ORDER OF WORSHIP - AUGUST 3RD, 2025

Union Church
Jul 29
4 min read

ORDER OF WORSHIP

AUGUST 3rd, 2025 10:30 AM

EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews

and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.

**Kindly stand if you are able

PRELUDE Mary Lee Farris, Organ

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 107:1-9)

Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!

PEOPLE: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so—those He redeemed from trouble.

Leader: He gathered His people from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

PEOPLE: Some wandered in desert wastes, hungry and thirsty, their souls fainting within them.

Leader: Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

PEOPLE: He led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love,

PEOPLE: for His wondrous works to the children of man.

ALL: For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with good things. Come, let us worship the Lord!

INVOCATION

O Lord, we come before You with hearts full of thanksgiving. For You are good, and Your love endures forever. Let Your presence fill this place, O Lord, and guide us with Your unfailing love, as You have done for all generations. In Your grace, we place our trust, knowing You will lead us beside still waters and restore our weary hearts. In His name we pray, Amen.

**OPENING HYMN “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It” Insert

CALL TO CONFESSION

We often spend more time focusing on our material possessions than we do focusing on our spiritual growth and the needs of others. Remind us, oh Lord, of where our priorities need to be as we pray together:

PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

Gracious God, we frequently lose sight of our place in your Kingdom and our ultimate goal of being worthy to join you in your heavenly house. Help us to come to you through the words and message of Jesus Christ who taught us to love our neighbors and reject the distractions of the material world so we may give our full attention to our spiritual growth and that of all your children. Amen.

(A moment for silent personal confession)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Jesus joined us here on Earth and gave His mortal life to atone for our sins. In His name and by his deeds we are forgiven.

**GLORIA PATRI (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)

**PASSING OF THE PEACE

**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - APOSTLES CREED (Traditional)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

**HYMN OF PRAISE “In Christ There is No East or West” Red #697

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Loving God, open our minds and our hearts that we may receive and accept what you have revealed, and live our lives accordingly. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Hosea 11:1-11 Libby Syzmanowicz

NEW TESTAMENT READING: Colossians 3:1-11

GOSPEL READING: Luke 12:13-21

SERMON MESSAGE: The One Who Dies with the Most Toys Fred Stelling

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH

And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ. Let us pray together The Prayer of Jesus, printed in your bulletin:

The Prayer of Jesus John Philip Newell

Ground of all being, Mother of life, Father of the universe,

Your name is sacred, beyond speaking.

May we know your presence, may your longings be our longings in heart and in action.

May there be food for the human family today and for the whole earth community.

Forgive us the falseness of what we have done as we forgive those who are untrue to us.

Do not forsake us in our time of conflict but lead us into new beginnings.

For the light of life, the vitality of life, and the glory of life are yours now and forever.

Amen.

OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS:

It is right to share our abundance with those who have less. May our offering here today help those less fortunate. We offer this freely in the name of Jesus, Amen.

OFFERTORY “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” Red #447

**DOXOLOGY (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)

** PRAYER OF THANKS

We thank you, Lord, for these gifts and ask that you guide us in their good use in Jesus’ name. Amen

**HYMN OF PARTING: “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” Insert

BENEDICTION: In the gift of this new day, John Philip Newell

in the gift of the present moment,

in the gift of time and eternity intertwined,

let us be grateful,

let us be attentive,

let us be open to what has never happened before

(from Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter, 2002)