Note: This bulletin can be printed by pressing cntrl+P or by clicking here.
14th Sunday After Pentecost
09/14/2025 - 10:30 pm
CENTERING I call to you, Lord Jesus Christ - Bach
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP (by Ann Weems):
One: O Amazing God, you come into our ordinary lives and set a holy table among us,
Filling our plates with the Bread of Life and our cups with Grace.
People: Send us out, O God, with tenderheartedness to touch an ordinary everyday world with the promise of your holiness.
*OPENING HYMN #408There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face, And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Refrain:
Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove, stay right here with us,
filling us with your love; and for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived when we shall leave this place.
There are blessings you cannot receive till you know him in his fullness and believe;
You’re the one to profit when you say, “I am going to walk with Jesus all the way.”
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
One: O God, we’ve heard the old, old story and we confess our sin of indifference.
People: God, jolt our lives to turn and look at You once more.
One: Give us the ears to hear your amazing story that God would become one of us living among us, teaching us, sitting down at table with us, breaking bread and drinking wine with us and then dying among us. Amazing grace!
People: O God, we ask for your presence this day. Brush against us when we least expect it. Touch us with your Spirit. Take us by the shoulders and shake us awake to your incredibly truth.
One: We are your people and you are our God. Forgive our faithlessness, O Faithful God! And see beyond our apathy, our thoughtlessness, our self-centeredness, our wrong choices. See into our heart, for you are our Treasure!
People: We pledge once more to give to those who need us, that this world ight e more human. We pledge to do away with indifference. We pledge to tell the old, old story in new life-changing ways. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL #288 Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE
*PASSING THE PEACE
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Pastor: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
SPECIAL MUSIC “For Those Tears I Died” by Marsha Stevens
Lyle Swallow (soloist)
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
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 Sarah”
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
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 Luke 2:29-32
Acts 15:1-18
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 Limiting God
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #318 In Christ There is No East or West
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord close-binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate’er your race may be.
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west; In him meet south and north.
All Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY My Inmost Heart Now Rises - Bach
*DOXOLOGY Sung to: All Creatures of our God and King
Praise God from whom all grace flows forth.
Praise Life, all creatures here on earth.
Praise Light who guides us on our way.
Praise Love who forms us day by day.
UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Thank you, God for all good gifts, and make our hearts your home that we might serve you all of our days and live in the hope of your peace. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: #295 Go to the World!
Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews life’s worth,
Baptizing as the sign of our rebirth.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the word of God’s redeeming grace.
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go struggle, bless, and pray;
The nights of tears give way to joyous day.
As servant church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
For I am with you till the age shall end,
When all the hosts of glory cry “Amen!”
Alleluia. Alleluia.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION:
POSTLUDE Fightsong by Platten and Bassett,
arranged by Ven der Beck, Nelson and Schmidt