Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Ave Verum
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
© Public Domain
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
We gather together to worship God,
who comes to us when we least expect it,
who calls us out of the safety of our ordered lives
and invites us to join Him in the adventure of faith.
Let’s worship God together!
Opening Hymn — #131 We Gather Together
1. We gather together
To ask the Lord’s blessing
He chastens and hastens
His will to make known
The wicked oppressing
Now cease from distressing
Sing praises to His name
He forgets not His own
2. Beside us to guide us
Our God with us joining
Ordaining maintaining
His kingdom divine
So from the beginning
The fight we were winning
Thou Lord wast at our side
All glory be Thine
3. We all do extol Thee
Thou Leader triumphant
And pray that Thou still
Our Defender wilt be
Let Thy congregation
Escape tribulation
Thy name be ever praised
O Lord make us free
We Gather Together (Kremser)
Eduard Kremser | Theodore Baker
© Public Domain
Scripture Reading – Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Children’s Time with Ms Becky – part 1
Castle Callout – Justine
Children’s Time with Ms Becky – part 2
video removed
Joys and Concerns — Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
God,
You have called us to be a people of prayer—
to continue the ministry of intercession handed on to us
by Jesus Christ Himself.
And so we come before You with confidence,
bringing our prayers for the world You love.
In Your mercy, hear and answer.
We pray for those who, like Jesus’ disciples,
find themselves surrounded by high winds and stormy seas;
those who feel overwhelmed by events and circumstances—
the loss of a job, the death of a loved one,
serious accident or illness, chronic pain,
depression, or divorce—
and who don’t know where to turn.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who, like Joseph,
find themselves deeply wounded by people they love—
people they thought they knew and trusted—
and who are struggling to know how to respond.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who, like Peter,
are experiencing a crisis of faith;
who long to whole-heartedly trust in God
but are held back by questions and doubts.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who, like the prophet Elijah,
have fallen into despair;
who have begun to doubt God’s presence and power;
or question God’s call in their lives.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who, like Joseph,
have had their hopes and dreams crushed;
those whose lives have suddenly taken a different turn,
and who now wonder what lies ahead for them.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving God, it is not Your will that any should suffer.
We offer our prayers for all those who hunger and thirst,
those who live in the midst of violence or poverty,
and those who feel abandoned or ignored by the world around them.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through the life-giving power of Your Holy Spirit,
make Your sustaining presence known to all who are in pain or need,
so that they, too, may know Your love and live.
In the name Jesus Christ, our Savior,
who lives to intercede for us, Amen.
Offertory – Ivy
There is Balm in Gilead
William Farley Smith
© Words: Public Domain
© Music: 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
CCLI License # 656051
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Doxology
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.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
© Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
Gracious God,
You call us to let go of the things we cling to
and step out in faith,
trusting in Your love and provision.
Give us courage to step out boldly,
and sufficient faith to follow without fear.
Take our lives and our gifts.
Use them to accomplish more than we could possibly imagine,
so that, through us, Your kingdom might come
and Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Armor Up with Faith!
Science With Ms. Leah
Holy Communion
Prayer Of Confession
God,
we confess that we do not always understand Your ways.
We are easily discouraged when life takes unexpected turns
and our carefully laid plans and dreams come to nothing.
We confess that we are quick to give up when things get difficult,
and quick to question Your presence and Your power.
Forgive us.
Grant us patience to wait for Your good timing.
Open our eyes to recognize Your leading in our lives—
to listen for Your gentle whisper when we least expect it.
And then give us courage to step out in faith and obedience,
trusting in Your leading even when we cannot yet see the outcome.
We praise You for Your faithful love,
and pray that You would make us worthy to bear Your name.
Amen.
Assurance
Holy Communion
Blessing
Benediction
So now we leave this space of worship
And while so much of the road ahead is uncertain,
the path constantly changing,
we know some things that are as solid and sure
as the ground beneath our feet,
and the sky above our heads.
We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.
We know the Holy Spirit this there,
found in the space between all things,
closer to us than our next breath,
binding us to each other,
until we meet we again,
Go in peace. Amen.
Postlude – Hani
Sortie
Nicholas Jaques Lemmens
© Public Domain