Rooted in Christ to Love Boldly
“Be Accountable to Christ and
Others in Our Loving Community”
Sunday, August 23, 2026
*Please stand in body or in spirit. Congregational responses are in bold and preceded by "All"
GATHERING
Welcome and Announcements
Invitation and Sharing of Peace
Peace be with you. And also with you.
Prelude Craig Nickerson, Organist
Call to Worship
One: Siblings in Christ, through the waters of baptism we are claimed,
washed clean, and called.
Many: We come to remember who we are and whose we are.
One: We are encouraged to confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and promise to serve him.
Many: We open our hearts to Christ, trusting in his unfailing love
One: Let us worship the God who claims us, redeems us, and sends us forth in love.
Many: With joy and thanksgiving, we worship God!
Opening Prayer
ALL: God of transformation, you call us to live no longer as the world lives, but to be made new in Christ. Clothe us with our new selves. Remind us that our old ways did not serve and will not serve us. Turn us from anger, falsehood, and harmful words, and shape us into people of kindness and grace. Teach us to walk in love as your faithful people. Amen.
*Opening Song All Creatures of Our God and King UMH 62
- All creatures of
our God and King,
lift up your voice
and with us sing,
O praise ye! Alleluia!
O brother sun
with golden beam,
O sister moon
with silver gleam!
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
- O brother wind,
air, clouds, and rain,
by which all creatures
ye sustain,
O praise ye! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn,
in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening,
find a voice!
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
- O sister water,
flowing clear,
make music for
thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother fire
who lights the night,
providing warmth,
enhancing sight,
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
- Dear mother earth,
who day by day
unfoldest blessings
on our way,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits
that in thee grow,
let them God’s
glory also show!
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
- All ye who are
of tender heart,
forgiving others,
take your part,
O praise ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain
and sorrow bear,
praise God and on
him cast your care!
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
- And thou, our sister,
gentle death,
waiting to hush
our latest breath,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home
the child of God,
and Christ our Lord
the way has trod,
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
- Let all things
their Creator bless,
and worship him
in humbleness,
O praise ye! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father,
praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit,
Three in One!
Refrain
O praise ye!
O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
LISTENING
Scripture Reading Ephesians 4:17-32
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Message for All Ages
Sermon “Be Accountable to Christ and Others in Our Loving Community”
Rev. DV Yost
Testimony Ashley Peña
RESPONDING
*Sermon Song I Will Trust in the Lord UMH 464
- I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
till I die;
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
I will trust in the Lord,
till I die. - Sister, will you trust,
sister, will you trust,
sister, will you trust,
till you die;
sister, will you trust,
sister, will you trust,
sister, will you trust,
till you die. - Brother, will you trust,
brother, will you trust,
brother, will you trust,
till you die;
brother, will you trust,
brother, will you trust,
brother, will you trust,
till you die. - Preacher, will you trust,
preacher, will you trust,
preacher, will you trust,
till you die;
preacher, will you trust,
preacher, will you trust,
preacher, will you trust,
till you die.
Prayers of the People
Leader: Loving God, ALL: hear our prayers.
The Lord’s Prayer (Spoken)
All: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Offertory My Faith Looks Up to Thee (Elmore) Craig Nickerson, Organist
*Offering Response Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (UMH 94)
*Prayer of Dedication (UMC Discipeship)
ALL: Patient and Merciful God, we hear your call to live in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. Our ears hear these words in our worship; our minds know what they mean; our hearts long to follow them; but we know that tomorrow we will be tempted to slip into the familiar life where we ourselves are at the center of our world and the needs we focus on are almost entirely our own. In our giving this day, help us strengthen our resolve to love as Christ loves us, for it is in the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.
SENDING
*Closing Song Where Charity and Love Prevail UMH 549
- Where charity and
love prevail,
there God is ever found;
brought here together
by Christ’s love,
by love are we thus bound.
- With grateful joy
and holy fear
true charity we learn;
let us with heart
and mind and strength
now love Christ in return. - Forgive we now
each other’s faults
as we our faults confess;
and let us love
each other well
in Christian holiness.
- Let strife among us
be unknown,
let all contention cease;
be Christ the glory
that we seek,
be ours his holy peace. - Let us recall
that in our midst
dwells God’s begotten Son;
as members of
his body joined,
we are in him made one.
- Love can exclude
no race or creed
if honored be God’s name;
our common life
embraces all
whose Maker is the same.
*Benediction
Benediction Response
Postlude Craig Nickerson, Organist
Next Week
Rooted in Christ to Love Boldly
“Nurture One Another in Love”
August 30, 2026 Ephesians 5:6-21
This Week at Arnolia
- Tuesday, August 25: 8:30 – 11:30 AM Thrift Store accepting donations
- Thursday, August 27 10 AM – 2 PM Thrift Store Open
- Friday, August 28 Pastor’s Sabbath – Church Office Closed
- Sunday, August 30: 10 AM: Worship Service
- Sunday, August 30: 11:15 AM Prayer Group
- Sunday, August 30: 6:30 PM Alpha for Young Adults (virtual)
Copyright
All Creatures of Our God and King, © United Methodist Publishing House, One License #88754 - UMH 62
Reprinted / Streamed with permission under One License A-735755. All Rights Reserved.
I Will Trust in the Lord, by William Farley Smith, Tune: © 1981, United Methodist Publishing House/Abingdon Press, One License #03977 - UMH 464 Reprinted / Streamed with permission under One License A-735755. All Rights Reserved.
Where Charity and Love Prevail, by Dom Paul Benoit and Omer Westendorf, © 1962 World Library Publications, CCLI #1779205 - UMH 549 Used by Permission. CCLI Church Copyright License Number: 1684333 and Streaming License Number: 20155039
About
-
Location