Order of Worship
October 11th 2026 ~ Twentieth Sunday after the Pentecost
Prelude
Zion hort die Wachter singen from BWV 140
J.S. Bach
Welcome, Announcements, and Peace
Call to Worship
Beloved, God’s never-ending love spills out all around us, drawing us together in beloved community with God, neighbor, and all creation.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again we say, rejoice!
God’s always-present grace surrounds us, enlivening us to love ourselves and our neighbors just as Christ loves us.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again we say, rejoice!
God’s persistent peace sweeps through us, guarding our hearts and empowering us to live as agents of God’s mercy and justice wherever we go.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again we say, rejoice!
May our rejoicing overflow into our families, neighborhoods, and the whole earth that through our living, working, resting, and playing, God may be glorified.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again we say, rejoice! Amen.
~ by The Rev. Dr. Lisa Hancock
Hymn of Praise
There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy (Wellesley)
RH #355
Verse 1
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Like the wideness of the sea
There’s a kindness in His justice
Which is more than liberty
Verse 2
There is welcome for the sinner
And more graces for the good
There is mercy with the Saviour
There is healing in His blood
Verse 3
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind
Verse 4
If our love were but more simple
We should take Him at His word
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord
CCLI Song # 123216 © Words: Public Domain | Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 3154366
Opening Prayer
God of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses,
you stayed the hand of your wrath
when we fell into idolatry and discord;
and when we forgot our deliverance,
your love for us remained unchanging.
Transform us and our world
into a place of justice, love, and peace.
Welcome us to your wedding feast
where all are invited to be gathered in. Amen.
Special Music
The Gift of Love
Hal Hopson
©1972 Hope Publishing Co
Scripture Reading
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
Matthew 22:15-22
The Question about Paying Taxes
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 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. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Family Affair
The Rev. Billy Tweedie
Pastoral Prayer
Prayers of the People
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heav’nly host
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost
Amen
Communion
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Hymn
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
RH #11
Verse 1
Come Thou fount of ev’ry blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Verse 2
Here I raise mine Ebenezer
Hither by Thy help I’m come
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wand’ring from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Verse 3
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy grace Lord like a fetter
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart Lord take & seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
John Wyeth, Robert Robinson
CCLI Song #108389
Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #3154366
Closing Prayer
Beloved, as we go from this place, may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding surround us, centering your minds on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise and empowering us to press on toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Blessing
Postlude
Sheep May Safely Graze
J.S. Bach
Our love in action now begins…
This Sunday’s Special Music is brought to you
by Henry Whitaker, Andrew Miller, & Marnie White.
Thank you to all of our Volunteers for stepping up to serve this Sunday!
Altar : Matt Martin
Coordinators : Marion Garrett & Karla Santos
Greeters : Karla Santos
Scripture & POP :
Offering : Bill Fabrocini, Karla Santos
Communion : Bill Fabrocini, Karla Santos & Marion Garrett
Download the PDF edition for printing at home here.
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