Sunday August 31, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — A Mighty Fortress Is Our God — Dietrich Buxtehude
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“When someone is broken, don’t try to fix them.  (You can’t.)  When someone is hurting, don’t attempt to take away their pain.  (You can’t.)  Instead, love them by walking beside them in their hurt. (You can.)  Because sometimes what people need is simply to know they aren’t alone.”  – Jenny Albers, as quoted in ‘Our Daily Bread’

Call to Worship — based on Luke 14:11
All who exalt themselves will be humbled,
       And those who humble themselves will be exalted.
God invites us all to the kingdom’s banquet.
       Honored by God’s welcome, we gather by grace.  Let us worship God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #32 — I Sing the Mighty Power of God — ELLACOMBE
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Savior God, forgive us when we jockey for the highest position and the most honorable seat at your table. All are welcome, but we want to know who was invited first. We categorize and rank according to the world’s standards, not yours. Forgive our hierarchical ways. Forgive our lust for prestige and power. Return us to Christ, our model of humility and our guide in faith. Hear us now, as we continue to confess in silence…

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 #722 — Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak — CANONBURY

Announcements

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Anthem — In This Very Room — R. & C. Harris; arr. Bryce Inman   

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 14: 1, 7-14 — page 849 of the pew Bible  

Sermon — “Upside Down Values”  — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — from Philippians 2: 5-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

 Offertory — How Beautiful  Twila Paris; arr. Lloyd Larson

*Doxology (#607) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                                           
Take our hearts, our hands, our gifts, Holy God.  Mold us; shape us; send us so that we might be your body in the world you so love.  Amen.

*Hymn #203 — Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love  — CHEREIPONI

*Charge and Benediction

*Benediction Response — Go Now In Peace — Don Besig

Postlude — Festival — Healey Wilan