OCTOBER 31, 2021 | REFORMATION SUNDAY 10:00 AM

Reformation Sunday is celebrated to honor the root beliefs that undergirded the Protestant Reformation in the 14th and 15th Centuries in western Europe. The central affirmation is that faith in Christ is all that is needed for salvation, and that The Bible, not any human leader, is the true authority in matters of faith. On October 31, 1517, Roman Catholic priest, Martin Luther, posted 95 Theses (points for discussion) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany to provoke discussion about places where he felt the church needed reform.

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD WELCOME Ed Black PRELUDE “Humbly, I Adore You” Handbell Choir *CALL TO WORSHIP

The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To God belong all the people who live on the Earth. Let us begin with songs of praise and invite the world to join us!

*HYMN NO. 275 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” verses 1 & 2

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.

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.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God, we are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you. And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father, to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show mercy to us, and forgive us all our offenses. Forgive the sins of our youth, and the sins of our old age. By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts, so that, not only the actions of our life, but also the words of our mouths, and the smallest thought of our minds, may be guided and governed by you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Adapted from John

Knox’s Liturgy of 1560

An assurance of pardon is our way of claiming God’s free and unmerited grace. Every Sunday we ask for God’s forgiveness, and seek again to live in ways that honor God and reflect God’s love onto the world..

The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray. (Luke 11:1-4)

When the children leave the sanctuary, they are escorted downstairs to the nursery wing by parent volunteers. Parents are welcome to accompany their children if they wish, and beepers are available for parents to bring back into the sanctuary.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON By God’s Grace we are forgiven of sin and saved. We are grateful! We will receive God’s grace and let it change us. *HYMN NO. 581 GLORIA PATRI

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, Amen.

TO HEAR GOD’S WORD

CHILDREN’S ANTHEM “God of Great and God of Small” Natalie Sleeth Children’s Choir, Norma Kirkland, accompanist TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES

(Children through 1st Grade depart to Room #E-107)

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION READING OF THE WORD Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 14:22-29 New Testament Reading: Hebrews 13:16 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON “Tithe as Teacher” Dr. Eric Skidmore

TO RESPOND IN FAITH

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Dr. Ellen Skidmore AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

We give to God out of gratitude. And the work of this church depends on your gifts. Offerings may be made online https://flpc.org/giving/ or use the QR code below.

OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY “Treasures in Heaven”

K. Lee Scott

Chancel Choir

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Heidelberg Catechism

Q.1. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A.1. That I belong – body and soul, in life and in death- not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Q.4. What does the Law of God require of us?

A.4. Jesus Christ teaches this in a summary . . . . : “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

*HYMN NO. 694 “Great God of Every Blessing”

Great God of every blessing, of faithful, loving care, you are the fount of goodness, the daily bread we share. How can we hope to thank you? Our praise is but a start: sincerely and

completely I offer you my heart.

Your Word is our salvation, the source of endless grace, in death and life extending your covenant embrace. In Christ we are one body; each member has a part: sincerely and

completely I offer you my heart.

Your Spirit is our teacher, the light that guides our search, transforming broken people into the holy church. For feeding us with mercy, for wisdom you impart: sincerely and

completely I offer you my heart. *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION POSTLUDE “This Little Light of Mine” John Behnke

This Catechism, published in 1563, grew out of the Protestant Reformation and was written by a theologian, Zacharias Ursinus, and a preacher, Kaspar Olevianus, from Heidelberg, Germany at the request of Frederick the Elector of Palatinate, a German province. Each catechism question is a personal question, addressing the individual, and laying out the essentials of Reformed Christian faith in three parts. Part one deals with sin and guilt.

Sanctuary Flowers

Gifts have been given to the Glory of God and in memory of Hank Hankinson

by Coe Hankinson

6500 N. Trenholm Road . Columbia, SC 29206

Telephone: 803-787-5672 . www.flpc.org

Dr. Ellen Fowler Skidmore, Senior Pastor

Dr. J. Eric Skidmore, Parish Associate for Stewardship

Ed Black, Ministry Associate for Pastoral Care

Dr. Elizabeth M. Mears, Director of Music

Sylvia Trimmier, Organist

Jodi Beckham, Dir of Mission and Community Engagement

Bill Wannamaker, Youth Director

Permission to stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-717386 and CCLI License #2552701