Repainting the Christian Faith

September 21, 2025

Community Is the Key to Growth

Prelude:                                        

The Church’s One Foundation

Music by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
Arranged by Duane Funderburk

Josh Nguyen, flute; Christian Gonzalez, oboe;
Deanna Van Besien-Kozacek, clarinet
John Cundiff, horn; Johnny Engelke, bass clarinet

 

Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
This arrangement by Duane Funderburk
©2018 Birnamwood Publications/MorningstarMusic Publishers, Inc. 

Call to Worship     

People of Hope, we come together today as a community—

Called to worship our loving God,
To be united in service of others,
And to join in the work of creating your new realm on earth.

So rise, people of God, in body and spirit. Lift your voices in praise.

**Processional Hymn

O Church of God, United

O church of God, united to serve one common Lord,

Proclaim to all one message, with hearts in glad accord.

Christ ever goes before us; we follow day by day

With strong and eager footsteps along the upward way.

Though creed and tongues may differ, they speak, O Christ of thee;

And in the loving Spirit we shall one people be.

Lord, may our faithful service and singleness of aim

Proclaim to all the power of the blessed, holy name.

May thy great pray’r be answered that we may all be one,

close bound, by love united in thee, God’s Chosen One;

to bring a single witness, to make the pathway bright

that filled with God’s own Spirit, we show the world thy light.

Words: Frederick B. Morley, 1953 
© 1954, 1982 The Hymn Society of America/Hope Publishing
Music: Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Hofkapelle, Würtemberg, 1784

Welcome and Life of the Church

**Sharing of the Peace

Modern Lesson 

Our Modern Lesson is from our Fall Study book, Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, by Rob Bell. Hear these words:

The Bible is a communal book. It came from people writing in communities, and it was often written to communities. Remember that the printing press wasn’t invented until the 1400’s. Prior to that, very few if any people had their own copies of the Bible. In Jesus’ day, an entire village could probably afford only one copy of the scriptures, if that. Reading the Bible alone was unheard of, if people could even read.

For most of church history, people heard the Bible read aloud in a room full of people. You heard it, discussed it, studied it, argued about it, and made decisions about it as a group, a community. You saw yourself and those around you as taking part in a huge discussion that has gone on for thousands of years. 

Contrast this communal way of reading and discussing and learning with our Western, highly individualized culture. In many Christian settings, people are encouraged to read the Bible alone, which is a new idea in church history. A great idea and a life-changing discipline, but a new idea.   

In Jesus’ world, it was assumed that you had as much to learn from the discussion of the text as did from the text itself. One person could never get too far into a twisted interpretation because the others were right there giving them insight and perspective they didn’t have on their own. 



May God bless the hearing of these new words. Amen.

Chorus

Speak, O Lord

Choir:  Speak, O Lord, as we come to you
to receive the food of your Holy Word,
Take your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness.

ALL:    That the light of Christ may be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
all your purposes for your glory.

 **And by grace we’ll stand on your promises,
and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ‘til your church is built
and the earth is filled with your glory.
Come and fill the earth with your glory.   

Words and Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
©2005 Thankyou Music/worshiptogether.com songs

**Scripture Lesson: : Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 (The Message, alt.)     

One: Our Scripture Lesson is from the fifteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Hear these words:

It wasn’t long before some Jews showed up from Judea insisting that everyone be circumcised: “If you’re not circumcised in the Mosaic fashion, you can’t be saved.” Paul and Barnabas were up on their feet at once in fierce protest. The church decided to resolve the matter by sending Paul, Barnabas, and a few others to put it before the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem. Everyone agreed: apostles, leaders, all the people…and sent a letter to those in Antioch: 

Hello! We heard that some men from our church went to you and said things that confused and upset you. Mind you, they had no authority from us; we didn’t send them. We have agreed unanimously to pick representatives and send them to you with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. We picked men we knew you could trust, Judas and Silas—they’ve looked death in the face time and again for the sake of our Master Jesus Christ. We’ve sent them to confirm in a face-to-face meeting with you what we’ve written. 

It seemed to the Holy Spirit and to us that you should not be saddled with any crushing burden, but be responsible only for these bare necessities: Be careful not to get involved in activities connected with idols; avoid serving food offensive to Jewish Christians (blood, for instance); and guard the morality of sex and marriage. These guidelines are sufficient to keep relations congenial between us. And God be with you! 

One: This is the Word of God for the People of God.

All:    Thanks be to God. Amen.

**Gloria                                              

 Glory to God  

Glory to God on high and peace to all on earth.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Glory to Jesus Christ, the Lamb upon the throne.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise to the Holy Spirit,
who comforts us now and forevermore, Alleluia.
Praise the Creator, and Praise to Jesus Christ.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Amen. Amen!

Words adapted from the Latin Mass by Steven Couch
Music: Festival Canticle by Richard Hillert
© 1975, 1988 Richard Hillert/Oregon Catholic Press

Sermon

Community Is the Key to Growth

Offering Call       

Offertory  

God Is Here

Words and Music by Martha Munizzi and Israel and Maleesa Houghton 
Arranged by Bradley Knight

 Voices of Hope

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

There is a sweet anointing in this sanctuary.
There is a stillness in the atmosphere.
Oh, come lay down the burdens you have carried,
for in this sanctuary, God is here.

God is here, God is here to break the yoke, and lift the heavy burdened.
God is here, God is here to heal the hopeless heart and bless the broken.
Oh, come lay down the burdens you have carried,
for in this sanctuary, God is here.

Words and Music by Martha Munizzi, Israel and Maleesa Houghton
Arranged by Bradley Knight
© 2002 Say the Name Publishing/BMI and New Breed Music/BMI

Communion   

Words of Institution      

Prayer of Consecration  

Music during Communion

I Surrender All

All to Jesus I surrender, all to thee I freely give.
I will ever love and trust thee, in thy presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender, make me, Savior, wholly thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit, truly know that thou art mine
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to thee.
Fill me with thy love and power, let thy blessings fall on me.
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

Words and Music: Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896 

The Potter’s Hand

  Beautiful Lord, wonderful Savior,
I know for sure all of my days are held in your hand,
crafted into your perfect plan
You gently call me into your presence,
guiding me by your Holy Spirit.
Teach me, dear Lord, to live all of my life through your eyes.

I’m captured by your holy calling.
Set me apart, I know you’re calling me to yourself.
Lead me, Lord, I pray.
 

Take me, mold me, use me, fill me,
I give my life to the Potter’s hand.
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me,
I give my life to the Potter’s hand.

The Potter’s hand.

Words and Music by Darlene Zschech
© 1997 Darlene Zschech/Hillsong Publishing 

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll:



**Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Words: Horatio Gates Spafford, 1873
Music: Philip P. Bliss, 1876

**Prayer of Thanksgiving 

**Recessional Hymn:

We Would Be One

We would be one as now we join in singing
Our hymn of love, to pledge ourselves anew
To that high cause of greater understanding
of who we are, and what in us is true.
We would be one in living for each other
To show to all a new community.

We would be one in building for tomorrow
A nobler world than we have known today.
We would be one in searching for that meaning
Which binds our hearts and points us on our way.
As one, we pledge ourselves to greater service,
with love and justice, strive to make us free.

Words: Samuel Anthony Wright, 1953
Music: Jean Sibelius, 1865-1957

**Benediction         

Postlude for Dismissal

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The flowers on the chancel are given by Mark Robertson and Bill Justice in honor and celebration of their 35^th anniversary (September 13, 2025)