October 25, 2026
Sunday Gathering
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-PRELUDE-
Timmy Smallwood
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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-
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
THERE’S A SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE,
AND WE KNOW THAT IT’S THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD;
THERE ARE SWEET EXPRESSIONS ON EACH FACE,
AND WE KNOW THEY FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.
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-WELCOME & GREETING-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.
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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
Jesus calls us to love God
with all our heart, soul, and mind,
and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
COME, LET US WORSHIP THE GOD
WHOSE LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.
In a world divided by politics, opinions, and fear,
God calls us to seek justice, speak truth,
welcome the stranger, and care for the vulnerable.
MAY OUR FAITH BE GREATER THAN OUR FEARS,
OUR COMPASSION MORE THAN OUR DIVISIONS,
OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE
DEEPER THAN OUR DIFFERENCES.
As we worship today, may we remember
that loving our neighbors is a calling
to serve and to build
a more compassionate world.
LET US WORSHIP WITH OPEN HEARTS,
COURAGEOUS SPIRITS,
AND HANDS READY TO SERVE.
May love guide our faith,
MAY LOVE GUIDE OUR VOICES,
OUR VOTES,
AND OUR LIVES.
AMEN.
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-OPENING PRAYER-
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Higher Ground”
I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY,
NEW HEIGHTS I’M GAINING EVERY DAY;
STILL PRAYING AS I’M ONWARD BOUND,
“O PLANT ME, GOD, ON HIGHER GROUND.”
O LIFT ME UP, AND I SHALL BE
BY FAITH IN HEAV’N ETERNALLY,
A HIGHER PLANE THAN I HAVE FOUND,
O PLANT ME, GOD, ON HIGHER GROUND.
MY HEART HAS NO DESIRE TO STAY
WHERE DOUBTS ARISE AND FEARS DISMAY;
THOUGH SOME MAY DWELL WHERE THESE ABOUND,
MY PRAYER, MY AIM IS HIGHER GROUND.
O LIFT ME UP, AND I SHALL BE
BY FAITH IN HEAV’N ETERNALLY,
A HIGHER PLANE THAN I HAVE FOUND,
O PLANT ME, GOD, ON HIGHER GROUND.
I WANT TO LIVE ABOVE THE WORLD,
THOUGH ALL ITS DARTS AT ME ARE HURLED;
FOR FAITH HAS CAUGHT A JOYFUL SOUND,
THE SONG OF SAINTS ON HIGHER GROUND.
O LIFT ME UP, AND I SHALL BE
BY FAITH IN HEAV’N ETERNALLY,
A HIGHER PLANE THAN I HAVE FOUND,
O PLANT ME, GOD, ON HIGHER GROUND.
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-SCRIPTURE-
Matthew 22:34-40 (NRSVUE)
When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
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-THE MESSAGE-
“A Vote For the Great Commandment”
Kenny Bishop
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
”I Need You Every Hour”
WE NEED YOU EVERY HOUR,
O GOD OF GRACE;
THE PEACE YOUR VOICE AFFORDS,
WE NOW EMBRACE.
WE NEED YOU, LORD, WE NEED YOU!
EVERY HOUR WE NEED YOU;
O BLESS US NOW, OUR SAVIOR;
WE COME TO YOU.
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-JOYS & CONCERNS-
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-PASTORAL PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
”Come and Dine”
JESUS HAS A TABLE SPREAD
WHERE THE SAINTS OF GOD ARE FED,
HE INVITES ALL THE PEOPLE, COME AND DINE;
WITH HIS MANNA HE WILL FEED
AND PROVIDE FOR ALL OUR NEEDS:
IT’S SO SWEET TO SUP WITH JESUS ALL THE TIME!
COME AND DINE, THE LORD IS CALLING
COME AND DINE;
YOU MAY FEAST AT JESUS’ TABLE ALL THE TIME;
HE WHO FED THE MULTITUDE,
TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE,
TO THE HUNGRY HEAR THE CALL TO COME AND DINE.
THE DISCIPLES CAME TO LAND,
HEARD THE CALL OF CHRIST’S COMMAND,
FOR HE CALLED FOR THEM TO JOIN, TO COME AND DINE;
THERE THEY FOUND THEIR HEART’S DESIRE,
BREAD AND FISH UPON THE FIRE;
HE WILL SATISFY THE HUNGRY, COME AND DINE.
COME AND DINE, THE LORD IS CALLING
COME AND DINE;
YOU MAY FEAST AT JESUS’ TABLE ALL THE TIME;
HE WHO FED THE MULTITUDE,
TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE,
TO THE HUNGRY HEAR THE CALL TO COME AND DINE.
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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-
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-COMMUNION MEDITATION-
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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-
“Living By Faith”
I CARE NOT TODAY WHAT TOMORROW MAY BRING,
IF SHADOW OR SUNSHINE OR RAIN,
THE LORD I KNOW WATCHES O’ER EVERYTHING,
AND ALL OF MY WORRY IS VAIN.
LIVING BY FAITH IN JESUS ABOVE,
TRUSTING, CONFIDING IN HIS GREAT LOVE;
FROM HARM I’M HELD IN HIS SHELTERING ARM,
I’M LIVING BY FAITH, AND FEEL NO ALARM.
THO' TEMPESTS MAY BLOW AND THE STORM-CLOUDS ARISE,
OBSCURING THE BRIGHTNESS OF LIFE,
I’M NOT ALARMED AT THE OVERCAST SKIES—
FOR WE WILL LOOK ON AT THE STRIFE.
LIVING BY FAITH IN JESUS ABOVE,
TRUSTING, CONFIDING IN HIS GREAT LOVE;
FROM HARM I’M HELD IN HIS SHELTERING ARM,
I’M LIVING BY FAITH, AND FEEL NO ALARM.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Living By Faith”
LIVING BY FAITH IN JESUS ABOVE,
TRUSTING, CONFIDING IN HIS GREAT LOVE;
FROM HARM I’M HELD IN HIS SHELTERING ARM,
I’M LIVING BY FAITH, AND FEEL NO ALARM.
. . . . . . . . . .
-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
OCTOBER BULLETINS