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Reformation Sunday
10/25/2026 - 10:30 am
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CENTERING MUSIC
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP by Thom Shuman
Leader: Be still!
People We come to quiet ourselves in this haven of holiness.
Leader Be still and know . . .
People we come to discern the Word which can set us free.
Leader Be still and know that God is
People our Hope, our Help, our Refuge, and our Redeemer.
*OPENING HYMN #321 The Church’s One Foundation vs. 1-3
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.
She is his new creation by water and the word.
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride.
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder this world sees her oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up: “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
Reforming God,
we give you thanks
for your forgiveness and your blessing.
We pray for ourselves and your church throughout the world.
Fill us with a spirit of openness to your Spirit,
to hear and receive your promises
and to keep our covenant with you.
Where we are corrupt, purify us.
Where we are in error, direct us.
Where we are in need, provide for us.
Where we are divided, reunite us.
And where we are close-minded,
reform us and make us new.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL
God, listen to your children praying
God send your spirit in this place
God, listen to your children praying
Send us love, send us power, send us grace.
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
Leader: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
People: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
*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)
ANTHEM “Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God”
by C. Mueller, arr., D. Averre and S.
MOMENT FOR CHILDREN
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 Tent for God”
Kathleen Krentz & Joyclyn Van
Leader: And as we continue our worship…
Congregation: 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
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
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 and Matthew 22:34-46
RESPONSE
Reader: The Gospel 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 Moving in the Right Direction Pastor Barbara Barkley
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
HYMN: #275 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God vs. 1,4
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.
One 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.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us abideth.
Let good and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY “Isaiah 43” Author Unknown
*DOXOLOGY Tune: OLD HUNDRED
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Thanks be to you, O God
for the many guiding theological and spiritual insights
that we have all received through the Reformation.
Thanks be to you for the good transformations and reforms
that were set in motion by the Reformation
or by struggling with its challenges.
Thanks be to you for the proclamation of the gospel
that occurred during the Reformation
and that since then has strengthened countless people
to live lives of faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: #643 Now Thanks We All Our God
Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms, hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in God’s grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God, who reigns in highest heaven,
to Father and to Son and Spirit now be given:
the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore,
he God who was, and is, and shall be evermore.
*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 “O Christ Our King” Stephan Barnes