October 26, 2025
Prelude: He Leadeth Me
Bradbury/Wood
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Psalm 31]
Be gracious to us, O Lord, for we are in distress; our life is spent with sorrow, and our years with sighing.
We are the scorn of our adversaries; we have become like a broken vessel.
We hear the whispering of many— terror all around! But we trust in you, O Lord; we say, “You are our God.”
Our times are in your hand. Let your face shine upon your servants; save us in your steadfast love.
Let us worship the LORD!
God of the Ages (Hymn 262)
Roberts/Warren
God of the ages, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past;
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay;
Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase;
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
Confession
God our refuge, we are troubled by the many changes happening in our time. We struggle to understand the present moment, and the future feels uncertain. Forgive us when we become defensive and turn against one another in our fear. Forgive us when we idealize the past, rather than trusting your continuing grace and plans. Comfort us with your presence, and help us follow your example in open-hearted curiosity, humility, and empathy. Amen.
Silence
Step By Step
Strasser
O God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you.
O God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you.
I will seek you in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your ways.
And step by step you’ll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Doxology (Hymn 592)
Ken/Genevan Psalter
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading
Kevin Grieves
Old Testament: Psalm 31:9-16
You Are My Refuge, Faithful God (Psalm 31)
Gambrell/Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music
You are my refuge, faithful God; you shelter me from shame.
I put my spirit in your hands and call upon your name.
Be gracious, God, in my distress, and dry my bitter tears.
My life is spent in misery; I sigh away my years.
I am a wretched sight to see; a broken empty thing,
With only terror all around, and deathly whispering.
And yet I trust in you, O God; your covenant still stands.
Redeem me, in your faithful love: my life is in your hands.
Scripture Reading
Kevin Grieves
New Testament: Philippians 2:5-8
Sermon: Embracing Fragility
Scott Starbuck
Focus: An awareness is growing that humanity is living through a profound change of epoch. The consequences of this change sometimes take us by surprise. We must humbly recognize the inadequacy of our intellectual tools for measuring the effects of epochal change, understanding the present, and visualizing the future. Uncertainty is gaining ground in personal and social life. Uncertainty then sparks fear, provoking defensive reactions that turn our gaze toward an idealized past that never really existed. Fear tempts us to reject the newness of our time. –Arturo Sosa, S.J.
Response Solo: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Liturgy of St. James/Dunstan/French melody
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.
You, Lord, are both Lamb and Shepherd. You, Lord, are both prince and slave.
You, peacemaker and sword-bringer of the way you took and gave.
You, the everlasting instant; you, whom we both scorn and crave.
You, who walk each day beside us, sit in power at God's side.
You, who preach a way that’s narrow; have a love that reaches wide.
You the everlasting instant; you, who are our pilgrim guide.
Pastoral Prayer & 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Stewardship
Shelly Owen
My God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:19
Sending: God of Our Life (Hymn 275)
Kerr/Purday
God of our life, through all the circling years, we trust in Thee;
In all the past, through all our hopes and fears, Thy hand we see.
With each new day, when morning lifts the veil,
We own Thy mercies, Lord, which never fail.
God of the past, our times are in Thy hand; with us abide.
Lead us by faith to hope’s true promised land; be Thou our guide.
With Thee to bless, the darkness shines as light,
And faith’s fair vision changes into sight.
God of the coming years, through paths unknown, we follow Thee;
When we are strong, Lord, leave us not alone; our refuge be.
Be Thou for us in life our daily bread,
Our heart’s true home when all our years have sped.
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: If You Will Trust in God to Guide You
Neumark, setting by Bach
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