October 5, 2025 Service

17th Sunday after Pentecost World Communion Sunday We welcome you to EPC! May the love and warmth of God’s grace be with you as you worship. We Gather Before God Chimes Welcome & Announcements Prelude      This Is My Father’s World        arr. Gilbert Martin *Call to Worship Like a sower, God scatters, and God will give growth. God scatters life across the earth. God scatters people in every land and nation. God scatters disciples far and wide. Like a shepherd, God gathers. God gathers people into families of faith. God gathers people into communities of love. God gathers people into the body of Christ. *Hymn        He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands       Spiritual REFRAIN: He’s got the whole world in His hands (4x) He’s got the little tiny baby in His hands. (3x) he’s got the whole world in His hands.  (Refrain) He’s got you and me, brother, in his hands.  He’s got you and me, sister, in His hands.  He’s got you and me, brother, in His hands.  He’s got the whole world in His hands. (Refrain) He’s got everybody here in His hands. (3x) he’s got the whole world in His hands. (Refrain) Call to Confession (please remain seated until the Congregational Response) Prayer of Confession Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. We look at a world undone by strife, torn by violence, separated by hatred. Yet you call us to walk the way of peace. Forgive us, O Lord, for refusing to follow you on this path because the cost is too high, the direction too confusing, the conditions too harsh. Forgive us our complacency. Grant us clarity of vision to see the light, and the strength to walk behind you. In the power of your Spirit we pray, Amen. (~ silent prayer) Assurance of Grace (from Luke 1) By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Begin again. Amen. *Congregational Response    Glory Be to the Father     Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World without end.  Amen. Amen. *Passing the Peace of Christ Peace be with you. And also with you. We Listen to God’s Word Scripture     Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4          (NRSVUE) The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4 So the law becomes slack, and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous; therefore judgment comes forth perverted. I will stand at my watchpost and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me     and what he will answer concerning my complaint. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. 3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time;      it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them,     but the righteous live by their faithfulness. The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Sermon        Lost Heart             Pastor Suzanne Personette Prayers of the People Moment for Stewardship         Love in Action         Kate Strickler Offering of our Gifts and Lives Offertory       Behold the Lamb        Getty and Townend Chancel Choir Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, slain for us, and we remember the promise made that all who come in faith find forgiveness at the cross. So we share in this bread of life, and we drink of His sacrifice, as a sign of our bonds of peace around the table of the King. The body of our Savior Jesus Christ, torn for you, eat and remember.  The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life paid the price to make us one.  So we share in this bread of life, and we drink of His sacrifice as a sign of our bonds of love around the table of the King. The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, shed for you.  Drink and remember. He drained death’s cup that all may enter in to receive the life of God.  And so, with thankfulness and faith, we rise to respond, and to remember our call to follow in the steps of Christ as His body here on earth. As we share in His suffering, we proclaim “Christ will come again!”  And we’ll join in the feast of heaven around the table of the King….my sovereign King. *Congregational Response  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow                                                                              Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise father, Son and holy Gh