Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
The world belongs to God,
The earth and all its people,
How good it is, how wonderful,
To live together in unity,
Love and faith come together,
Justice and peace join hands,
If we were to keep silent
The stones would shout aloud.
Open our lips, O God,
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
Opening Prayer of Praise
Opening Song
Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer
Words by William Williams
Tune of CWM RHONDDA
Guide me, O my great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty; hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain, where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield, ever be my strength and shield.
When I reach the River Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s destruction, land me safe on heaven’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you, I will ever sing to you.
Psalm 48:1-11
Common English Bible
In the city belonging to our God,
the Lord is great and so worthy of praise!
His holy mountain is a beautiful summit,
the joy of the whole world.
Mount Zion, in the far north,
is the city of the great king.
God is in its fortifications,
revealing himself as a place of safety.
Look: the kings assembled themselves,
advancing all together—
when they saw it, they were stunned;
they panicked and ran away frightened.
Trembling took hold of them right there—
like a woman giving birth,
or like the east wind when it smashes
the ships of Tarshish.
Just like we had heard,
now we’ve seen it for ourselves
in the city of the Lord of heavenly forces,
in the city of our God.
May God make it secure forever! Selah
We dwell on your faithful love, God,
in your temple.
Your praise, God, just like your reputation,
extends to the far corners of the earth.
Your strong hand is filled with righteousness.
Let Mount Zion be glad;
let the towns of Judah rejoice
because of your acts of justice!
Song of Praise
God Of Creation, All-Powerful
Words by Margaret Clarkson
Tune of SLANE
God of creation, all-pow’rful, all-wise,
Lord of the universe rich with surprise,
Maker, Sustainer, and Ruler of all,
we are your children–you hear when we call.
God of the ages, through time’s troubled years
you are the One in whom history coheres;
nations and empires your purpose fulfill,
moving in freedom, yet working your will.
God of redemption, who wrought our rebirth,
called out your church from the ends of the earth,
still you are Savior–put darkness to flight;
overcome sin by salvation’s pure light!
God of your people, your Word still stands fast–
do for us now as you’ve done in the past!
Yours is the Kingdom–your triumph we claim,
challenging evil in Jesus’ strong name.
God of our now, all our trust is in you,
Covenant-God, ever faithful and true;
Sovereign Creator, Redeemer and Lord,
now and forever your name be adored!
Prayer of Confession
Wonderful God who fills the heavens and the earth,
thank you for the wonders of your creation;
for the beautiful mountains that surround us:
for Richland Balsam, the tallest peak around standing at 6,410 feet,
for Waterrock Knob from where we can see Maggie Valley, the Great Smokies, and crowning peaks of the Plott Balsams; and for Black Balsam, where we have hiked through hoarfrost, summer rains, and blowing winds; for Sheep Back Mountain, Rockyface, Big Ridge, and Cowee Bald;
for Judaculla Ridge, Ellicott Rock, and Sam Knob.
God, these mountains should remind us of your enduring love and your steadfast presence among us. These mountains speak of your glory, your strength, and your staying power.
Surrounded by the certainty of your abiding presence,
we confess that we have things out of place.
We have put our trust in mortals, in princes;
we have put our trust in our own self-sufficiency;
we have put our trust in material prosperity.
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
We have forgotten who we are,
living as if the whole earth belonged to us, instead of you,
neglecting our role as stewards of your creation
and appreciative servants of your glory.
Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy.
We have neglected the beauty around us,
preferring the “comforts” of climate-controlled settings,
leading us to ignore the beauty of creation that points us directly to you
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.
Silent prayer
Abide With Me
Tune of EVENTIDE
Aiden Stiens, Pianist
The Creator God forgives us time and time again.
Come, now, let us live as forgiven people,
depending upon all that God provides,
open to the life of the Spirit in us and in others,
for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Choral Anthem
Isaiah the Prophet
Words by Joy F. Patterson
Isaiah the prophet has written of old
how God’s earthly kingdom shall come.
Instead of the thorn tree the fir tree shall grow;
the wolf shall lie down with the lamb.
The mountains and hills shall break forth into song,
the peoples be led forth in peace;
for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God
as the waters cover the seas.
Yet nations still prey on the meek of the world,
and conflict turns parent from child.
Your peoples despoil all the sweetness of earth,
and the briar and thorn tree grow wild.
Lord, hasten to bring in your kingdom on earth,
when no one shall hurt or destroy;
when wisdom and justice shall reign in the land,
and your people shall go forth in joy.
Isaiah 65:17-25
Common English Bible
Look! I’m creating a new heaven and a new earth:
past events won’t be remembered;
they won’t come to mind.
Be glad and rejoice forever
in what I’m creating,
because I’m creating Jerusalem as a joy
and her people as a source of gladness.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad about my people.
No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again.
No more will babies live only a few days,
or the old fail to live out their days.
The one who dies at a hundred will be like a young person,
and the one falling short of a hundred will seem cursed.
They will build houses and live in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They won’t build for others to live in,
nor plant for others to eat.
Like the days of a tree will be the days of my people;
my chosen will make full use of their handiwork.
They won’t labor in vain,
nor bear children to a world of horrors,
because they will be people blessed by the Lord,
they along with their descendants.
Before they call, I will answer;
while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Wolf and lamb will graze together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but the snake—its food will be dust.
They won’t hurt or destroy at any place on my holy mountain,
says the Lord.
Reflection on the Scriptures
Dr. Jeffrey Vickery
Song of Response
Restless Weaver
Words by O. I. Cricket Harrison
Tune of HOLY MANNA
Restless Weaver, ever spinning threads of justice and peace;
dreaming patterns of creation where all creatures find a home;
gathering up life’s varied fibers, every texture, every hue;
grant us your creative vision. With us weave your world anew.
Where earth’s fragile web is raveling help us mend each broken strand.
Bless our urgent, bold endeavors cleaning water, air, and land.
Through the Spirit’s inspiration offering health where there once was pain.
Strengthen us to be the stewards of your world knit whole again.
When our violent lust for power ends in lives abused and torn,
from compassion’s study fabric fashion hope and trust reborn.
Where injustice rules as tyrant, give us courage, God to dare.
Live our dreams of transformation, make our lives incarnate prayer.
Restless Weaver, still conceiving new life now and yet to be
binding all of your vast creation into one living tapestry,
you have called us to be weavers. Let your love guide all we do.
With your Reign of Peace our patter, we will weave your world anew.
Prayer of Sending
Go now, and embrace the hope to which God has called us.
Recognize Christ in friend and stranger,
and as Christ has been gracious to you,
so be gracious to those in need.
And may God give you a place of rest on rich pasture;
May Christ Jesus be the shepherd king who binds your wounds;
And may the Ho ly Spirit give you wisdom
and reveal to you the fullness of the one who fills all in all.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song
Blessed Be the Tie
Words by John Fawcett
Tune of DENNIS
Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives and waits to see the day.
Acknowledgements.
The call to worship is based on Psalm 24, 133, 85, 51, and Luke 19. The sending was written by Nathan Nettelton and was published on LaughingBird.net ©2002. Permission to print the words and lead lines to the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved.
Cullowhee Baptist Church 
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