September 13, 2026
Prelude: Prelude from Sonatina for Worship
Jones
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Revelation 21:1, 3-4]
We look towards a new heaven and a new earth. See, God is making all things new.
See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples;
God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things will pass away.
Let us worship the LORD!
God of Grace and God of Glory (Hymn 420)
Fosdick/Hughes
God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;
Crown Thine ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! The hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!
From the fears that long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through;
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving Thee whom we adore,
Serving Thee whom we adore.
Confession
Creator God, you have given your children creativity and drive, and we can accomplish much when we work together. Human innovation and technological development can do wonderful things, but they can also bring new problems and magnify chaos. As a society, forgive us for the ways we prioritize the efficiency promised by technology over treating people well. Forgive us when we do not think through the costs or implications of technologies we adopt. Have mercy on us as we struggle with changes happening faster than we understand. Bring us back to our humanity, and help us build one another up, that we might share your healing and reconciliation. Amen.
Silence
Though I May Speak (Hymn 335)
Hopson/English folk melody
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control, our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed; by this we worship and are freed.
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 Readings
Old Testament: Genesis 11:1–9
New Testament: Revelation 21:1–5; 22:1–2
Sermon: Idolatry and Efficiency
Scott Starbuck
Focus: In the midst of a new technological revolution, our task is to discover how much greater humanity is than a technological definition of humanity allows.
Response: For Everyone Born
Murray/Mann
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread,
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead.
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators, of justice, justice and joy!
For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live, (Refrain)
For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be,
To work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free, (Refrain)
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
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. -James 2:17
Sending: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (Hymn 446)
Newton/Haydn
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God;
God, whose word cannot be broken, formed thee for a blest abode.
On the rock of ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded, thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
See, the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord the giver, never fails from age to age.
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Postlude from Sonatina for Worship
Jones
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