ST. LUKE'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

MAY 31, 2026                                                                                                  

TRINITY SUNDAY

SILENT MEDITATION: 

“Faith is stepping out into the unknown with nothing to guide us but a hand just beyond our grasp.”

 --Frederick Buechner

GATHERING MUSIC
GREETING

PRELUDE “Someday my Lord will Come”                                         

John Purifoy

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 64 “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty”                                             

Nicaea

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
 

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: God calls us out of places known and secure.

All:    God invites us into an unknown future.

One:  God is constantly offering us new opportunities.

All:    God promises to be with us and to bless us.

One:  Rejoice in the promised blessings of God!

All:    By faith, we follow in the way God calls us.

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

God of Grace and God of Promise, free us from fear that blinds us to your loving presence with us. Forgetting your promises, we seek satisfaction in our own limited imaginations. Forgive us and give us eyes to see the beauty of your mercy and grace that cannot be overcome by the darkness of our wayward journey. Restore in us a faith that lifts our eyes to see the beauty of your presence with us.  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    

Mariah Moseley
                                                                                                       

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 “Jesus Loves Me”            

Anna B. Warner and William B. Bradbury                                                                                                                                                                           
SCRIPTURE James 2:14-26       

SERMON “Faith As A ‘Push-Pull’”

Pete Jaberg

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 61 “Come, Thou Almighty King”                                            

ITALIAN HYMN

Come, thou almighty King, help us thy name to sing, help us to praise!
Father all glorious, o'er all victorious, come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!
 

Come, thou incarnate Word, gird on thy mighty sword, our prayer attend!
Come, and thy people bless, and give thy word success; Spirit of holiness, on us descend!

Come, holy Comforter, thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art, now rule in every heart, and ne'er from us depart, Spirit of power!

To thee, great One in Three, eternal praises be, hence, evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see, and to eternity love and adore!

 STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP  
THE BEAUTY OF SHARED GIFTS “The Lord is the Strength of my Life”                        

Tina English

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)                                                           

With all the gifts of creation, you have blessed us, Gracious God. We give thanks for all your works. Gratitude is our first impulse for giving. Accept our grateful hearts, along with our gifts. As you are faithful to your promises to us, O God, may we be faithful in all things, seeking always to live by your gracious will. Amen

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 79 “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”                                 

GROSSER GOTT

Holy God, we praise thy name; Lord of all, we bow before thee: all on earth thy scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore thee. Infinite thy vast domain; everlasting is they reign.

Hark, the glad celestial hymn angel choirs above are raising; cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising, fill the heavens with sweet accord; Holy, holy, holy Lord.

Lo! The apostolic train joins thy sacred name to hallow; prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white-robed martyrs follow. And from morn to set of sun, through the church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit; three we name thee, though in essence only one;
undivided God we claim thee, and adoring bend the knee while we own the mystery.

BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “How Can I Keep from Singing”                                      

Robert Lowry

The Liturgist is April Brown
Thank you to John Kritos for accompanying the hymns today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INDEPENDENCE PRIDE
Join St. Luke’s UCC on June 13th for Independence Pride. It will be from 11-5 in the Englewood Arts back parking lot. There will be booths, food trucks and more. Additional information will be given as soon as we know the times and different events. You are welcome to participate and/or volunteer in any or all of the activities. There is a volunteer sign up sheet in the hallway.

Summer Reading Program – Sign Up Now!
We’re inviting all kids to join our Summer Reading Program! Participants will read 15 minutes a day,
5 days a week and earn tickets to spend in our Reading Store filled with fun prizes.
As a group, we’re working toward a goal of 3,000 total minutes read,
which will earn a special end-of-summer celebration for everyone involved!
Sign your child up today and help them stay engaged in reading all summer long.
We’re also collecting donations of small prizes (stickers, snacks, toys, etc.) for our Reading Store.
Interested in contributing? Contact Mariah to get involved.
Let’s work together to make this a fun and impactful summer for our kids!

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship forms are now available online (in the menu click on About Us. In the drop down menu click on Policy/Forms. Then, click on Scholarship Fund for Local Congregation Application Form). The deadline to turn in the application is June 15th. See the form for qualifications.
If you have problems accessing this form, please contact the church office

SHARING TABLE
Take time on Sundays, or anytime during normal office hours, to SHOP at the sharing table. There are Bibles and some old hymnals available if you would like to take one or even more.