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Service for the Lord's Day
11/08/2026 - 10:30 am
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CENTERING MUSIC “Sarabande” J. S. Bach
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Once upon a time a wise man offered a challenge;
"What is the greatest commandment?"
The calendars on our desks share a vision of greatness;
bills to pay, phone calls to return, appointments to keep.
People: Love the Lord your God.
Leader: The cameras of our memories share what commands us;
children to bathe and partners to help
parents calling and grandchildren hopeful.
People: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Leader: Still the Spirit lures us to new priorities;
open spaces to experience wonder,
strangers becoming friends,
devotion to that which transcends.
People: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself
*OPENING HYMN #401 “Here in This Place”
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings
Brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; Gather us in, the blind and the lame;
Call to us now, and we shall awaken;
We shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, Called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in, the rich and the haughty gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; Give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water: here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, Call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away: here in this
place the new light is shining; Now is the kingdom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own;
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
One: Let us pray that our love of God
may become real and tangible
in our love of our neighbor.
(pause)
People: God, you display your almighty power
in loving us without regret.
In the human heart of Jesus your Son
you have shown us how far love can go.
Give us a love that is forgiving, generous and gentle like his,
that we may recognize and welcome him
in our brothers and sisters.
And may our hearts reach out first
to the poorest and the least lovable,
with the gratuitous love you have given us i
n Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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
We celebrate the deep love that God gives us through grace alone. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*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 “Let Every Thankful Heart” by P..Mock, arr. D. Nolan
MOMENT FOR CHILDREN
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
“Children’s Benediction”
Today’s Story: “The Story of Samuel”
Kathleen Krentz & Jane Moseley
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
Exodus 19:1-8
Exodus 20:1-16
Matthew 22:34-40
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 “You Will Be My Special Treasure” Pastor Barbara Barkley
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
HYMN: #70 #44 “Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us”
Like a mother who has borne us, held us close in her delight.
Fed us freely from her body, God has called us into life.
Like a father who has taught us, grasped our hand and been our guide,
lifted us and healed our sorrows, God has walked with us in life
Though as children we have wandered, placed our trust in power and might,
Left behind our brothers, sisters, God still calls us into life.
When we offer food and comfort, grasp our neighbor’s hand in love,
Tread the path of peace and justice, God still walks with us in life.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY “Laudamus te” by A. Vivaldi
Soloists – Kimberly D’Onofrio and Karen Huff
We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you
*DOXOLOGY Tune: OLD HUNDRED
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
With Love you invite us in. With Love you send us out.
May our gifts be reflections of that love and commitment. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: #203 “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love”
Refrain:
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love;
Show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them
Neighbors are wealthy and poor, varied in color and race;
Neighbors are near us and far away.
These are the ones we should serve;
These are the ones we should love;
All these are neighbors to us and you.
Loving puts us on our knees,
Willing to wash others’ feet;
This is the way we should live like you
*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 “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire” J. S. Bach