Sunday August 10, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Fantasy No. 1 — Georg Philip Telemann
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“We will never change the world by just going to church.  We will only change it by being the church.” — The Celtic Christian Tradition

Call to Worship                                                                                                                       
When Moses gathered the people of Israel, God said,
       “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
As we gather here today, let us worship the Lord,
       who continues to be our God and who still brings us out of the places of our bondage. 
       Let us worship God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #65 — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah — CWM RHONDDA  
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession 

Prayer of Confession                                                                                                                         
God of Hope and Promise, we admit that our faith sometimes falters. We acknowledge that our doubts and grievances often overwhelm. We struggle to comprehend our own suffering and that of others. Pardon us when we lose faith in you and in ourselves. Guide us back to harmonious relationships. Encourage us to stay engaged and committed to meaningful dialogues filled with grace. Amen.

Silent Prayers of Confession

.Kyrie Eleison — Lord, Have Mercy — Schubert

Assurance of Pardon

*Congregational Response (#581) — Glory Be to the Father — GLORIA PATRI (Greatorex)

Welcome                                  

*Hymn #350 — Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning — KEEP YOUR LAMPS

Announcements

Moment for Mission  — Carla Fritz for the All-Church Picnic

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 12: 32-40 — page 847 of the pew Bible                                                                      

Sermon — “While We Wait” — Dr. Zieman

Prayer

Our Response to God’s Word

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — Humoresque  Carl Nielsen

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

*Affirmation of Faith — from A Brief Statement of Faith (1991)
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father.  In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.  But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator.  Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.  We deserve God’s condemnation.

Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.  In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth.  Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage.  Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant.  Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.

*Sanctus (#562) — Holy, Holy, Holy SANCTUS — (Schubert)

The Words of Institution

The Serving of the Elements
Please come forward as directed by an usher.  All baptized Christians are encouraged to partake – by taking a piece of bread and dipping it into the cup.  Gluten-free bread is at the station closer to the pulpit. If you are unable to come forward, an elder will serve you in the pew.

Communion Anthem — Romanze — Carl Nielsen                                    

*Prayer of Thanksgiving
Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal kingdom.  Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

.*Hymn #320 — The Church of Christ in Every Age — WAREHAM

Charge and Benediction

 Postlude — Prelude on “Engelberg” — Craig Phillips