Sunday Worship

Prelude

 

Greetings

- Hymns today are in the Red Hymnal

 

Open Scripture                               Exodus 3:1-15  

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.   

 

Call to Worship

Moses was keeping the flock beyond the wilderness, at Horeb, the mountain of God.


There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush.
Moses looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.


Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight!"


God called to him out of the bush: "Moses, Moses!"


And he said, "Here I am."


"Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

Surely the Lord is in this place, and we did not know it.


One: This is holy ground. God is here.


Let us worship the Lord!                    

 

Hymn of Welcome #642              Abide with Me (v. 1, 3-5)

 

Psalm 26:1-8

 

Opening Prayer (Unison)

Holy God, you meet us in the wilderness of our ordinary lives. In the pasture and the pew, in the workplace and the waiting room, in every place we least expect to find you. Turn our eyes to see your presence burning like a bush that is not consumed, and give us the courage to turn aside, to remove the sandals of our hurry and our fear, and to stand barefoot on holy ground. As we worship you today, make our love genuine and our hearts open, that we may remember your wonderful works, hear your call upon our lives, and go from this place to overcome evil with good. We pray in the name of Jesus, who walked the holy ground of this world and called us to follow. Amen.

 

Call to Confession    

 

Prayer of Confession (unison)        

Holy God, we have walked past burning bushes without turning aside. We have stood on holy ground wearing the heavy boots of our own agendas, our prejudices, our fear. We confess that our love has not been genuine. We have hated what is evil but failed to hold fast to what is good. We have neglected hospitality. We have let evil overcome good instead of overcoming evil with good. Forgive us, Lord of holy ground. Remove the sandals of our selfishness. Strip us bare before your mercy. Call our names again, and make us new. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

 

Assurance of Pardon                       

 

Gloria Patri 

 

Passing of the Peace

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

 

Prayer for Illumination (unison)

God of the burning bush, you meet us in the wilderness of our ordinary days. As we turn aside to your Word, set our hearts ablaze with your presence. Help us remember your wonderful works, that we may tell them to the next generation. Open our ears to hear your call, and our lives to bear genuine love. In Christ's name. Amen.

 

Scripture Response               Romans 12:9-21

 

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.   

 

Sermon                                  

Holy Ground                          

Rev Tony DeLucia

 

Hymn of Response #539         My Faith Looks Up to Thee

 

Affirmation of Faith                    adapted from the Confession of 1967   

God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of our minds.

We believe that God has created the world of space and time to be the sphere of God’s dealings with humankind. In its beauty and vastness, transcendence and awe-fulness, order and disorder, the world reflects to the eye of faith the majesty and mystery of its Creator.

We believe that God has created us for a personal relationship in which we may respond to the love of the Creator. Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage.

 

Call for the Offering   

 

Doxology 

 

Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Gracious God, receive these gifts and our lives. Use them to bless the world, to feed the hungry, to welcome the stranger, and to proclaim your wonderful works to every generation. May everything we offer be holy ground for your kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer 

 

Hymn of Sending #626            The Lily of the Valley                                       

 

Charge and Benediction                                                                  

 

Response to the Benediction #358, Blue Hymnal    Because He Lives, refrain

 

Postlude     

 

August Birthdays

Kaiser Tanaka, 8/5

Parker O’Rourke, 8/18

Jonathan Saunders, 8/23

 

Anniversaries

Anita and Craig Herron, 8/21 (50th)

 

Upcoming Events:

Bible Study - September 2, 2026, Wednesday at 6:30 pm

Communion - September 6, 2026

Bible Study - September 16, 2026, Wednesday at 6:30 pm

Newell Community Dinner - September 26, 2026, Saturday from 3p to 5pm at American Legion in Newell with: Chicken Parmesan, Pasta Salad, Italian Roasted Potatoes, Roll, and Dessert 

Bible Study - September 30, 2026, Wednesday at 6:30 pm

 

Prayer Requests of the Congregation

• Alex Lepro - prayers for family

• Cody and Kate - healthy pregnancy

• Dave Lyons - healing and strength

• Diana - prayers while in hospital

• Jimmy - healing and strength

• Johnny - comfort and strength

• Marge and family -  guidance and strength

• Montgomery family - prayers for family

• Nancy - prayers for safety guidance

• Peter - healing and recovery

• Derek Terry and his family

• Matt Camlin - fighting MS

• Vicky - healing, strength and recovery

• Zach - prayers for cancer Tx

• Christopher Roberts - concession during football

• Carter Pesacreta - prayers for family

• Students, and staff going back to school - safe and healthy year

• All affected by the storms of nature and of life, especially by the paths of floods and other natural disasters

• Continued prayers for all those suffering from the new parasite Illnesses.

• Continued prayers for the latest victims of the tornadoes and severe storms, flooding and wildfires hitting our nation.

• Prayers for the victim and all those effected by flash flood in Tibet Nepal

• Prayers for the people of Iran, Israel, and US Servicemen and Women being sent into the latest conflict.

• Prayers for those victims of the Measles outbreak