Sunday July 12, 2026 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Canzonetta, BuxWV 171 — Dietrich Buxtehude
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation                                                                                                         
You call us, therefore, to understand the Word, God who is with You, God (John 1:1). That Word is spoken eternally, and by it all things are uttered eternally. It is not the case that what was said comes to an end, and that something else is then said, so that everything is uttered in a succession with a conclusion, but instead that everything is said in the simultaneity of eternity.   Confessions, Book X, Memory, St. Augustine

Call to Worship — Adapted from Psalm 119
God of every new beginning, Your Word is a lamp to our feet.
       Your Word is a light to our path, and we commit ourselves to You.
God of the Old and New Testament, accept our offerings of praise this day.
       We will not forget Your Laws, You are the joy of our hearts – Let us worship God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #61 — Your Law, O Lord, Is Perfect — GREAT COMMANDMENT   
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
God of all wisdom, You desire for us to understand and know You better. You have set a path before us to follow. You have given us the things we need to abide with You and follow Your ways. You have given us commandments to uphold, histories like Esther and Ezra to consult, stories and parables to ruminate over. Yet often we do not look for You or Your lessons in our own lives. Often, we keep Your Living Word upon a shelf. As if it were decorative. As if it were for display. And not for use. We turn from You. Forgive us, Lord. Break into our lives and show us how much we need You.

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

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.

Time for Young Disciples

Announcements

Moment for Mission — Juliet Summers, J.D.
Executive Director, Voices for Children in Nebraska

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 — Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23 — page 794 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “Faith Seeking Understanding” — Rev. Joshua Garry

Our Response to God’s Word

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — Sonata in A minor — Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

*Affirmation of Faith — Confession of Belhar: 10.3
We believe that through the love of Jesus Christ we share in one faith, have one calling, and are of one soul and one mind. We believe that we have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to the Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope; that together we come to know the height and breadth and depth of the love of Christ; that together we are built up to the stature of Christ, and together share in a new humanity.

*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 — “Andante” from Sonata Op. 166 — Camille Saint-Saëns

*Prayer of Thanksgiving  
Living God, we come to You this day baffled once more by the sacrifice of Your Son; humbled by blessings we cannot understand; renewed by a Spirit we cannot fathom. And yet we ask You this day, and always, to continue to know You more by the Bread and Wine we have just received. And we ask to know You better not so that we may become greater, but that, by being Your disciples, the world would be healed; that through our work “Your Will be done” and “Your Kingdom come.” Amen.

*Hymn of Dedication #451 — Open My Eyes, That I May See — OPEN MY EYES

*Charge and Benediction

Postlude — Toccata and Fugue in F Major, WV 157 — Dietrich Buxtehude