LAITY SUNDAY Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost September 28, 20259:30 am

PRELUDE “Rejoice Greatly” Geschke Bell Choir WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING SENTENCES One: We are called to be disciples of our Lord Jesus. Many: We listen for the Spirit of God in our spiritual journey. One: Let us grow together in faith, ever at work for the life of the world. Many: In all that we do, we praise God who leads us to bear witness to Christ. *HYMN “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” # 453 Called as partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace, we respond with deep commitment fresh new lines of faith to trace. May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend, equal partners in our caring to fulfill God’s chosen end. Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s clear call to work and worth, let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth. Men and women, richer, poorer, all God’s people young and old, blending human skills together gracious gifts from God unfold. Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense, help us bear each other’s burdens, breaking down each wall or fence. Words of comfort words of vision, words of challenge, said with care, bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues, free and fair. So God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life that surround each person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife. Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase, messengers of faith, thus giving hope and confidence and peace. *UNISON PRAYER Dear God, whose love shown to us in Jesus Christ is the source of all gifts and graces. Give us reverent hearts and attentive minds, to hear your word and the faith to do it. Single each of us out, and bind us all together, that we may trust in your ministry and purposes for our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. *PASSING OF THE PEACE *RESPONSE “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” #190 Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; things I would ask him to tell me if he were here: scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, stories of Jesus, tell them to me. THE MINISTRY OF GIVING Offertory “The Solid Rock” Ware Elizabeth Elkins, flute *Doxology “For the Beauty of the Earth” # 56 For the beauty of the earth for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. *Prayer of Dedication O God, thank you for the generosity that enables us to share. Help us to give gifts of gratitude that make a difference in the world. We dedicate our offerings and ourselves to shapping that community you intend, in the Spirit of Christ. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE LORD’S PRAYER (using “debts” and “debtors”) VIRTUAL ANTHEM “Lord, I Want to be a Christian” Lantz Sanctuary Choir SCRIPTURE TEXT: 2 Timothy 1:8-14 SPEAKER # 1 “Faith: Personal Life” Dick Scharnhorst SPEAKER #2 “Faith: Community Life” Judy Lindquist SPEAKER #3 “Faith: Church Life” Bob Ruh *CLOSING HYMN “I Am Thine, O Lord” # 601 I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice, and it told thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to thee. Refrain Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious, bleeding side. Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord, by the pow’r of grace divine; let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in thine. Refrain O the pure delight of a single hour that before thy throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! Refrain There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea; there are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with thee. Refrain *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE “The March of Faith” Sewell