Worship Guide
September 28, 2025
Sixteenth 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: Meagan
Centering Words:
God’s promises are sure. We return from exile to find hope and new beginnings.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: God is our refuge and our fortress.
People: In God, we place our trust.
Leader: When we are weary,
People: God lifts us up on wings like eagles.
Leader: Come before the Lord with joy and longing.
People: God is our hope and our salvation.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Generous Spirit, you call us to share our riches with the poor and disadvantaged, lest we follow self-interest to our ruin and destruction. Teach us to bestow your blessings on those in need, lest we be trapped by selfish desire. Set our hearts on the riches of good works, rather than the allure of earthly treasures. Help us take hold of the life that really is life. Amen
Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth”
For the beauty of the earth for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For thy-self, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
All who love the Lord, God will deliver.
All who call on the Lord, God will answer.
God satisfies the faithful with long life and the blessings of salvation.
Amen.
*Gospel Reading: Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “God ___ Me”
Hymn: “Be Still My Soul”
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change, God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best,
your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul:
the waves and winds still know
the Christ who ruled them
while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change
and tears are past
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Sermon: “Safety in the Shadow of the Lord” Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
14 Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Nothing But the Blood”
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
what can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
that makes me bright as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Affirmation: The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. 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
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “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?
Lord your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I'll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow
in you and you in me.
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!
