St. Luke's
United Church of Christ
St. Luke's
United Church of Christ
No Matter Who You Are Or Where You Are On Life's Journey, You Are Welcome Here!
Weekly Bulletin
AUGUST 31, 2025
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SILENT MEDITATION:
“Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will
stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.” Proverbs 4:25-27 (The Message)
GATHERING MUSIC
GREETING
PRELUDE:“Kyrie”
Robert I. Blanchard
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 433 “All Who Love and Serve Your City”
CHARLESTOWN
All who love and serve your city, all who bear its daily stress,
all who cry for peace and justice, all who curse and all who bless:
In your day of loss and sorrow, in your day of helpless strife,
honor, peace, and love retreating, seek the Lord, who is your life.
In your day of wealth and plenty, wasted work and wasted play,
call to mind the word of Jesus, "Work ye yet while it is day.”
For all days are days of judgment, and the Lord is waiting still,
drawing near to all who spurn him, offering peace from Calvary's hill.
Risen Lord, shall yet the city be the city of despair?
Come today, our judge, our glory. Be its name "The Lord is there!"
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Come, celebrate God’s gift of salvation.
All: We come without fear.
One: Come, hear God’s promises.
All: We come trusting God.
One: Come, let us worship and praise God.
All: In God, we are strengthened for whatever may lie ahead.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
God of hope and God of peace, we confess that we accept the reality that others suggest to us rather than the reality that is your best vision for all your people. Our lives are driven by fears rather than guided by Christ’s teaching and call. Forgive our misplaced trust and our hesitation to act in a way that brings your realm on earth as it is in heaven. May our resolve to do what is right be greater than that of those who are intent on oppression. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
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.
MOMENTS WITH MINNIE
PASTORAL PRAYER and 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 sins as we forgive those
who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Broken for You”
Arr. David T. Clydesdale
SCRIPTURE: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
SERMON: “WWCD? What Would Cicadas Do?”
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 688 “God, That Madest Earth and Heaven”
AR HYD Y NOS
God, that madest earth and heaven, darkness and light,
who the day for toil hast given, for rest the night:
may thine angel guards defend us, slumber sweet thy mercy send us;
holy dreams and hopes attend us, this livelong night.
When the constant sun returning unseals our eyes,
may we, born anew like morning, to labor rise.
Gird us for the task that calls us, let not ease and self enthrall us,
strong through thee whate'er befall us, O God most wise!
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP
THE BEAUTY OF SHARED GIFTS “Many Gifts, One Spirit”
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
CELEBRATING STEWARDSHIP — DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)
O God, we offer you what we have; our visions and dreams, our untiring love, and our resources to make known your presence among us. We offer you our very lives that we may be agents of kindness and compassion in our world. Amen
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 438 “Forth in Thy Name, O Lord”
DUKE STREET
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, my daily labor to pursue;
thee, only thee, resolved to know in all I think or speak or do.
The task thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me cheerfully fulfill;
in all my works thy presence find, and prove thy good and perfect will.
Thee may I set at my right hand, whose eyes mine inmost substance see,
and labor on at thy command, and offer all my works to thee.
For thee delightfully employ what e'er thy bounteous grace hath given;
and run my course with even joy, and closely walk with thee to heaven.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: “In Wonder of Your Love”
John Purifoy
The Liturgist today is Jodie Puhr
Thank you to John Kritos for accompanying the hymns
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HVAC FUND
There is an HVAC Fund established for the replacement of the HVAC system. Support for that fund is being accepted to soften the hit when contracts have been secured to replace the existing system. You may donate in person by marking your donation HVAC and placing in the offering box or by donating online or via the app.
RALLY SUNDAY
Join us September 7, as we kick off another fun filled year of Sunday school with our annual Rally Sunday celebration. “Into the Depths of Love” is the Sunday School theme for the year. Sunday School begins at
9:30 AM and is both in person and hybrid for the adult classes. Let us know if you would like the link to join online. This is a great time to connect and celebrate our community as we embark on another year of growth and learning together! A “tailgating” themed meal will follow Worship. We hope to see you there!
SHARING TABLE
Take time on Sundays, or anytime during normal office hours, to SHOP at the sharing table. You are invited to contribute something if you would like but most importantly, shop for and receive what is offered.
SAVE THE DATES
September 28th—Palm Burning Service
Watch for more details as we get closer to the date.