Second Presbyterian Church

Second Presbyterian Church Oil City

4 days ago

Order of Service March 9@11am Eastern
Second Presbyterian Church Oil City, Pennsylvania
March 9, 2025 First Sunday In Lent/Gifts of Women Sunday

This service is from the Horizons Magazine (PW)
Prelude Tech Crew
Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship—Litany based on Exodus 15
L/I will sing to the Lord, for the Holy One has triumphed gloriously
P/ The Lord is my strength and my might. The Holy One has become my salvation.
L/ This is my God, ad I will praise Her, my mother’s God and I will exalt Her.
P/ Who is like you O Lord, among the gods?
L/ Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
P/ The Lord will reign forever and ever.
L/ Sing to the Lord,
P/ for the Holy One has triumphed gloriously.

Hymn of Praise: Simple Gifts
‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
’tis the gift to come down where you ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed
To turn, turn will be our delight
‘Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Call to Confession
L/ Here this scripture: “Since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us approach our Creator with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10: 21-22a). Let us pause and think on our relationship with God and each other, confessing our sins to God.
<silent confession and reflection>

(Litany of confession written by Chanequa Walker-Barnes)
L/ O mighty God who created us in your image, we confess to pressuring ourselves to be all things for all people.
P/ Have mercy on us.
L/ O wise God who created the Sabbath for us, we confess to busy-ing ourselves to fulfill the expectations of others as to our gender or social standing.
P/ have mercy on us, O God
L/ Merciful God, who guides us, we confess that we adopt measures for our own worth that are impossible standards at best. We confess that instead of resting in you we perpetuate tropes of individual strength and radical self-sufficiency.
P/ Forgive us, Lord.
L/ We have thus neglected our well-being, neglected others, and neglected the work you have actual set before us.
P/ Forgive us, merciful God
L/ In Jesus, You have modeled proper rest, adherence to real truth, and acceptance of Wisdom and Purpose from the Holy One.
P/ Help us to embrace and live your Way. Amen.
L/ Hear these words of scripture: “Jesus says, ‘for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Come, rest for your soul in me.’(Matthew 11: 28-30)” Receive the Good News. In Christ Jesus we are forgiven. Amen.

Hymn #556 Now Thank We All our God

Passing of Peace

Children’s Chat Tammy Botts

Reading Scripture
Prayer for Illumination
Old Testament: Proverbs 31: 10-31
New Testament: Luke 9: 44-45, 51-62

Sermon “Deliberately Following” Rev. Dr. Tim Harmon


Affirmation of Faith: Apostles Creed (180 AD, PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions 2.1-2.3)
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 Spirit, 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 sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

Commissioning of PW Board
L: The call of Christ to all of us in our Baptism is to a willing, dedicated discipleship. Discipleship is both a gift and a commitment, an offering and a responsibility. You have been elected by the Presbyterian Women Board to serve a specific purpose, that of PW Board member. You are tasked with not only the general mission of this congregation and presbytery, but according to the PW Mission statement from the National Presbyterian Women’s charter:
• to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
• to support the mission of the church worldwide,
• to work for justice and peace, and
• to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.
L: Who is your Lord and Savior? PW:Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior
L: Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying His word and showing his love? PW Board: I Will, with God’s help
L: Do you welcome this responsibility and undertake it as service to the Lord, as love for your neighbors, and as a work of reconciliation in Christ? PW Board: I Do
L: Will you pray for and serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? Will you pray about your work and make informed decisions? Will you work under the authority of scripture and the Session, always being guided by the Constitution of the PCUSA and strive to fulfill the mission of PW?
PW Board: I will, with God’s help
L: You are now commissioned as the PW Board of Second Presbyterian Church—Oil City. May God’s Spirit fill you with right judgement and courage, humility and imagination as you serve.

We Offer Our Tithes of Time, Talent, and Resources
Special Music Pam Keverline
Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow
Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer (using debts)

Litany of Gratitude and Celebration
L/ For the gifts of women throughout the ages
P/ we give thanks.
L/ For the ways in which the women have shown up—from Shiphrah and Puah to Miriam and Hagar, from Deborah and Jael to Ruth, Rahab, Vashti, and Esther.
P/ We celebrate you, O God
L/ For the courage and strength, resistance and rest, wisdom and subversiveness—from Mahlah to NoAh, Hoglah and Micah and Tirzah
P/ we give you thank Lord
L/ For Mary the mother of Jesus and Elizabeth, for Jephthah’s daughter and the Benjamite’s concubine, for Leah and Peninnah, Hannah and others sometimes reduced to their reproductive ability.
P/we give you thanks and honor them for so much more
L/ For Mary Magdalene, Martha, Mary, Joanna, Susanna, Rhoda, Dorcas, Tabitha, and countless others unnamed
P/ we celebrate you and pull those from the margins and center them in your family
L/ For our mothers and aunts and wives and daughters; for women in all walks of life, throughout all cultures and races and times and places
P/ We give thanks; we celebrate God; We honor all your people. Hallelujah! Amen!

Benediction
Closing Hymn: #345 Blessed Assurance ... See MoreSee Less

Second Presbyterian Church Oil City

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On this World Day of Prayer, all are invited to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. #PCUSA #Prayer ... See MoreSee Less