Opening Prayer 

Holy God, one in grace, one in glory, one in love – you call us to love and serve you as one people, united in heart, mind, spirit, and strength. Help us to love one another, living in unity and peace, working together in your Spirit for the good of all; through Jesus Christ, our reconciler and redeemer. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Wonderful and Holy God, how can we forget them, those who have been thrown aside by the world, and those whose cries are no longer heard by the powerful? How can we judge them, those who make choices with which we disagree, those who are so different from us? How can we still follow the hurlers of angry words, the purveyors of prejudice? Continue to teach us better ways of living and doing, God of grace. We confess that we have tried to hide from you, for we have done wrong. We have lived for ourselves, and apart from you. We have turned from our neighbors, and refused to bear the burdens of others. We have ignored the pain of the world, and passed by the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed. In your great mercy forgive our sins. You redeem us from our mistakes. Your compassion, so warm and tender, is gifted to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Readings

• First Lesson: Acts 15: 36—16:5
• Second Lesson: Acts 18: 1-5

Hymns

• No. 423 – Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
• No. 293 – This Is My Father’s World
• No. 276 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Solo performances by Simone Santarsiero, soprano

Sermon

“God Loves”  –  Rev. Dr. Martha Jordan

Download the Worship bulletin for Sunday, August 11th