September 6, 2026
Sunday Gathering
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-PRELUDE-
“In Christ Alone” – arr. M. Hayes
Brenda Gardiner

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-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them.

We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city.

We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages, and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood.

We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“Welcome”

LET’S WALK TOGETHER FOR A WHILE
AND ASK WHERE WE BEGIN
TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE LOVE CAN GROW
AND HOPE CAN ENTER IN,
TO BE THE HANDS OF HEALING
AND TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF PEACE.

SINGING WELCOME,
WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.
YOU’RE INVITED
TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE.
ALL ARE WELCOME,
THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE.
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE;
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.

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-WELCOME & GREETING-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“Welcome”

LET’S TALK TOGETHER OF A TIME
WHEN WE WILL SHARE A FEAST,
WHERE PRIDE AND POWER KNEEL TO SERVE
THE LONELY AND THE LEAST,
AND JOY WILL SET THE TABLE
AS WE JOIN OUR HANDS TO PRAY.

SINGING WELCOME,
WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.
YOU’RE INVITED
TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE.
ALL ARE WELCOME,
THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE.
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE;
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.

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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
People of God,
the night is fading, and a new day is dawning.
WE RISE TO THE LIGHT OF LOVE AND HOPE.

We owe each other an endless debt of love.
WE WILL LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES.

Let us cast aside whatever harms, excludes, or divides.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE ROOM FOR EVERYONE.

We believe in the God whose greatest commandment is love.
WE ARE READY TO LIVE IN LOVE AND WALK IN LIGHT!

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-OPENING PRAYER-

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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-

“The Summons”

WILL YOU COME AND FOLLOW ME IF I BUT CALL YOUR NAME?
WILL YOU GO WHERE YOU DON’T KNOW AND NEVER BE THE SAME?
WILL YOU LET MY LOVE BE SHOWN,
WILL YOU LET MY NAME BE KNOWN,
WILL YOU LET MY LIFE BE GROWN IN YOU AND YOU IN ME?

WILL YOU LEAVE YOURSELF BEHIND IF I BUT CALL YOUR NAME?
WILL YOU CARE FOR CRUEL AND KIND AND NEVER BE THE SAME?
WILL YOU RISK THE HOSTILE STARE
SHOULD YOUR LIFE ATTRACT OR SCARE?
WILL YOU LET ME ANSWER PRAYER IN YOU AND YOU IN ME?

WILL YOU LET THE BLINDED SEE IF I BUT CALL YOUR NAME?
WILL YOU SET THE PRISONERS FREE AND NEVER BE THE SAME?
WILL YOU KISS THE LEPER CLEAN,
AND DO SUCH AS THIS UNSEEN,
AND ADMIT TO WHAT I MEAN IN YOU AND YOU IN ME?

WILL YOU LOVE THE “YOU” YOU HIDE IF I BUT CALL YOUR NAME?
WILL YOU QUELL THE FEAR INSIDE AND NEVER BE THE SAME?
WILL YOU USE THE FAITH YOU’VE FOUND
TO RESHAPE THE WORLD AROUND,
THROUGH MY SIGHT AND TOUCH AND SOUND IN YOU AND YOU IN ME.

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-SCRIPTURE-
Romans 13:8-10 (NABRE)

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
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-THE MESSAGE-
“The Law of Love”
Kenny Bishop

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“There’s a Spirit of Love in This Place”

THERE’S A SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THIS PLACE,
THERE’S A SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THIS PLACE.
YOU CAN’T SEE IT, BUT IT’S THERE
JUST AS PRECIOUS AS THE AIR.
THERE’S A SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THIS PLACE.

O ALLELUIA,
SING ALLELUIA!
WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME.
O ALLELUIA,
SING ALLELUIA!
THERE’S A SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THIS PLACE.

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-JOYS & CONCERNS-
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-PASTORAL PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“There’s a Spirit of Love in This Place”

O ALLELUIA,
SING ALLELUIA!
WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME.
O ALLELUIA,
SING ALLELUIA!
THERE’S A SPIRIT OF LOVE IN THIS PLACE.

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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“The Open Table”

COME, OH COME, COME TO THE TABLE.
GATHER ‘ROUND, COME WITHOUT FEAR.
KNOWN BY NAME HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

CIRCLE ‘ROUND, LET’S JOIN TOGETHER.
SHARE YOUR JOYS, AND BRING YOUR TEARS.
STRENGTH AND HOPE FOUND AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

GOD IS LOVE; LOVE IS CREATING
SOMETHING NEW, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
WE’RE CHILDREN OF GOD, HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

COME, OH COME, COME TO THE TABLE.
GATHER ‘ROUND, COME WITHOUT FEAR.
KNOWN BY NAME HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.

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-IN GRATITUDE-

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-OFFERING-

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-ANNOUNCEMENTS-

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-INVITATION TO RESPOND-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“You Are Mine”

I WILL COME TO YOU IN THE SILENCE,
I WILL BE WITH YOU IN YOUR FEAR.
YOU WILL HEAR MY VOICE,
I CLAIM YOU AS MY CHOICE.
BE STILL AND KNOW I AM HERE.

I AM HOPE FOR ALL WHO ARE HOPELESS,
I AM EYES FOR ALL WHO LONG TO SEE.
IN THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT,
I WILL BE YOUR LIGHT.
COME AND REST IN ME.

DO NOT BE AFRAID, I AM WITH YOU.
I HAVE CALLED YOU EACH BY NAME.
COME AND FOLLOW ME,
I WILL BRING YOU HOME;
I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MINE.

I AM STRENGTH FOR ALL THE DESPAIRING,
HEALING FOR THE ONES WHO DWELL IN SHAME.
ALL THE BLIND WILL SEE,
THE LAME WILL ALL RUN FREE,
AND ALL WILL KNOW MY NAME.

I AM THE WORD THAT LEADS ALL TO FREEDOM,
I AM THE PEACE THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE.
I WILL CALL YOUR NAME,
EMBRACING ALL YOUR PAIN.
STAND UP, NOW WALK AND LIVE.

DO NOT BE AFRAID, I AM WITH YOU.
I HAVE CALLED YOU EACH BY NAME.
COME AND FOLLOW ME,
I WILL BRING YOU HOME;
I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MINE. 

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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-

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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“You Are Mine”

DO NOT BE AFRAID, I AM WITH YOU.
I HAVE CALLED YOU EACH BY NAME.
COME AND FOLLOW ME,
I WILL BRING YOU HOME;
I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MINE.

. . . . . . . . . .  

-THE TEAM-

ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner,  Lisa Loeffler, Timmy Smallwood

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: Tiff Jones

BUILDING CARE: Travis Hines, Barry Thompson

FACILITIES CARE: Edmond Edwards, Lisa Loeffler, Steve Melton, Seth Tuska

NURSERY: Linda Netherton

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner

PROPERTY CARE: Skeet Freytag, West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste

SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Barry Thompson

SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard, Lisa Loeffler

TECH: Nancy Alspach, Mason Bishop, Erin Drenkhahn, Dale Hamilton,  Keith Moore, Timmy Smallwood