Worship Guide
August 31, 2025
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greeting:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “Better For It” Stefanie
Centering Words:
God calls us into fullness of life. Will we listen? Will we hear? Will we honor the One who seeks our welfare?
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Sing in exaltation, people of God.
People: The Lord fills us with good things.
Leader: Shout for joy, children of the Holy One.
People: God feeds us with finest wheat.
Leader: God satisfies us with the sweetest honey.
People: The Lord sustains us with living water.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Help us show hospitality to strangers, Merciful One, for many have entertained angels unaware while doing so. Move us to treat one another as we would have others treat us, lest we find ourselves tortured or imprisoned with no one to come to our aid. May we always seek to do good and share from our abundance, for these things are pleasing in your sight. In your holy name, we pray. Amen
Hymn: “There’s Within My Heart a Melody”
There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low:
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
in all of life’s ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
discord filled my heart with pain;
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
stirred the slumbering chords again.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
Though sometimes he leads
through waters deep,
trials fall across the way,
though sometimes the path seems
rough and steep,
see his footprints all the way.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
Feasting on the riches of his grace,
resting neath his sheltering wing,
always looking on his smiling face,
that is why I shout and sing.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
Soon he’s coming back to welcome me
far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown;
I shall reign with him on high.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
God offers us these words and this hope: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”
God offers us these words of assurance: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
God is faithful, even when we are not.
Special Music: “I Remember” Meagan
*Gospel Reading: Luke 14:1, 7-14
1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 2
7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Special Music: Charles
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me
Children’s Message: “Always the Same”
Hymn: “Ivory Palaces”
My Lord has garments so wondrous fine,
and myrrh their texture fills;
its fragrance reached to this heart of mine
with joy my being thrills.
Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,
only his great eternal love made my Savior go.
His life had also its sorrows sore, for aloes had a part;
and when I think of the cross he bore,
my eyes with teardrops start.
Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,
only his great eternal love made my Savior go.
His garments too were in cassia dipped,
with healing in a touch;
each time my feet in some sin have slipped,
he took me from its clutch.
Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,
only his great eternal love made my Savior go.
In garments glorious he will come, to open wide the door;
and I shall enter my heaven-ly home, to dwell forevermore.
Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,
only his great eternal love made my Savior go.
Sermon: “Let Mutual Love Continue” Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
1 Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Leave It There”
If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
and you have to get along with meager fare,
just remember in his Word how he feeds the little bird,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If your body suffers pain, and your health you cant regain,
and your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus know the pain you feel, he can save and he can heal,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
When your enemies assail, and your heart begins to fail,
don't forget that God in heaven answers prayers;
he will make a way for you, and will lead you safely throught,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
When your youthful days are done, and old age is stealing on,
and your body bends beneath the weight of care,
he will never leave you then, he'll go with you to the end,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Psalter: An Affirmation from 1 Corinthians
This is the good news
which we have received,
in which we stand,
and by which we are saved:
Christ died for our sins,
was buried,
was raised on the third day,
and appeared first to the women,
then to Peter and the Twelve,
and then to many faithful witnesses.
We believe Jesus is the Christ,
the Anointed One of God,
the firstborn of all creation,
the firstborn from the dead,
in whom all things hold together,
in whom the fullness of God
was pleased to dwell
by the power of the Spirit.
Christ is the head of the body, the church,
and by the blood of the cross
reconciles all things to God. Amen
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Special Music: “Not Guilty” Stefanie
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Pass It On”
It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That's how it is with God's Love, once you've experienced it;
your spread his love to everyone; you want to pass it on.
What a wonderous time is spring,
when all the tress are budding;
the birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That's how it is with God's love once you've experienced it;
you want to sing, it's fresh like spring, you want to pass it on.
I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I've found;
you can depend on him, it matters not where you're bound.
I'll shout it from the mountain top; I want the world to know;
the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.
Benediction
Hymn: “Go Now In Peace”
Go now in peace, Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of ev-ry day.
Go now in faith, stead-fast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you be-lieve.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
God now in peace, in faith, and in love.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
