Sunday June 29, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Deep River — Samuel Coleridge-Taylor — arr. Kathy & David Blackwell
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“To put it simply: the Holy Spirit bothers us. Because he moves us, he makes us walk, he pushes the Church to go forward. And we are like Peter at the Transfiguration: ‘Ah, how wonderful it is to be here like this, all together!’  …But don’t bother us. We want the Holy Spirit to doze off…we want to domesticate the Holy Spirit. And that’s no good. Because he is God, he is that wind which comes and goes and you don’t know where. He is the power of God, he is the one who gives us consolation and strength to move forward. But: to move forward! And this bothers us. It’s so much nicer to be comfortable.” — Pope Francis, Encountering Truth: Meeting God in the Everyday, 21^st Century 

Call to Worship                                                                                                                          
Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
       Lord, help us follow where you lead.
Jesus said, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”     
       Lord, help us put you first and follow you.
Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.”
       Lord, help us follow you that we may serve you.
The peace of Christ be with all of you.
       And also with you.  Let us worship God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #619 — Praise My Soul, the God of Heaven — LAUDA ANIMA
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession 

Prayer of Confession
Eternal God, you claimed us as your own in our baptisms and called us to be your covenant people. We confess we do not live as people created in your image, nor do we lead lives worthy of the calling to which we have been called. Jesus still calls, “Follow me” and we offer excuses because we can’t do that. Jesus calls us to new life in the Spirit, and we cling to our old habits and tired traditions. Gracious God, forgive our sins. Open our ears and hearts to hear Jesus’s call, and give us grace and strength to respond in faith and love.  In Jesus’s name we pray.

Silent Prayers of Confession

Kyrie Eleison — Lord, Have Mercy — Schubert

Assurance of Pardon

*Gloria Patri (#581) — Glory Be to the Father  GLORIA PATRI (Greatorex)

Welcome                              
During the Welcome, children are invited to come forward.

Time for Young Disciples

*Hymn #395 — Blessed Jesus, at Your Word — LIEBSTER JESU           

Announcements

Moment for Mission — Back to School Drive, Leah Baker from Bancroft Elementary School

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 — All Things New — Elaine Hagenberg

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 9: 51-62 — page 843 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “Life is Full of Decisions” — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — Hebrews 12:1-3
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.                                                                                                 

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

 Offertory — Gloria Patri et Filio — A. Vivaldi; arr. Patrick Liebergen
Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, and now, and always, and for generations of generations. Amen.

*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                                                                                                                                           
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the undeserved blessings you give us. Most of all, we thank and praise you for your indescribable gift of your Son Jesus Christ. Give us grateful hearts and willing lives so we may follow our Lord where he leads us and serve our Lord as he calls us. Amen.

*Hymn #720 — Jesus Calls Us — GALILEE

*Charge and Benediction

*Choral Benediction — A Clare Benediction — John Rutter

Postlude — God of Grace and God of Glory — Paul Manz