| August 17, 2025
10:15am Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 12 Step Week 10 Attend Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Whether this is your first time with us or your one thousand and first, we are glad that the Spirit has drawn you here today! Visitors are invited to sign the Guest Book near the front doors of the church and take home a welcome brochure to learn more about us. |
The Rocky Shores of Georgian Bay by Patti Belanger |
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GATHERING |
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GATHERING SONG What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Verse 1:
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer
Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
Verse 2:
Have we trials and temptations is there trouble anywhere
We should never be discouraged take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share
Jesus knows our every weakness take it to the Lord in prayer
Verse 3:
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care
Precious Savior still our refuge take it to the Lord in prayer
Do your friends despise forsake you, take it to the Lord in prayer
In His arms He’ll take and shield you, you will find a solace there
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, and standing in need of God’s grace,
let us confess that need in community with one another.
A brief silence is held for reflection.
God our redeemer,
We admit that human power is not enough to heal us,
human will is not enough to sustain us,
and human love is not enough to repair us.
Where we are fearful and searching,
when we long for something more to soothe the ache of brokenness,
your grace is our source of peace and wholeness.
Help us to trust you with our mistakes and our need.
Teach us to reconcile who we have been with who you call us to be.
Love us out of sin and into new life.
People of God, hear this good news—
that when we believed all hope was lost, Jesus defied the grave.
We are already and always made new.
Let us worship together in gratitude, and in freedom.
Amen.
CONGREGATION SONG Keep My Heart
Prayer of the Day The Tenth Step Prayer
Let us pray. God, we pray we may continue:
To grow in understanding and effectiveness;
To take daily spot check inventories of ourselves;
To correct mistakes when we make them;
To take responsibility for our actions;
To be ever aware of our negative and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors;
To keep our willfulness in check;
To always remember we need Your help;
To keep love and tolerance of others as our code; and
To continue in daily prayer how we can best serve You, our Higher Power.
Amen.
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WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song |
FIRST READING Isaiah 55:6-13
A reading from Isaiah.
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake their way
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 For you shall go out in joy
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle,
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING Romans 8:18-27
A reading from Romans.
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory
about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Pastor Cassie
GOSPEL Matthew 5:21-26
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Jesus said, 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Cassie
CONGREGATION SONG O Living Breath Of God ELW#407
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Change My Heart, O God
Change my heart O God, make it ever true
Change my heart O God, may I be like You
Let us pray for the church, the creation, and the whole people of God, for God is near.
Raise up faithful leaders for your church around the world. Inspire global missionaries with a spirit of accompaniment, as they walk alongside our partners in the gospel in solidarity, interdependence, and mutuality.
Safeguard Lake Quinsigamond, Lake Chauncy, Silver Lake, and all local rivers and lakes from pollution. Sustain the work of conservationists, policy makers, and advocacy groups seeking to protect fresh water sources.
Bridge divisions across partisan lines. Strengthen cooperative efforts among lawmakers who enact policies that protect our neighbors who are most vulnerable.
Embrace all who suffer in isolation: for those who are incarcerated or detained, those who are despairing in immigration detention centers, those who are fleeing from unsafe environments, and those who are sick or homebound especially for Nancy, Bert, Michael, Bill, Butch, Jennifer, Gretchen, Lloyd & Sue, all those affected by addiction, all those affected by mental illness, and all military personnel and first responders. Reassure them of your care in all times
and places.
Guide the leaders of this congregation. In these late summer weeks, inspire our planning for a new program year ahead. Kindle in us a spirit of collaboration and support for the ministries that we share.
With thanksgiving, we remember the cloud of witnesses who surround us. By the example of their faith, enable us to run with perseverance the race set before us, until that day when we join their unending praise.
Gather all our prayers in your mercy, O God. Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; courage to change the things we can; and wisdom to know the difference; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
GIFTS Fill My Cup Andrew Ripp
CCL #7193051
(Gifts may be made online via debit or credit card using the QR code on the back of this bulletin)
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MEAL |
DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
SANCTUS Holy, Holy Setting Six
Holy, holy, holy Lord. Lord God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
You are indeed holy, redeeming God,
and it is in your name that we journey to gather at your table.
Like Adam, tempted in the Garden of Eden,
We admit our mistakes, and believe you can help us.
Like Jonah, desperate to avoid his calling in Ninevah,
We yield to your loving will, and search our wandering hearts.
Like David, struggling between selfish desires and the wisdom of a king,
We confess that we cannot do this alone, and release the belief that we should.
And we tell the story of your son, Jesus,
who renewed the lives of lowly fisherman, and remembered the dignity of the poor.
He mended those who were wounded, and attended to those who had been overlooked.
He prayed for your will to be done, and on the cross, shared a love that conquers death.
And on the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me.
As we follow in his steps and take our place at the table he prepares,
we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!
Send your Holy Spirit on this bread and cup.
Make them signs of your abundant grace in a broken world.
Use them to sustain your people in joy, as we seek your justice and truth.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit!
LORD’S PRAYER
Let us pray as Jesus taught us, each in the words or language of our choice.
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth
as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
We come to this table not because we are perfect, but because here God promises to love us and make us new. Here God invites the lost and the broken and the outcast to claim a seat at the table. Come, taste and see God’s welcome for us all.
COMMUNION
At this table, Christ is both host and meal, and offers himself to all who hunger and thirst for his presence.
We believe that he is truly present in this sacrament.
Come to the front, where bread is placed in your hand (you can request a gluten-free wafer), and where you receive wine by taking a cup from the tray (the cups in the center contain white grape juice).
If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing.
If you need to receive communion in your seat, simply notify an usher.
No one is too young to receive this sacrament, though some families wish to give their children some instruction before they take their first communion. If a young child accompanies you, please indicate to the pastor whether they should receive bread or a blessing.
COMMUNION SONG At Your Feet Casting Crowns
CCLI#5657539
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SENDING |
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. Amen.
SENDING SONG Where Justice Rolls Down
Chorus:
Where justice rolls down like a mighty water
And righteousness grows like an ever flowing stream
And mercy resounds like the waves on the ocean
Let praises rise high on the songs of the redeemed
Verse 1:
There is a river that streams from the temple, begins as a trickle but ends in the sea
As it grows healing it will give, where it flows everything will live
(chorus)
Verse 2:
Wade in the water and feel the strong current, remember the stagnance of stale life before
God is here, leave the past behind; in these clear waters you will find
(chorus X2)
Let praises rise high on the songs of the redeemed!
Dismissal
Go in peace. Serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Thank you to those who helped with worship today…
Worship Assistant Margaret Holst
Ushers Sue Whalen
New Direction Praise Team Randy Gomez, Michelle Grim Kati, Lawrence Kati, Jim Molloy, Matt Overholt, Mary Overholt
Altar Care Katie Zimmermann and Trudy Roybal
Livestream Operator Bill Whalen
Upcoming Commemorations
Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, died 1153
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Bernard, a Cistercian monk, was a man of great spirituality who wrote mystical works and criticized those whom he thought took an overly intellectual approach to the faith. He became an abbot, and wrote several hymns that are still beloved today.
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Copyright © 2025 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS007028. New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. |
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