Sunday August 3, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Praeludium and Arioso from “Sonata in Baroque Style” — Gordon Young
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
One of the greatest missing teachings in the American church today is the reminder to men and women that nothing we have belongs to us. — Gordon MacDonald

Call to Worship                                                                                                                          
Let us worship the eternal God, the source of love and life, who creates us.
       Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one, who lives among us.
Let us worship the Spirit, the holy fire, who renews us.
      To the one true God be praise in all times and places, through the grace of Jesus Christ.
       Let us worship God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #624 — I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art — TOULON
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession 

Prayer of Confession
Most gracious and most merciful God, we confess to you and to one another that time after time we have entered your presence with countless prayers but with hearts that have been closed to your grace.  We have lifted our hands to you in praise, but our feet have still walked in the ways of evil.  We have rehearsed your commandments but have refused to see your face in the needs of our neighbor.  We pray, Lord, that you forgive our lack of faith and pardon our acts of injustice.  Grant us the healing that comes from your presence and the cleansing of your all-powerful Word, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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                         
During the Welcome, children are invited to come forward,  and if you’ve brought your backpack, bring it up with you.

Time for Young Disciples — Blessing of the Backpacks

*Hymn #175 — Seek Ye First — LAFFERTY

Announcements

Adult Members Unite with the Congregation —Earlene Uhrig,
Co-Moderator of the Membership Committee
Joining today are new members:

Lowell Benson                Sonia Duncan              Dorcas Kamere           Sue Mollner

Lou Ann Patterson        Nan Sibbernsen          Mark & Karen Traynowicz

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.

Anthem — Empty Hands, Open Arms — Lloyd Larson

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 12: 13-21 — page 847 of the pew Bible                                                         

Sermon — “How Much Is Enough?” — Dr. Zieman
The Parable of the Rich Fool

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — from The Confession of Belhar, South Africa, 1986
We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family. We believe … that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways; in that we love one another; that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another; that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another.

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — He Leadeth Me — Charles Callahan

*Doxology (#609) — “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” — LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, Alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                                           
All good things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours.  All that we are, and all that we have, is a trust from you. In gratitude for all your gifts, we offer you ourselves, and all that we have.  By your Holy Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

*Hymn #766 — The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound — MCKEE

*Charge and Benediction

*Benediction Response — A Gaelic Blessing — John Rutter

Postlude — Gigue from “Sonata in Baroque Style” — Gordon Young