Sunday February 1, 2026 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Shalom — Dan Lockliar
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation — (from the Presbyterian Church USA Book of Order)
“As there were in Old Testament times ELDERS for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people…”                                

“The ministry of DEACON as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures or anyone in distress.”

Call to Worship — based on Psalm 15
Lord, we come into your sanctuary with eagerness.
       May we hear your call and speak your truth.
Lord, prepare us to be people of hope and grace.
       Kindle in us courage to live as brave and faithful disciples.
       Let us worship our God together in this holy place. Alleluia. Amen.                                                              

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn of Praise #767 — Together We Serve — SAN ANSELMO   
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, it’s tempting to give up and give in, to hide from the injustices of the world, to protect ourselves and our own, to avoid the news, fearing the worst.  Forgive our sins of escape, of ignoring, of turning our backs on those in need. Forgive our sins of apathy when you call us to action.

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

Kyrie Eleison #551 — Lord, Have Mercy — LAND OF REST                                                  

Assurance of Pardon

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

*Welcome                            

Announcements

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 — The Chorister’s Prayer — Jacob Dishman

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Matthew 5: 1-5 — page 785 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “Desiring a Better Country” — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — from The Confession of Belhar — (South Africa, 1986)
We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells.

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — I Love to Tell the Story — John Leavitt

*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        

Service of Ordination, Installation, and Commissioning of Officers
Leader:           There are different gifts.
People:           But it is the same spirit who gives them.
Leader:           There are different ways of serving God.
People:           But it is the same Lord who is served.
Leader:           God works through different people in different ways.
People:           But it is the same God whose purpose is achieved through them all.
Leader:           Each one is given a gift by the Spirit,
People:           To use for the common good.
Leader:           Together we are the Body of Christ,
People:           And individually members of him.

Presentation
At last week’s Congregational Meeting, these individuals were elected to serve our church as a new class of Elders and Deacons.  Today they are presented for ordination and installation:

Elder (3-year term):            

            Rob Bailey                   Adrian Hinz                Mike Howland            Margaret Knight

            Ed Leach                     Mark Mathia               Carol Sorensen           Libby Whitlow

Deacon (3-year term)

            Alena Bennett             Kristine Gasko            Kathy Gross                Kristin Johnson

            Emily Justice               Kathy Leach                Brad Miner                  Nan Sibbernsen

Constitutional Questions

Prayer of Ordination and Laying On of Hands to those Newly Ordained

*Hymn of Dedication #761 — Called as Partners in Christ’s Service — BEECHER

*Charge and Benediction

Postlude — Rondeau — Jean-Joseph Mouret