Order of Service / Pentecost 8 / July 19, 2026

 # Gathering Hymn Come In, Come In and Sit Down (#395 VU)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: God plants seeds of hope even in troubled soil.

  All: We come to celebrate God’s presence and trust that God is still at work.

One: When good and evil seem tangled together,

  All: God calls us not to despair or act in haste.

One: There is a time for growth, a time for discernment, and a time for harvest.

All: We wait with courage and live with hope.

One: Come, let us worship the God who is faithful in every season.

All: We worship with patient hearts and steadfast faith.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory (#686 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

Gracious God, you call us to trust your wisdom and your time, yet we often become discouraged by what we see. When the world does not change quickly, we lose hope. When fear and anger rise within us, we react before we listen, judge before we understand, and act before we pray. Forgive us when disappointment weakens our faith and when impatience leads us away from your way. Renew us with the Spirit of Christ. Give us courage to resist despair, wisdom to discern what is faithful, and patience to continue doing what is good. In silence, we bring to you our own confessions and our hope for a new beginning. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

Words of Assurance

One: God’s love never ceases.

  All: God’s grace is at work throughout the world and within our hearts.

One: In Christ, we are forgiven, renewed, and strengthened to begin again.

All: Thanks be to God. We will live with patience, courage, and hope.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy)

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart,

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy

Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

And I’m so happy, so very happy;

I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

And I’m so happy, so very happy,

I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Genesis 28:10-19 Jacob’s dream of the ladder

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 (VU p. 861) God, you have searched me and known me.

Matthew 13:24-30 The parable of the weeds scattered among good seed.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn How Firm a Foundation (#660 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn In Gratitude and Humbe Trust (#544 VU | tune: VU 518)

In gratitude and humble trust

We bring our best today

To serve your cause and share your love

With all along life’s way.

O God, who gave yourself to us

In Jesus Christ, your Son,

Teach us to give ourselves each day

Until life’s work is done

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)
Faithful God, receive these gifts as signs of our trust in you. Use them to strengthen hope, to support those who are discouraged, and to nurture the seeds of justice, compassion, and peace. Teach us to serve without losing heart and to trust that, in your time, the work of love will bear fruit. Amen.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn One More Step Along the World I Go (#639 VU)

*Commissioning

One: Go into a world where wheat and weeds still grow together.

All: We will not surrender to despair.

One: Go and keep planting compassion, justice, and hope.

  All: We will seek wisdom and follow the way of Christ.

One: Go in the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the strength of the Holy Spirit.

All: We go with patient hearts and steadfast hope. Amen.

*Commissioning Song I Am Sending You Light (#99 TLUS)

I am sending you light to heal you, to hold you.

I am sending you light to hold you in love. x2

No matter where you go, no matter where you’ve been;

You’ll never walk alone. I feel you deep within.

I am sending you light to heal you, to hold you.

I am sending you light to hold you in love. x2