Forever! Amen.
Primary School’s version of The Lord’s Prayer

OFFERING

*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication for Offering

Merciful God, receive our humble offerings as a testimony to your provision and a demonstration of our
love. May they be magnified and multiplied for the benefit of our community and all creation.

*HYMN OF SENDING Joyful, Joyful We Adore You (See Attachment)

*BENEDICTION
May the love of God assure you, the hope of God guide you, and the peace of God sustain you as you
go receiving and extending God’s grace in the world.

*BENEDICTION SONG Halle, Halle, Halleluja (See Attachment)

Halle, Halle, Halleluja (sung 4x’s)

POSTLUDE

*Please stand if you would like.

 The altar flowers are placed to the Glory of God and
in loving memory of our
Daughter, Parents and Sisters who have passed before us
given by Art & Libby Burgan

Please lift the people below in your prayers.

Bill & Ella Andrews

Lisa Price Clare (Friend of Plume Family)
Paul & Becky Corderman
Geraldine Cromer
Bob Demuth
Kathy Fisher
Jennifer Hamilton (Neighbor of Sandy Duffy)
Hamberger Family
Web & Betsy Harbaugh
Larry Hoeck
Dave Kolenc (Betty Spessard's Cousin)
Kristi Lawson (Daughter of Martin & Kathy Fisher)
Robert Miller
Teresa Miller (Friend of Sandy Duffy)
Ginger Nichols
Gary Price (Friend of Plume Family)
Traci L. Ross (Friend of Jackie P. & Becky L.)
Jeff Shaw
Linda VanMetre
 Welcome to our Guests: We gather to praise “the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
(John 1:29). Because of Jesus, you can be at peace in
the assurance of God’s forgiveness and love.
Welcome to worship!! If you have come as a visitor,
we hope that you’ll leave as a friend who’s been
blessed by worshiping in this house of God. We look
forward to seeing you again.
September 20 11 AM Lectionary
September 24 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost– Guest Preacher/Rev. Ziegler
September 25 7 PM ATS Meeting
September 27 11 AM Lectionary
October 1 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost – World Communion Sunday
October 1 5-8 PM Taste of Town – REACH Fundraiser
October 4 11 AM Lectionary
October 7 8:30 AM Women’s Breakfast
October 8 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Congregational Meeting after Service
October 11 11 AM Lectionary
October 12 6:30 PM Consistory Meeting
October 15 Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Laity Sunday
October 18 11 AM Lectionary
October 22 Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost
October 23 7 PM ATS Meeting
October 25 11 AM Lectionary
October 29 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost – All Saints Sunday
Liturgist: Tom Van Metre
Altar Preparation: Donna Stockslager
Flower Deliverers Cheryl Wilson
Ushers: Debbie Eichelberger, Derek Eichelberger, Donna Stockslager,
Kevin & Betty Spessard, Mike McCauley, Art Crampton
Brayden McCauley
Financials for August 2023 YTD Jan-August 2023
Samaritan Acct Balance $ 924.88
Offerings $ 9,299.00 Offering $ 87,877.05
ATS Repayment $ 0 ATS Repayment $ 0
Endowment Interest $ 10,000.00 Endowment Interest $ 100,000.00
Expenses $ 23,666.69 Expenses $ 187,141.35
Net Profit/Loss $ -4,530.20 Net Profit/Loss $ -735.70
Christ's Reformed Church Church Staff
Phone No: 301-733-4144 Margaret Bussard – Custodian
Fax No. 301-733-4145 Thomas Greenawalt - Technology Support
Church General email: Larry Hoeck - Consistory President
crc1854@myactv.net Rev. Mary Jane Norville - Sr. Minister
Website: www.crcucc.org Cheryl Wilson - AA/Organist
Morning Worship 9:30 am Carlotte Trout – ATS Board President
YouTube: CRC Christ’s Reformed Church