18th Sunday in Ordinary Time  

Call to worship:

Some wandered in the desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.

            They cried to the Lord in their trouble,             And he delivered them from their distress.

            He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.

            Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

            For his wondrous works to the children of men!

            For God satisfies the longing soul,            And the hungry soul God fills with good things.

First hymn: 356 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessings

Prayer of Confession:

            Faithfull God, we confess our unfaithfulness. Our hearts are fickle, and our eyes wonder, and we trick ourselves into serving false gods. We speak lies, we accept lies, and we live lies, destroying ourselves along the way.   We confess the ways we have turned from you;

Silent confession

Loving God, we know that we are prone to wonder, forgive our waywardness and lead us back to you. Allow that we remember your faithfulness, so it may animate our trust in you. Gracious God, allow that your truth settle in our souls and comfort us. Amen

New Testament reading: Colossians 3: 1-10

Old Testament Reading: Hosea 11:1-12

Sermon Title: Misguided Muscle Memory

Final Hymn:372 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian