Note: This bulletin can be printed by pressing cntrl+P or by clicking here.
14th Sunday after Pentecost
08/30/2026 - 10:30 am
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MINUTE FOR MISSION “CPR Training” George Anich
CENTERING MUSIC “It Is Well With My Soul” J. Bliss/arr. Cheney
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP - from Guerrillas of Grace
One: Lord, send the gift of your Spirit
To fill this place
And myself
And the world.
People: Touch me
With truth
That burns like fire,
With beauty
That moves me like the wind;
And set me free, Lord,
Free to try new ways of living
Free to forgive myself and others;
Free to love and laugh and sing;
Free to lay aside my burden of security;
Free to join the battle for justice and peace;
Free to see and listen and wonder again
At the gracious mystery of things and persons;
Free to be,
To give,
To receive
To rejoice as a child of your Spirit.
All: And Lord,
Teach me how to dance,
To turn around
And come down where I want to be,
In the arms and heart of your people
And in you,
That I may praise and enjoy you forever!
*HYMN #306 Blest Be the Tie That Binds vs 1,3-5
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
We share our mutual woes; our mutual burdens bear.
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain, and sin we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE - from Guerrillas of Grace
Gracious and Holy One, creator of all things and of emptiness, I come to you full of much that clutters and distracts, stifles and burdens me, and makes me a burden to others. Empty me now of gnawing dissatisfactions, of anxious imaginings, of fretful preoccupations, of nagging prejudices, of old scores to settle, and of the arrogance of being right. Empty me of the ways I unthinkingly think of myself as powerless, as a victim, as determined by sex, age, race, as being less than I am, or as other than you. Empty me of the disguises and lies in which I hide myself from other people and from my responsibility for my neighbors and for the world. Hollow out in me a space in which I will find myself, find peace and a whole heart, a forgiving spirit and holiness, the springs of laughter, and the will to reach boldly for abundant life for myself and the whole human family. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL 740 Lead me, Guide Me
Lead me, guide me, along the way, for if you lead me, I cannot stray.
Lord, let me walk each day with thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
Leader: Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven; rise and walk”.
People: Forgiveness is an unlocked door to walk through into a wide-open world. Forgiveness is a seed to water with new dreams and wild risks until it bears unexpected fruit. Forgiveness is an enemy-friend to be born out of, a quietness beneath the clamor. Forgiveness is a flower to smell, a wind at my back, a gull to scream with, a pain to laugh beneath, a burden that carries me.
Leader It is I
Becoming We
Becoming Yours.
People: Forgiveness is a song to sing.
O Lord, unlock the door of my heart.
*PASSING THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Leader: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
SPECIAL MUSIC “Be a Gift to a World in Need” by Allen Pote
Kimberly D’Onofrio - Solo
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
“This Little Light of Mine”
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Today’s Story: “The Story of Hagar”
Kathleen Krentz & Cyndi Sneeringer
Leader: And as we continue our worship…
People: May God be with you there.
Children: May God be with you here
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Romans 13:8-14 and Matthew 18:15-20
RESPONSE
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON Loving is not Always Easy Nor Obvious Pastor Barbara
MOMENT FOR QUIET REFLECTION
*HYMN OF REFLECTION #23 God, You Spin the Whirling Planets
God, you spin the whirling planets, fill the seas and spread the plain,
mold the mountains, fashion blossoms, call forth sunshine, wind, and rain.
We, created in your image, would a true reflection be of your justice,
grace, and mercy and the truth that makes us free.
You have called us to be faithful in our life and ministry.
We respond in grateful worship joined in one community.
When we blur your gracious image, focus us and make us whole.
Healed and strengthened as your people, we move onwards toward your goal.
God, your word is still creating, calling us to life made new.
Now reveal to us fresh vistas where there’s work to dare and do.
Keep us clear of all distortion. Polish us with loving care.
Thus, new creatures in your image, we’ll proclaim Christ everywhere
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY “The Miracle” Edwards/arr. J. Tonioli
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God whose breath fills all the earth
Whose love reveals our sacred worth
Whose Spirit forms one family
Whose grace brings peace and harmony. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Leader: Thank you for this day, for this life, for everything we have. Help us to be present in this moment, to stay with you in all that we do, to seek out the good and to live in gratitude. People: Thanks be to God. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN O God of Earth and Space
O God of earth and space, of sea and fire and air,
Your providence surrounds us here and everywhere.
In fruit and grain and tree, In shelter from the cold,
in cooling breezes, flowing wells, Now as of old.
Where faithfulness is shown, Where love and truth abound,
Where beauty graces human life, There You are found. I
n spir-er of all thought! Creative force of art!
The melody on every tongue, In every heart!
Wherever freedom reigns, Where sin is over-thrown,
Where justice fused with mercy rules, There You are known.
Give us the courage clear To make the earth a home
For all to live in harmony in Christ’s shalom.
Your word commands response and summons us to life.
We follow, strength-ened by Your grace, In calm or strife.
Our ever-present help, Our challenge and our prod,
We praise You now and to life’s end. Eternal god.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*Congregational Response: Go with God
Go with God, go with God.
As you leave this place, go with God.
God will direct your way, God will light every day.
As you leave this place, go with God.
*POSTLUDE “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” Traditional Spiritual