Worship, September 19
Order of Worship, 17th Sunday after Pentecost, 19 September 2021
Gathering music
Welcome
Opening prayer
Song NCH 323, “Little Children, Welcome”
Reading from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Laurie Kleist
Scripture
Psalm 1
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37
Meditation
song NCH 487, “Surely No One Can Be Safer”
prayers of the people
the Lord’s Prayer
community notes
song NCH 451, “Be Now My Vision”
benediction
sending music
Lyrics:
NCH 323: “Little Children, Welcome,” Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1973; Tune: “Saipan,” Roy Hopp, 1988.
v. 1: Little children, welcome! Earth is yours to live in; arms of love protect you, little children, welcome!
v. 2: Little children, welcome! Jesus cares about you; Jesus now enfolds you, little children, welcome!
v. 3: Little children, welcome! We, the church of Jesus, we will help your growing, little children, welcome!
v. 4: Little children, welcome! God will make you happy, Jesus save and keep you, little children, welcome!
NCH 487: “Surely No One Can Be Safer,” Text: Lina Sandell, 1855, Trans. New Century Hymnal, 1994; Tune: “Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara,” Swedish folk melody, Harm. Song Book for Sunday School, 1871.
v. 1: Surely no one can be safer than God’s children, held in favor, Not the stars so brightly burning, not the birds to nests returning.
v. 2: With the flock God is abiding, heaven’s plenty all providing, Rich in mercy, never sparing, like a father, gently caring.
v. 3: None shall ever meet rejection, be denied God’s own protection; Has there been a friend who better knows our hopes, our fears that fetter?
v. 4: Whether taking, whether giving, God alone remains forgiving, And with one true purpose holy to preserve our welfare solely.
NCH 451: “Be Now My Vision,” Text: Irish, c. 8th century; trans. Mary E. Byrne, 1905; versified by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912; adapted; Tune: “Slane,” Irish trad.; Harm. David Evans, 1927.
v. 1: Be now my vision, O God of my heart; nothing surpasses the love you impart–You my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, your presence my light.
v. 2: Be now my wisdom, and be my true word; ever within me, my soul is assured; Mother and Father, you are both to me, now and forever your child I will be.
v. 3: Riches I heed not, nor life’s empty praise, you, my inheritance now and always; You and you only are first in my heart, great God, my treasure, may we never part.
v. 4: Sovereign of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.