September 13, 2026 | 10 AM
16th Sunday after Pentecost
What If Jesus Was Serious About Justice
Prelude
Introit: Choir
“Call to Worship” – John Rutter (1’)
Welcome
Opening Hymn
427 – Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life, vs. 1,4,6
Passing the Peace
Choir: Gentle Shepherd
Morning Prayer: Liturgist: Tom Schubert
L: Lord, hear us. All: Lord, graciously hear us.
The 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
CALL TO OFFERING- Susan Mendenhall
Doxology –
Let us pray together:
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
We bring nothing into this world, and we take nothing out of it.
We who call Jesus ‘Lord’ devote ourselves to resisting greed,
which plunges the human heart into ruin and pierces it with
many griefs.
We are determined to practice generosity with free hearts,
fixing our hope on God and not on the uncertainty of wealth.
We desire to be rich in good deeds and willing to share all that
we have, laying up for ourselves treasure that will not decay but
will shine in the age to come.
So let it be with us: Amen.
Discipleship Moment-
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Responsive Psalm Reading
Psalm 145 (NIV) – Please respond with the bold words.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 25: 37-46 (NIV)
Message: Pastor Matt
Prayer of Confession
Let us join together in the prayer of confession out loud:
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your judgment. For our sake, and the sake of your son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways that lead to glory. Amen.
Almighty God, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who sincerely repent and with true faith turn to him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN – Depth of Mercy, 355
BENEDICTION