September 6th, 2026

ORDER OF WORSHIP 

COMMUNION SUNDAY 

September 6, 2026 

*Indicates those able may stand 

Prelude “Le Banquet Celeste” O. Messiaen (The heavenly banquet) 

 

Welcome and Announcements  

Instrumental Preparation to Enter God’s Presence 

 

*Call to Worship Dr. Drew DiNardo 

*Invocation 

*Hymn of Praise #100 “Holy, Holy, Holy!” 

1 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! 

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, 

casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, 

who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. 

3 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 pow'r, in love, and purity. 

4 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!

 

Communion Sunday Confession of Faith (Apostle’s Creed) 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived  by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under  Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, he descended to  hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to  heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.  From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe  in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of  saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the  life everlasting. Amen. (*catholic does not refer to the Roman  Catholic church, but means "universal" or "whole". It refers to the  Church's presence and mission across all time and space, not just a  specific historical period.) 

 

Musical Offering “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee arr. E. Thiman (Sarah Shafer, soprano) 

 

Intercessory Prayer & 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, But deliver us  from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,  forever. Amen. 

 

Offertory “If God Be for Us” G. F. Handel (Sarah Shafer, soprano) 

 

*The Doxology 

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures  here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son,  and Holy Ghost. 

Sermon Text Mark 4:21-25  Page 839 

Sermon Title Parable of the Lamp  Dr. Drew DiNardo

*Hymn of Response #140 “O Word of God Incarnate” 

1 O Word of God Incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, 

O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O light of our dark sky; we praise thee for the radiance that from the hallowed page, a lantern to our footsteps shines on from age to age. 

2 The church from her dear Master received the gift divine, and still that light she lifteth o'er all the earth to shine. 

It is the golden casket, where gems of truth are stored; 

it is the heav'n-drawn picture of Christ, the living Word. 

3 It floateth like a banner before God's host unfurled; 

it shineth like a beacon above the darkling world. 

It is the chart and compass that o'er life's surging sea, 

'mid mists and rocks and quicksands, still guides, O Christ, to thee. 

4 O make thy church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold, to bear before the nations thy true light, as of old. 

O teach thy wand'ring pilgrims by this their path to trace, till, clouds and darkness ended, they see thee face to face. 

 

A Reading from God’s Law with a Response from the Gospels 

You shall have no other gods before me.  

It is written: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him  only." (Luke 4:8) 

You shall not make for yourself an idol. 

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and  in truth. (John 4:24)

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. "Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;  or by the earth, for it is his footstool. . . . Let your 'Yes' be  'Yes', and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from  the evil one." (Matthew 5:34-37) 

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So  the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27-28) Honor your father and your mother. 

For God said, "Anyone who curses his father or mother must  be put to death." (Matthew 15:4) 

You shall not murder. 

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew  5:44–45) 

You shall not commit adultery. 

Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already  committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28) You shall not steal. 

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery . . .  theft . . . . These are what make a man "unclean." (Matthew  15:19) 

You shall not give false testimony. 

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. . . . For  by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you  will be condemned. (Matthew 12:34, 37) 

You shall not covet. 

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a  man's life does not consist in the abundance of his  possessions. (Luke 12:15) 

Confession Of Sin and Supplication for Grace  

O LORD of Hosts, you who test the righteous, and see the heart and  the mind, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.  We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own  hearts. We have not obeyed your holy laws. But you, O Lord, have  mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those  who repent according to your promises in Christ Jesus our Lord.  And grant, O most merciful Father, that we may live a godly,  righteous, and faithful life, to the glory of your holy name. In Jesus’  name we pray, 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.  

*Hymn of Communion #422 “’Twas on That Night When Doomed. . .” 

1 'Twas on that night when doomed to know the eager rage of every  foe, 

that night in which he was betrayed, the Savior of the world took  bread; 

2 And after thanks and glory giv'n to him that rules in earth and  heav'n, 

that symbol of his flesh he broke, and thus to all his foll'wers spoke: 

3 "My broken body thus I give for you, for all. Take, eat, and live. And oft the sacred rite renew that brings my saving love to view."

4 Then in his hands the cup he raised, and God anew he thanked and  praised, 

while kindness in his bosom glowed, and from his lips salvation  flowed. 

5 "My blood I thus pour forth," he cries, "to cleanse the soul in sin  that lies; 

in this the covenant is sealed, and heav'n's eternal grace revealed. 

6 "With love to man this cup is fraught; let all partake the sacred  draught; 

through latest ages let it pour, in mem'ry of my dying hour." The Lord’s Supper (All Bread is Gluten Free)

 

*Closing Hymn #385 “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” 

1 God be with you till we meet again; 

by his counsels guide, uphold you, 

with his sheep securely fold you: 

God be with you till we meet again. 

2 God be with you till we meet again; 

'neath his wings protecting hide you, 

daily manna still provide you: 

God be with you till we meet again. 

3 God be with you till we meet again, 

when life's perils thick confound you, 

put his loving arms around you: 

God be with you till we meet again. 

4 God be with you till we meet again, 

keep love's banner floating o'er you, 

smite death's threat'ning wave before you: 

God be with you till we meet again.

*Benediction 

*Congregation Three-fold Amen  

*Postlude “Fugue in D major” (BWV532b) J.S. Bach