Sunday September 13, 2026
Message: Rev. Ray Thomas
Liturgist: Jeff Binns
†CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: The Lord is compassionate and merciful, very patient, and full of faithful love.
All: God won’t always play the judge; he won’t be angry forever.
One: He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin or repay us according to our wrongdoing.
All: Because as high as heaven is above the earth, that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor Him.
†OPENING HYMN: #298 “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Lord our God, we are humbled and amazed by the promises of love, forgiveness, healing, and hope you have kept throughout our lives. You are always available, always faithful. Your sacred word speaks powerfully whenever we turn our complete attention to you. Hear us now as we confess our sins, acknowledge our brokenness, and as we trust to you our true selves, forgive our foolish words, our unthoughtful acts, and our denials of responsibility. May we receive, and give to others, your love, your patience, and your forgiveness. Hear us now as we confess our sins in silence.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION: We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
†PASSING OF THE PEACE
†CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: # 579 “Gloria Patri”
TIME FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Shine your light, O God, on the faithful path you’ve laid before us. Soften our resistance to ways we can grow. Open doors to places where we can serve you. Open our hearts to people near us who hunger for your love. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Genesis 7: 6-16; Matthew 18: 21-35
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “God’s Got Us Locked In” Rev. Ray Thomas
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (Colossians 1:15-20)
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.
SPECIAL MUSIC: Sami Copeland
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
†PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: # 332 “Live Into Hope”
†BENEDICTION
†CHORAL DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “You Are the Vine”
One: The Lord is compassionate and merciful, very patient, and full of faithful love.
All: God won’t always play the judge; he won’t be angry forever.
One: He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin or repay us according to our wrongdoing.
All: Because as high as heaven is above the earth, that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor Him.
†OPENING HYMN: #298 “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Lord our God, we are humbled and amazed by the promises of love, forgiveness, healing, and hope you have kept throughout our lives. You are always available, always faithful. Your sacred word speaks powerfully whenever we turn our complete attention to you. Hear us now as we confess our sins, acknowledge our brokenness, and as we trust to you our true selves, forgive our foolish words, our unthoughtful acts, and our denials of responsibility. May we receive, and give to others, your love, your patience, and your forgiveness. Hear us now as we confess our sins in silence.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION: We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
†PASSING OF THE PEACE
†CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: # 579 “Gloria Patri”
TIME FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Shine your light, O God, on the faithful path you’ve laid before us. Soften our resistance to ways we can grow. Open doors to places where we can serve you. Open our hearts to people near us who hunger for your love. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Genesis 7: 6-16; Matthew 18: 21-35
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “God’s Got Us Locked In” Rev. Ray Thomas
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (Colossians 1:15-20)
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.
SPECIAL MUSIC: Sami Copeland
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
†PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: # 332 “Live Into Hope”
†BENEDICTION
†CHORAL DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “You Are the Vine”