Sunday October 18, 2026
Message: David Sadler, CRE
Liturgist: Thywill Amenya
†CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Sing to the Lord a new song! Everyone, even the rocks and trees, sing!
All: Let us shout out in praise!
One: God does great things for us. See God’s amazing works all around us.
All: Great is the Lord!
One: Tell of God’s wonders! Share stories of God’s glory
All: Let us worship the Lord!
†OPENING HYMN: #407 “When a Poor One” (vs 1-3)
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Almighty God, we confess that we have not been the faithful disciples you call us to be. We have not remembered who we are. We are distracted by glittering gold. We are mesmerized by fame and fortune. We turn a blind eye to systems that perpetuate injustice. We fail to hear the cries for mercy of those who bear unfair burdens. We close our hearts and imagine empathy to be weakness. Forgive us Lord. Remind us that we are yours, citizens of the kingdom of God. Give us courage to be kingdom builders here and now, showing mercy and grace in a world in deep need. Lord, in your mercy hear our silent prayers.
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: Lord, as we come to hear your Word for us, still in us all that distracts us. Open our ears to hear your Word for us, read and proclaimed. And open our hearts to be transformed to be your people, to love and serve with faithful obedience. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 45: 1-7, Exodus 33: 12-23
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “Presence Matters” David Sadler, CRE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (The Confession of 1967)
The life, death, resurrection and promised coming of Jesus Christ has set the pattern for the church’s mission. His human life involves the church in the common life of all people. His service to men and women commits the church to work for every form of human well-being. His suffering makes the church sensitive to all human suffering so that is sees the face of Christ in the faces of persons in every kind of need. His crucifixion discloses to the church God’s judgement on the inhumanity that marks human relations, and the awful consequences of the church’s own complicity in injustice. In the power of the risen Christ and the hop of his coming, the church sees the promise of God’s renewal of human life in society and of God’s victory over all wrong. The church follows this pattern in the form of its life and in the method of its actions. To live and serve is to confess Christ a Lord. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
†PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: #527 “Near to the Heart of God”
†BENEDICTION
†CHORAL DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “You Are the Vine”
One: Sing to the Lord a new song! Everyone, even the rocks and trees, sing!
All: Let us shout out in praise!
One: God does great things for us. See God’s amazing works all around us.
All: Great is the Lord!
One: Tell of God’s wonders! Share stories of God’s glory
All: Let us worship the Lord!
†OPENING HYMN: #407 “When a Poor One” (vs 1-3)
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Almighty God, we confess that we have not been the faithful disciples you call us to be. We have not remembered who we are. We are distracted by glittering gold. We are mesmerized by fame and fortune. We turn a blind eye to systems that perpetuate injustice. We fail to hear the cries for mercy of those who bear unfair burdens. We close our hearts and imagine empathy to be weakness. Forgive us Lord. Remind us that we are yours, citizens of the kingdom of God. Give us courage to be kingdom builders here and now, showing mercy and grace in a world in deep need. Lord, in your mercy hear our silent prayers.
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: Lord, as we come to hear your Word for us, still in us all that distracts us. Open our ears to hear your Word for us, read and proclaimed. And open our hearts to be transformed to be your people, to love and serve with faithful obedience. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 45: 1-7, Exodus 33: 12-23
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “Presence Matters” David Sadler, CRE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (The Confession of 1967)
The life, death, resurrection and promised coming of Jesus Christ has set the pattern for the church’s mission. His human life involves the church in the common life of all people. His service to men and women commits the church to work for every form of human well-being. His suffering makes the church sensitive to all human suffering so that is sees the face of Christ in the faces of persons in every kind of need. His crucifixion discloses to the church God’s judgement on the inhumanity that marks human relations, and the awful consequences of the church’s own complicity in injustice. In the power of the risen Christ and the hop of his coming, the church sees the promise of God’s renewal of human life in society and of God’s victory over all wrong. The church follows this pattern in the form of its life and in the method of its actions. To live and serve is to confess Christ a Lord. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
†PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: #527 “Near to the Heart of God”
†BENEDICTION
†CHORAL DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “You Are the Vine”