Guest Pastor: Dr. Alan Hickok
We have come today to see and touch and know God’s presence here among us. Let us hear afresh the good news: that power and steadfast love arise from God, our rock and our salvation. Come, let us worship God!
Call to Worship:
L: When Jonah spoke, the people woke and changed their ways.
P: Repent! God will relent!
L: When Jesus called, they left their nets and followed him.
P: The realm of God is near. Repent! God will relent!
Prayer of Confession: Holy One, what a blessing and privilege we share here in this sacred space and among this loving community. But, like Jonah, we sometimes are jealous of what we share here. We know that others are longing and thirsting for what we know and experience. Forgive us our reluctance to open our doors. We repent of our hesitations and unwillingness to witness to those we have considered strangers and even enemies for fear they just might become friends. Amen.
Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion
4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Listen To Audio: Service 10162022
Message: “Control or Self Control”
God be with you ‘til we meet again, By His counsels guide, up-hold you, With His sheep securely fold you: God be with you ‘til we meet again.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Joe will not be available at the church on Thursday Mornings during the month of October. If you need pastoral care during this time, please contact a session member for assistance.
Loose change goes to Kenya/Rev. Malaho
Sunday School starts at 8:30am
Choir practice will be on Thursday at 1:00 P.M.
Men’s Breakfast, Wednesday October 19 at 8:00 A.M.
Newsletter deadline is October 25th.
Presbyterian Women will meet on Thursday, November 10th at 11 A.M.Please sign up to host one of the social hours on the Sunday after Communion Service on the first Sunday of the month. Hosting only means setting out what is brought and cleaning up afterward. It does not mean bringing everything to share.
The Worship Committee will be decorating the church and tree in blue, silver and white colors this year for the Christmas season. We thought it would be nice to include an ornament from each person or family on the tree in any of these colors. They can be store bought or crafted by hand. Anyone interested may give the ornament to Vickie, Gwenn, or Sandy before Nov. 20th.
