| October 18, 2026
11:00am 21st Sunday after Pentecost 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 |
“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” based on Matthew 22:15-22 Image created by Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade |
| GATHERING
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God |
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Gathering Mighty Is Our God
Verse:
Mighty is our God, mighty is our King; mighty is our Lord, ruler of everything
Glory to our God, glory to our King; glory to our Lord, ruler of everything
Chorus:
His name is higher, higher than any other name
His power is greater, for He has created everything!
(verse)
Congregation
SONG You Are My All In All
Verse:
You are my strength when I am weak, You are the treasure that I seek; You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel, Lord to give up I’d be a fool; You are my all in all
Chorus:
Jesus, Lamb of God; worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God; worthy is Your name
Verse 2:
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame, rising again I bless Your name; You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up, when I am dry you fill my cup; you are my all in all
(chorus)
(verse 2)
WELCOME
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who pours love into our hearts
and healing upon the earth. Amen.
Confident that God justifies us by grace through faith, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Compassionate God,
we confess that we struggle to embody your goodness in the world and in our own hearts.
Creation groans from overuse.
Jealousy and bitterness strain our relationships.
Indifference keeps us from seeking justice.
Divisions disrupt our call to show genuine love to others.
Turn our hearts back to you.
Restore our world and reconcile us to one another.
Renew us to live as your holy people,
following the way of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hear this good news:
We have peace with God through ☩ Jesus Christ,
in whom there is no condemnation,
but only forgiveness and the promise of eternal life.
Receive freely this healing gift of grace!
Amen.
CONGREGATION
SONG I Bend My Knees Again
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray. Sovereign God, raise your throne in our hearts. Created by you, let us live in your image; created for you, let us act for your glory; redeemed by you, let us give you what is yours, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song |
FIRST READING Isaiah 45:1-7
The prophet announces that Cyrus the Persian emperor is the one the Lord has anointed to end Israel’s exile. The Lord makes this choice so that the whole world will recognize this Lord as the only God. Persia had a god of light and a god of darkness; the Lord claims sovereignty over both light and darkness.
A reading from Isaiah.
1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed,
to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him—
and the gates shall not be closed:
2 I will go before you
and level the mountains;
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron;
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that it is I,
the Lord,
the God of Israel,
who call you by your name.
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name;
I give you a title,
though you do not know me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me,
6 so that they may know,
from the rising of the sun
and from the west,
that there is no one besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7 I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe;
I the Lord do all these things.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
children’s message Pastor Jess
GOSPEL Matthew 22:15-22
After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar.
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
15 The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” 21 They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor Jess
SERMON Song Take My Life That I May Be
Chorus:
Take my life that I may be consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise
Verse 1:
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee
(chorus)
Verse 2:
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose4
(chorus)
Verse 3:
Take my voice and let it soar always only for my Lord
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee
(chorus)
Verse 4:
Take my will and make it Thine it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
(chorus)
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
O Lord Hear My Prayer
O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer; when I call answer me
O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer; come and listen to me
Seeking the Spirit of God who makes all things new, we pray for the church and the world.
Living and true God, you inspire us to share the message of the gospel. Give your spirit of love to seminarians, deacons, and pastors throughout your Church. Bless those who are preparing for their Confirmation. Encourage each one of us to live out your call to be a servant church that brings love and healing to those in need.
We give you thanks for the majesty of our oceans. Protect the abundant life within them and sustain all those who work to preserve them. Teach us to live in sustainable partnership with the Earth.
We seek your wisdom in all things. Direct all who hold positions of authority around the world, that they act with compassion, seeking the good of all.
We pray for all people who work in dangerous or degrading environments. Grant them safety and courage, and heal all those who are injured, sick, or suffering especially Darlene, Deb, the Chin family, Elke, Lou, Linda, Bob, Bert, Bill, John, Donna, all those affected by addiction or mental illness, and all military personnel and first responders.
We ask your blessing on those who do the quiet, unseen work of the church, especially those who are office volunteers, help with the altar guild, or care for the church building and property. Encourage them in their work of faith and labor of love.
We thank you for our ancestors who have been called home to you. Help us to learn from their witness and their lives of faithfulness. And we thank you for love shared between two people, especially David and Kristen McCordick who celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary with altar flowers today.
Trusting in your boundless grace, O God, we lift up these spoken prayers and those in our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you all. And also with you
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING INVITATION
(Gifts may be made online via debit or credit card using the QR code on the back of the bulletin)
GIFTS Press On The River Worship
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MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ |
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 Morrissey
Holy, holy, Lord God of power and might
(Holy, holy, Lord God of power and might)
Heaven and earth are full or Your glory
(Heaven and earth are full or Your glory)
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
(Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord)
(Everybody sing)
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest!
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
Holy One, the universe declares your praise:
beyond the stars; beneath the sea, within each cell; with every breath.
We praise you, O God.
Generations bless your faithfulness:
through the water, by night and day; across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future.
We bless you, O God.
We give you thanks for your dear Son:
at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer; beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now.
We thank you, O God.
In 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 for the 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 for the remembrance of me.
Remembering his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end,
we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
We pray for the gift of your Spirit:
in our gathering; within this meal; among your people; throughout the world.
Blessing, praise and thanks to you, holy God,
through Christ Jesus, by your Spirit, in your church, without end. Amen.
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
Jesus invites you to this table. Come and receive food for your soul!
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 Sinking Deep Hillsong
CCLI#6605236
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SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world |
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 Lord, I Lift Your Name On High
Lord I lift Your name on high, Lord I love to sing your praises
I’m so glad You’re in my life, I’m so glad You came to save us
You came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the earth to the cross my debt to pay
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord I lift Your name on high.
(repeat)
Dismissal
Go in peace. Imagine more! Thanks be to God!
Thank you to all who helped with worship!
Worship Assistant Grady Family
Usher Lucy Pelland
New Direction Praise Team Randy Gomez, Michelle Grim Kati, Lawrence Kati, Linda Frederico, Jim Molloy, Joshua Nadar, Matt Overholt, Holly Pavlak
Upcoming Commemorations
Luke, Evangelist
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Identified as the author of both Luke and Acts, Luke was careful to place the events of Jesus’ life in their social and religious contexts. His gospel gives us some of the most beloved parables, as well as the songs of Zechariah, Mary, the angels, and Simeon.
James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62
Friday, October 23, 2026
One of three early-church leaders named James, this man is identified in the New Testament and by a historian of the time as a brother of Jesus. Scholars are uncertain whether this means a blood brother. He was a leader of the church in Jerusalem.
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| From sundaysandseasons.com.
Copyright © 2026 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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