Page Updated by Sunday Morning
Sunday, September 27, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
Today’s bulletin art is a painting by Canadian artist, Emily Carr (1871-1945), titled, “Tree in Early Autumn”. Carr was raised as a Presbyterian, and her work often reflected her growing concerns about the enviornmental impact of industry on Canada’s beautiful landscapes.
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
A Minute for Mission
PRELUDE - Préambule, Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
CALL TO WORSHIP - Adapted from a Call by Cláudio Carvalhaes
Come, All of You
Come, you who are forgotten, for today your Lord has remembered you.
Come, you who labor, you who are breathless, come and be refreshed.
Come and find rest from your labors.
Come, you who are frightened, there is peace enough.
Come, for He has grafted you into the palm of His hands.
Come, you who are oppressed, depressed, homeless, hungry, and you who feel no one understands you.
You who can’t voice your sicknesses, for your tears are invisible.
Come to the God who sees you.
Come, for you are loved. Come, for you are valued. Come and be cared for.
Come, let us worship.
+ HYMN 630 - “Fairest Lord Jesus”
+ CONFESSION & PARDON - Prayer by Rev. Robert Lowry
Eternal God, we come before you aware that you know the truth of our hearts before we can utter a word. You know when our good intentions exceed our capacity for gospel living. You know when we embrace the good news of liberation with our lips but don’t change our actions. Forgive our shortcomings and the times we have failed to live the words we say. Restore us in the confidence of people who have heard good news and remind us that even when we arrive late, there is still work to be done. 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
God of life and light, illumine our hearts and spirits and attune us to the reading and hearing of your word. May our hearing be discerning and may this proclamation be faithful and, in all things, may we approach your word with joy and humility. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - Philippians 2.1-13 NT pg 197 (NRSVUE)
If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.
Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
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.
ANTHEM - Give Me Jesus, arr. Fleming, Chancel Choir
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 21.23-32 NT pg 23 (NRSVUE)
SERMON - “Going Ahead of You” - Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH - PC(USA) Confession of 1967- Inclusive Version
9.54 Biblical visions and images of the rule of Christ, such as a heavenly city, the household of God, a new heaven and earth, a marriage feast, and an unending day culminate in the image of the kingdom. The kingdom represents God’s triumph over all that resists the divine will and disrupts God’s creation. Already God’s reign is present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope in all people and preparing the world to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption.
9.55 With an urgency born of this hope, the church applies itself to present tasks and strives for a better world. It does not identify limited progress with the kingdom of God on earth, nor does it despair in the face of disappointment and defeat. In steadfast hope, the church looks beyond all partial achievement to the final triumph of God.
+ HYMN 692 - "Spirit, Open My Heart"
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD'S PRAYER (DEBTS & DEBTORS)
OFFERING
• OFFERTORY - Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart, arr. Hustad
+ • DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
+ • PRAYER OF DEDICATION
+ HYMN 265 - ”Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun”
+ 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 - Voluntary on Jesus Shall Reign, arr. Bish (b. 1941)
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
A Minute for Mission
PRELUDE - Préambule, Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
CALL TO WORSHIP - Adapted from a Call by Cláudio Carvalhaes
Come, All of You
Come, you who are forgotten, for today your Lord has remembered you.
Come, you who labor, you who are breathless, come and be refreshed.
Come and find rest from your labors.
Come, you who are frightened, there is peace enough.
Come, for He has grafted you into the palm of His hands.
Come, you who are oppressed, depressed, homeless, hungry, and you who feel no one understands you.
You who can’t voice your sicknesses, for your tears are invisible.
Come to the God who sees you.
Come, for you are loved. Come, for you are valued. Come and be cared for.
Come, let us worship.
+ HYMN 630 - “Fairest Lord Jesus”
+ CONFESSION & PARDON - Prayer by Rev. Robert Lowry
Eternal God, we come before you aware that you know the truth of our hearts before we can utter a word. You know when our good intentions exceed our capacity for gospel living. You know when we embrace the good news of liberation with our lips but don’t change our actions. Forgive our shortcomings and the times we have failed to live the words we say. Restore us in the confidence of people who have heard good news and remind us that even when we arrive late, there is still work to be done. 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
God of life and light, illumine our hearts and spirits and attune us to the reading and hearing of your word. May our hearing be discerning and may this proclamation be faithful and, in all things, may we approach your word with joy and humility. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - Philippians 2.1-13 NT pg 197 (NRSVUE)
If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.
Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
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.
ANTHEM - Give Me Jesus, arr. Fleming, Chancel Choir
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 21.23-32 NT pg 23 (NRSVUE)
SERMON - “Going Ahead of You” - Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH - PC(USA) Confession of 1967- Inclusive Version
9.54 Biblical visions and images of the rule of Christ, such as a heavenly city, the household of God, a new heaven and earth, a marriage feast, and an unending day culminate in the image of the kingdom. The kingdom represents God’s triumph over all that resists the divine will and disrupts God’s creation. Already God’s reign is present as a ferment in the world, stirring hope in all people and preparing the world to receive its ultimate judgment and redemption.
9.55 With an urgency born of this hope, the church applies itself to present tasks and strives for a better world. It does not identify limited progress with the kingdom of God on earth, nor does it despair in the face of disappointment and defeat. In steadfast hope, the church looks beyond all partial achievement to the final triumph of God.
+ HYMN 692 - "Spirit, Open My Heart"
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD'S PRAYER (DEBTS & DEBTORS)
OFFERING
• OFFERTORY - Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart, arr. Hustad
+ • DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
+ • PRAYER OF DEDICATION
+ HYMN 265 - ”Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun”
+ 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 - Voluntary on Jesus Shall Reign, arr. Bish (b. 1941)