Welcome
Please use this link for the
Zoom Service October 27, 2024 at 8:30 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81188368778?p30wd=QzZNMlFNNWVRVFIyUXZieWtNWkV0UT09
October 27, 2024
Acton Community Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 177, 32142 Crown Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510
Message: 661-208-8032 w who ww.actonpc.org
1888 – 2024 Celebrating Heritage and Sharing Hope
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great;
And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He, Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age, the same, And He must win the battle.
Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
WELCOME, ANNOUNCMENTS, GUESTS AND SPECIAL DAYS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
People: I sought the Lord, who answered and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant, so your faces shall never be ashamed.
Leader: This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.
People: O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
OPENING HYMN – #260 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
1 A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
2 Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
3 And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
4 That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world to reveal your love for us, and to redeem us as a people who walk in your light. But we have obscured the glory of your presence within us by sinning in thought, word, and deed. We have chosen often to walk in the darkness instead of your light. In your mercy, fill us again with your Spirit, that, forgiven and renewed, we may worship you, showing forth the glory that shines in the face of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION PRAYERS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
OLD TESTAMENT READING Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Then Job answered the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. “Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.” I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.’ And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money[a] and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this Job lived for one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days.
The Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God
EPISTLE: Hebrews 7:23-28
Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save[e] those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other[f] high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.
SERMON : Rev. Dr. Judith Hirsch-Fikejs “What’s Really Important?”
CALL FOR OFFERING–Congregation sings - Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed
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 Ghost; 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 sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence 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.
GOSPEL: Mark 10:46-52
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher,[g] let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
HYMN #411 - Arise Your Light Is Come
Arise, your light is come! The Spirit's call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God Which shines on you today.
Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door;
Proclaim the captive's liberty, Good tidings to the poor.
Arise, your light is come! All you in sorrow born,
Bind up the brokenhearted ones And comfort those who morn.
Arise, your light is come! The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing, God's pow'r will make us strong.
HOLY COMMUNION
CLOSING HYMN #485 - To God Be the Glory
1 To God be the glory, great things He hath done! So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Refrain: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory: great things He hath done.
2 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. [Refrain]
BENEDICTION – The Lord Be With You
Congregation sings
God be with you till we meet again, By his counsels guide, uphold you, With his sheep securely fold you God be with you till we meet again.
**Offerings
1. May be deposited in the Offering Box by the Narthex.
2. Processed through “E-Give” online at actonpc.org
3. Send a check to Acton Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 177 Acton, Ca. 93510
Halloween on Thursday the 31st. 5-8 PM Don’t miss it!
It’s the Sandy and Jamie Photo Booth Extravaganza
Helpers needed – 2-3 PM to setup the goodies for the Trick/Treaters
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FOOD PANTRY
The cupboard is bare
Let us show some care
Buy what you need and a little more
To help the needy and the poor.
You can leave non-perishables in the barrel at the new Acton Market
or the basket in the Narthex
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Save the Date November 10th at 7PM for SCV Concert Band
Canyon Theatre Guild, Newhall