Sunday September 28, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Fantasy in G Major — J.S. Bach     
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
Hope is not dependent on peace in the land, justice in the world, and success in business.  Hope makes you see God’s guiding hand not only in the pleasant moments but also in the shadows…”      
– Henri Nouwen

Call to Worship — based on Psalm 146
Come! Praise the Lord!
       Praise God for the heavens and the earth and all that is in them!
Come! Praise the Lord!
       Praise God who feeds the hungry and uplifts the downtrodden!
Come! Praise the Lord!
       Praise God who gives sight to the blind and sets prisoners free!
Come! Praise the Lord!
       The Lord will reign forever! Praise the Lord!
       Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #816 — If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee — WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT
(*Please stand, if you are able)                                                        

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession 

Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, you call us to lives of service, but we confess that we ignore our neighbors in need right outside our door. You call us to share our abundance, but we confess that we choose our own comfort over generosity to others. You call us to build community, but we confess that we are too often gatekeepers, letting in only the ones that make us comfortable. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to be content with enough and inspire us to share what we have – our prosperity, our power and our love – until all your children have life and dignity in beloved community. Lord, hear our prayer, and the prayers of our hearts…

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 and Announcements

*Hymn #485 — We Know That Christ Is Raised — ENGELBERG

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 — Christ Ever with Me —  Michael Cox                                           

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Jeremiah 32: 1-15 — page 643 of the pew Bible                                                         

Sermon — “Risky Business” — Rev. Dr. Mike Elliott                                                          

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — The Confession of 1967, 9.15
God ’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men and women.  The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of God’s love.     

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated — Mark Hayes
How Can I Keep from Singing? — Arr. Taylor Davis

*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                                                                                                                                           
All that we have is a gift from you. Lord, bless these gifts and inspire us to use them in ways that transform and enliven your people. May they be a blessing to those who need them most. Amen.

*Hymn #772  — Live into Hope — TRURO

 *Charge and Benediction

Choral Benediction — Christ Be with Me — K. Lee Scott

Postlude — O Sing to the Lord  Jeffrey Blersch