Page Updated by Sunday Morning
Sunday, September 6, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
Today’s bulletin art is a sculpture by artist Billie Bond titled, “Flower Power”, 2024. From the artist: “Inspired by the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, a philosophy of seeing beauty in imperfection, the work questions the tension between destruction and repair, fragility and resilience and thoughts about what it is to be human.”
INTROIT 405 - “Praise God for This Holy Ground"
1 Praise God for this holy ground, 3 Praise God who through Christ makes known
place and people, sight and sound. (Refrain) all are loved and called God’s own. (Refrain)
Refrain:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God’s goodness is eternal.
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Sheep May Safely Graze, J. S. Bach, Robin Morrill, piano, played in loving memory of Nancie Field.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing praise among the faithful.
Let the people of God be glad;
let us rejoice, dance, and sing.
For the Lord rejoices in the people;
God gives glory to the humble of heart.
+ HYMN 17 - Sing Praise to God, You Heavens!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God of mercy, you are quick to forgive and ever more ready to hear us than we are to pray. We continue to hold onto the hurts and transgressions of others even though we regularly pray “forgive us as we forgive one another.” For those times we have offended you and our neighbors, give us courage to admit our failures and seek mercy. Help us to trust in your reconciling power and do the difficult work of rebuilding relationships that remain torn apart. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.
• Response to Forgiveness: 581- Gloria Patri
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Source of Wisdom and Understanding, your word is our path and our guide. Deepen our understanding and open our minds and hearts to your way that we might grow in wisdom, righteousness and faith. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - Psalm 119.33-40 OT pg 567 (NRSVUE)
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Turn my heart to your decrees and not to selfish gain; be gracious to me according to your word. Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you. Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness be gracious to me.
Leader: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us
ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.
OFFERING
• Invitation
• Offertory - Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God, arr. Larson, Chancel Choir, Susan Carey, piano
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 18.15-20 NT pg 19 (NRSVUE)
If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
SERMON - “Worth The Effort” - Rev. Matt Falco
THE LORD'S SUPPER
INVITATION
PRAYER OF GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
THE LORD'S PRAYER (DEBTS & DEBTORS)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
The congregation is invited to come forward to take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Holy God, we thank you for this feast of grace and life. As we have been served, help us to serve our neighbors. As we have been fed, help us to feed all who are hungry. As we have been loved, help us to love the world — because in Christ Jesus you have loved us. Amen.
+ HYMN 475 - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Hymn 372, O For A World (verses 1 and 5)
O for a world where everyone O for a world preparing for
respects each other’s ways, God’s glorious reign of peace,
where love is lived and all is done where time and tears will be no more,
with justice and with praise. and all but love will cease.
POSTLUDE - Come Thou Fount, arr. Bish
INTROIT 405 - “Praise God for This Holy Ground"
1 Praise God for this holy ground, 3 Praise God who through Christ makes known
place and people, sight and sound. (Refrain) all are loved and called God’s own. (Refrain)
Refrain:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God’s goodness is eternal.
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Sheep May Safely Graze, J. S. Bach, Robin Morrill, piano, played in loving memory of Nancie Field.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing praise among the faithful.
Let the people of God be glad;
let us rejoice, dance, and sing.
For the Lord rejoices in the people;
God gives glory to the humble of heart.
+ HYMN 17 - Sing Praise to God, You Heavens!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God of mercy, you are quick to forgive and ever more ready to hear us than we are to pray. We continue to hold onto the hurts and transgressions of others even though we regularly pray “forgive us as we forgive one another.” For those times we have offended you and our neighbors, give us courage to admit our failures and seek mercy. Help us to trust in your reconciling power and do the difficult work of rebuilding relationships that remain torn apart. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.
• Response to Forgiveness: 581- Gloria Patri
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Source of Wisdom and Understanding, your word is our path and our guide. Deepen our understanding and open our minds and hearts to your way that we might grow in wisdom, righteousness and faith. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - Psalm 119.33-40 OT pg 567 (NRSVUE)
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Turn my heart to your decrees and not to selfish gain; be gracious to me according to your word. Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you. Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness be gracious to me.
Leader: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us
ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.
OFFERING
• Invitation
• Offertory - Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God, arr. Larson, Chancel Choir, Susan Carey, piano
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 18.15-20 NT pg 19 (NRSVUE)
If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
SERMON - “Worth The Effort” - Rev. Matt Falco
THE LORD'S SUPPER
INVITATION
PRAYER OF GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
THE LORD'S PRAYER (DEBTS & DEBTORS)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
The congregation is invited to come forward to take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Holy God, we thank you for this feast of grace and life. As we have been served, help us to serve our neighbors. As we have been fed, help us to feed all who are hungry. As we have been loved, help us to love the world — because in Christ Jesus you have loved us. Amen.
+ HYMN 475 - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Hymn 372, O For A World (verses 1 and 5)
O for a world where everyone O for a world preparing for
respects each other’s ways, God’s glorious reign of peace,
where love is lived and all is done where time and tears will be no more,
with justice and with praise. and all but love will cease.
POSTLUDE - Come Thou Fount, arr. Bish