November 12, 2023 10AM

In consideration of others and as guests of West High School . . .

• Please silence your phone and watch.
• Name tags are a great start to a meaningful connection. Thanks for wearing one.
• If you’d like to give an offering, there are two baskets in the back or you can use the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app.

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. 
Matthew 7:6

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 
Philippians 3:2

“But now they laugh at me,
    men who are younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained
    to set with the dogs of my flock. 
 Job 30:1

And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
  2 Samuel 9:8

“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” 
― Marilyn Monroe

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” 
― Mark Twain

“We do not presume to come to this thy Table (O merciful Lord) trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We be not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But Thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy.” 
- Thomas Cranmer, Book of Common Prayer

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known on earth,
    your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!
Psalm 67:1-3

SONG

Doxology

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him, all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Let the Peoples Praise You

SONG

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will 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.

*catholic means universal

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fall Groups – Please look over our growing list of Fall Community Groups. Pick one out, and let’s grow in Christ together.

Membership & Baptism – There are membership classes happening. Some of our youth have been learning about communion and our faith, while adults are considering the biblical notion of being “members” of his body. In the coming weeks, several of those folks will be coming to join our body officially during the service, including a baptism. If you (or a family member) have any interest, email Pastor Russ so we can include you in our next class.

Christmas: Outward-Facing – As the Christmas decorations go up in stores and homes (and they already are!), let’s prepare our heart to celebrate the Incarnation. A core value of our church is “outward-facing” because that is precisely who God has revealed himself to be. Advent – the coming of Christ – is an annual reminder that he came to us, and he will come again. That is the joy of Christmas. And it is also a great chance for us to embody that same outward-facing hope through inviting friends and neighbors to worship with us. With that in mind, here is a brief sketch of December, including several great opportunities to invite others:

• Dec.10: Children’s MinIstry singing in worship
• Dec.17: Lessons & Carols service 
• Dec.24: Christmas Eve service 

_____________________________________
GIVING UPDATE
Total 2023 Budget: $850,242
Actual Giving YTD: $540,032
_____________________________________

OFFERTORY

If you would like to give electronically, you may do so using the “Giving” tab at the bottom-right corner of the mobile app. There are also white baskets in the back of our worship space, where you can give via check, made out to King’s Cross Church, or cash.

SERMON
“Hard Words & Spit”

Mark 7:24-37

²⁴ And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. ²⁵ But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹ And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰ And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
³¹ Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. ³² And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. ³⁴ And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,”that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶ And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷ And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

SONG

O Come to the Altar

[Verse 1]
Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling

Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling

[Chorus]
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 2]
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling

Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
Oh what a Savior, isn’t He wonderful
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him for He is Lord of all
Sing Hallelujah, Christ is risen

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you found

BENEDICTION