FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
October 5, 2025
PRELUDE How Great Thou Art with How Great is Our God, Anna Laura Page
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORLD COMMUNION DAY will be celebrated today Sunday, October 5.
-JOINT 55TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION today Sunday October 5 following worship service for Dave and Lee Peterson and Bob and Nancy Ohnstad. All are invited!
-MISSION/OUTREACH MEETING today October 5 following worship and anniversary celebration.
-SPECIAL OFFERING October 5th is the last Sunday for the Peace and Global Witness Offering. Please use envelopes provided by the offering plates or write Peace Offering in check memo for your donations.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-FINANCE COMMITTEE meets Tuesday October 7 at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room
-SESSION meets Thursday October 9 at 7:00 PM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-THANK YOU to Andrew L’Amour for staffing the office while Rozanne works from home.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, and see what God is doing in the world.
God is healing, restoring, and bringing hope.
Come, and join in God’s work with your life.
We come to worship, to follow, and to let our actions speak.
*OPENING HYMN #401 (red) “Here in This Place”
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not to some heaven, light years away:
here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we often speak more than we act. We claim faith, but our lives do not always reflect your love. We ask, “When will you fix this world?” yet we sometimes turn away from the work you have placed in our hands. Forgive us for doubting, for waiting passively, for failing to be your hands and feet. Help us to live faithfully, that our words and our deeds may show your presence and proclaim your good news. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON and *GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 35: 4-6, 10
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Psalm 146:5-10 (Responsive)
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Gospel Matthew 11:2-11
2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
This is the Word of God, calling us to faith, hope, and action
SERMON: “When Actions Speak”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (adapted from the Belhar Confession)
We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another. We believe that unity is both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet a reality which must be earnestly pursued and continually built up. We believe that this unity must become visible so that the world may believe that separation, enmity, and hatred between people and groups is sin which Christ has already conquered, and that anything which threatens this unity may have no place in the church and must be resisted.
SERVICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER on World Communion Sunday
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #525 (red) “Let Us Break Bread Together”
Let us break bread together on our knees;
let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees;
let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise
… So we join our voices with Christians everywhere, throughout time and across the world, saying together:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
… united in ministry in every place.
As this bread is Christ’s body for us,
send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Concerns: Mike M, Marlys M, Rozanne M, Lee P
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), JoAnn G, Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Jeanne & Darwin L, Martin & Sally M
Those Who Mourn: prayers for the family and friends of Dean Hofland who passed away September 28.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
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.
*CLOSING HYMN #295 (red) “Go to the World!”
Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews life’s worth,
Baptizing as the sign of our rebirth.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the word of God’s redeeming grace.
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go struggle, bless, and pray;
The nights of tears give way to joyous day.
As servant church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
For I am with you till the age shall end,
When all the hosts of glory cry “Amen!”
Alleluia. Alleluia.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE We Walk by Faith, Anthony Giamanco
ORDER OF WORSHIP
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
October 5, 2025
PRELUDE How Great Thou Art with How Great is Our God, Anna Laura Page
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORLD COMMUNION DAY will be celebrated today Sunday, October 5.
-JOINT 55TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION today Sunday October 5 following worship service for Dave and Lee Peterson and Bob and Nancy Ohnstad. All are invited!
-MISSION/OUTREACH MEETING today October 5 following worship and anniversary celebration.
-SPECIAL OFFERING October 5th is the last Sunday for the Peace and Global Witness Offering. Please use envelopes provided by the offering plates or write Peace Offering in check memo for your donations.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-FINANCE COMMITTEE meets Tuesday October 7 at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room
-SESSION meets Thursday October 9 at 7:00 PM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-THANK YOU to Andrew L’Amour for staffing the office while Rozanne works from home.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, and see what God is doing in the world.
God is healing, restoring, and bringing hope.
Come, and join in God’s work with your life.
We come to worship, to follow, and to let our actions speak.
*OPENING HYMN #401 (red) “Here in This Place”
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not to some heaven, light years away:
here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we often speak more than we act. We claim faith, but our lives do not always reflect your love. We ask, “When will you fix this world?” yet we sometimes turn away from the work you have placed in our hands. Forgive us for doubting, for waiting passively, for failing to be your hands and feet. Help us to live faithfully, that our words and our deeds may show your presence and proclaim your good news. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON and *GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 35: 4-6, 10
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Psalm 146:5-10 (Responsive)
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Gospel Matthew 11:2-11
2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”
4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
This is the Word of God, calling us to faith, hope, and action
SERMON: “When Actions Speak”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (adapted from the Belhar Confession)
We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another. We believe that unity is both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet a reality which must be earnestly pursued and continually built up. We believe that this unity must become visible so that the world may believe that separation, enmity, and hatred between people and groups is sin which Christ has already conquered, and that anything which threatens this unity may have no place in the church and must be resisted.
SERVICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER on World Communion Sunday
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #525 (red) “Let Us Break Bread Together”
Let us break bread together on our knees;
let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees;
let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise
… So we join our voices with Christians everywhere, throughout time and across the world, saying together:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
… united in ministry in every place.
As this bread is Christ’s body for us,
send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Concerns: Mike M, Marlys M, Rozanne M, Lee P
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), JoAnn G, Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Jeanne & Darwin L, Martin & Sally M
Those Who Mourn: prayers for the family and friends of Dean Hofland who passed away September 28.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
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.
*CLOSING HYMN #295 (red) “Go to the World!”
Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews life’s worth,
Baptizing as the sign of our rebirth.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the word of God’s redeeming grace.
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go struggle, bless, and pray;
The nights of tears give way to joyous day.
As servant church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
For I am with you till the age shall end,
When all the hosts of glory cry “Amen!”
Alleluia. Alleluia.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE We Walk by Faith, Anthony Giamanco
