Weekly Bulletin: 7/12/26

JULY 12, 2026 ORDER OF WORSHIP

THE FIRST WORD Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

Pastor: This is the day that the LORD has made.

People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

WELCOME Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

PRELUDE Dr. Banks

INVOCATION (Remain Seated) Liturgist

Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. In a world filled with distractions, uncertainties, and competing voices, we thank You for the steady light of Your truth.

Plant Your truth deeply within us, that we may walk in Your ways with joy and faithfulness. Help us not only to hear Your Word, but to live it. May Your Spirit prepare us to receive the seed You sow and to bear fruit for Your kingdom.

We dedicate this time of worship to You and ask that all we do may bring glory to Your name.

Amen.

**CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist

Leader: As the rain and snow come down from heaven and water the earth,

People: So God’s Word comes to us with power and purpose.

Leader: The Lord sends forth His Word to bring life, growth, and hope.

People: We come with open hearts to receive what God would give.

Leader: Let us worship the God whose promises never fail.

People: We worship the Lord with joy and thanksgiving!

**UMH HYMN #156 “I Love to Tell The Story”

Verse 1

I love to tell the story

of unseen things above

Of Jesus and His glory

of Jesus and His love

I love to tell the story

because I know 'tis true

It satisfies my longings

as nothing else can do

Chorus

I love to tell the story

'Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old old story

of Jesus and His love

Verse 2

I love to tell the story

more wonderful it seems

than all the golden fancies

of all our golden dreams

Chorus

I love to tell the story

'Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old old story

of Jesus and His love

Verse 3

I love to tell the story

'tis pleasant to repeat

What seems each time I tell it

more wonderfully sweet

I love to tell the story

for some have never heard

The message of salvation

from God's own holy Word

Chorus

I love to tell the story

'Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old old story

of Jesus and His love

Verse 4

I love to tell the story

for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting

To hear it like the rest

And when in scenes of glory

I sing the new new song

'Twill be the old old story

That I have loved so long

Chorus

I love to tell the story

'Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old old story

of Jesus and His love

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

**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. Amen.

OFFERTORY PRAYER Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.

3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.

4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up.

5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.

6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away.

7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9 If you have ears, hear!”

–

18 “Hear, then, the parable of the sower.

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.

20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

21 yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.,

22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.

23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

JOYS AND CONCERNS Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

PASTORAL PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 55:10-13 NRSV Liturgist

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle, and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE Liturgist

Liturgist: The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation: Thanks be to God.

SPECIAL MUSIC Dr. Banks

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 NRSV Pastor