Page Updated by Sunday Morning
Sunday, November 8, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
INTROIT 305 - “Come Sing, O Church, In Joy”
1 Come sing, O church, in joy!
Come join, O church, in song!
For Christ the Lord has led us
through the ages long!
3 Let courage be our friend;
let wisdom be our guide,
as we in mission magnify
the Crucified! (Refrain)
Refrain: In bold accord,
come celebrate the journey now
and praise the Lord!
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Pastorale, Ovid Young (1940-2014)
CALL TO WORSHIP - Selected text from Psalm 78
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD and his might and the wonders that he has done.
Let us worship God together.
+ HYMN 612 - "We Praise You, O God"
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God of grace, we have sinned against you by failing to honor you or to love one another. We fail to share what you have provided. We have lost our hope. Forgive our sinful ways, tame our wayward wills, and make us more like Christ. Inspire us by your Spirit so that we will be prepared to welcome the Lord when he appears. May our lives here and now be a glimpse of what we hope all may one day enjoy. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: 581- Gloria Patri
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Inspire us by your Holy Spirit that the words we read on the page might become living words in our hearts and lives as we encounter the grace, love and peace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - Amos 5.18-24 OT pg 854 (NRSVUE)
Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light, as if someone fled from a lion and was met by a bear or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them, and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
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 - There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy, David Ashley White, Chancel Choir
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 25.14-30 NT 28 (NRSVUE)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
SERMON - "Enter Into the Joy of Your Master"
+ 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.
+ HYMN 697 - “Take My Life and Let It Be”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (DEBTS & DEBTORS)
OFFERING
• MINUTE FOR STEWARDSHIP - Debbie Acker
• INVITATION
• OFFERTORY - Bist du bei mir, BWV 508, J. S. Bach, Gabe Brown, trombone
• PRAYER OF DEDICATION
One: Creator of all, the earth is yours, the world and all who live in it.
All: You have entrusted us with gifts— time, talent, energy, money —
and asked us to use them to build your kingdom. With thanks and praise we respond to your call.
One: We bring these gifts you have given, returning your generosity, paying it forward.
All: We offer ourselves, our lives, our hopes and fears, our dollars and our hours.
We commit ourselves to work for your world, to love and serve wherever you call.
One: We ask your blessing on this, your church, as we seek to follow you with heart, mind, and soul.
All: Bless also these gifts, our investment in your future, that they may multiply in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
DEDICATION OF PLEDGES 2027
At this time, we invite you to come forward and place your 2027 pledge in the basket on the table. We are grateful for your generosity and commitment to the life of our congregation.
+ HYMN 539 - "We Will Go Out with Joy”
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Hymn 542, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” (verses 1 and 4)
1 God be with you till we meet again;4 God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,keep love’s banner floating o’er you;
with a shepherd’s care enfold you:smite death’s threatening wave before you:
God be with you till we meet again.God be with you till we meet again.
POSTLUDE - Toccata, Henri Mushel (1909-1989)
Please join us after worship in the West Parlor for punch and fellowship.
1 Come sing, O church, in joy!
Come join, O church, in song!
For Christ the Lord has led us
through the ages long!
3 Let courage be our friend;
let wisdom be our guide,
as we in mission magnify
the Crucified! (Refrain)
Refrain: In bold accord,
come celebrate the journey now
and praise the Lord!
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Pastorale, Ovid Young (1940-2014)
CALL TO WORSHIP - Selected text from Psalm 78
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD and his might and the wonders that he has done.
Let us worship God together.
+ HYMN 612 - "We Praise You, O God"
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God of grace, we have sinned against you by failing to honor you or to love one another. We fail to share what you have provided. We have lost our hope. Forgive our sinful ways, tame our wayward wills, and make us more like Christ. Inspire us by your Spirit so that we will be prepared to welcome the Lord when he appears. May our lives here and now be a glimpse of what we hope all may one day enjoy. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: 581- Gloria Patri
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Inspire us by your Holy Spirit that the words we read on the page might become living words in our hearts and lives as we encounter the grace, love and peace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - Amos 5.18-24 OT pg 854 (NRSVUE)
Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light, as if someone fled from a lion and was met by a bear or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them, and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
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 - There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy, David Ashley White, Chancel Choir
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 25.14-30 NT 28 (NRSVUE)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
SERMON - "Enter Into the Joy of Your Master"
+ 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.
+ HYMN 697 - “Take My Life and Let It Be”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (DEBTS & DEBTORS)
OFFERING
• MINUTE FOR STEWARDSHIP - Debbie Acker
• INVITATION
• OFFERTORY - Bist du bei mir, BWV 508, J. S. Bach, Gabe Brown, trombone
• PRAYER OF DEDICATION
One: Creator of all, the earth is yours, the world and all who live in it.
All: You have entrusted us with gifts— time, talent, energy, money —
and asked us to use them to build your kingdom. With thanks and praise we respond to your call.
One: We bring these gifts you have given, returning your generosity, paying it forward.
All: We offer ourselves, our lives, our hopes and fears, our dollars and our hours.
We commit ourselves to work for your world, to love and serve wherever you call.
One: We ask your blessing on this, your church, as we seek to follow you with heart, mind, and soul.
All: Bless also these gifts, our investment in your future, that they may multiply in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
DEDICATION OF PLEDGES 2027
At this time, we invite you to come forward and place your 2027 pledge in the basket on the table. We are grateful for your generosity and commitment to the life of our congregation.
+ HYMN 539 - "We Will Go Out with Joy”
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Hymn 542, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” (verses 1 and 4)
1 God be with you till we meet again;4 God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,keep love’s banner floating o’er you;
with a shepherd’s care enfold you:smite death’s threatening wave before you:
God be with you till we meet again.God be with you till we meet again.
POSTLUDE - Toccata, Henri Mushel (1909-1989)
Please join us after worship in the West Parlor for punch and fellowship.