SEPT 6, 2026 ORDER OF WORSHIP

 

THE FIRST WORD Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

Pastor: Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise

People: Give thanks to him and praise his name!

 

WELCOME Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist

 

PRELUDE Dr. Troy Banks

 

INVOCATION (Remain Seated) Liturgist

 

Gracious and loving God,

 

As we gather in Your presence today, teach us Your ways and lead us in Your truth. Give us understanding, that we may follow Your will not only with our minds but with our whole hearts. Turn us away from selfish desires and guide our steps in the path of Your commandments, for we delight in Your goodness.

 

Renew our hearts by Your grace, strengthen us through Your promises, and help us to live as people who reflect Your love in all we do. As we worship You today, open our ears to hear Your voice, our hearts to receive Your Word, and our lives to be transformed by Your Spirit.

 

We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

**CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist

 

Leader: Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

 

Congregation: Let us be glad in our Maker; let our children rejoice in their King.

 

Leader: Praise His name with dancing, sing songs to Him.

 

Congregation: The LORD takes pleasure in his people.

 

Leader: Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy.

 

Congregation: There is glory for all who are faithful. Praise the LORD!

 

**WORSHIP SONG “Way Maker” Leeland

Verse 1

You are here, moving in our midst

I worship You, I worship You

You are here, working in this place

I worship You, I worship You

You are here, moving in our midst

I worship You, I worship You

You are here, working in this place

I worship You, I worship You

 

Chorus

You are

Waymaker, miracle worker

Promise keeper, light in the darkness

My God, that is who You are

You are

Waymaker, miracle worker

Promise keeper, light in the darkness

My God, that is who You are

 

Verse 2

You are here, touching every heart

I worship You, I worship You

You are here, healing every heart

I worship You, I worship You

 

Verse 3

You are here, turning lives around

I worship You, I worship You

You are here, mending every heart

I worship You, yeah, I worship You, Lord

 

Refrain

That is who You are

Oh, that is who You are (That is who You are)

Oh, and that is who You are (That is who You are)

My Jesus, that is who You are (That is who You are)

Oh, we lift You up, that is who You are (That is who You are)

My Jesus

 

Bridge

Even when I don't see it, You're working

Even when I don't feel it, You're working

You never stop, You never stop working

You never stop, You never stop working

 

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 Matthew 18:20 Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

 

BACKPACK BLESSING

 

PRAYER FOR OUR CHILDREN

Shortened, From Charles Wesley

Read Aloud by All Adults

 

Come, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

To whom we for our children cry;

The good desired and wanted most

Out of thy richest grace supply;

The sacred discipline be given,

To train and bring them up for heaven.

 

Error and ignorance remove,

Their blindness both of heart and mind;

Give them the wisdom from above,

Spotless, and peaceable, and kind;

In knowledge pure their minds renew,

And store with thoughts divinely true.

 

Unite the pair so long disjoined,

Knowledge and vital piety:

Learning and holiness combined,

And truth and love, let all men see

In those whom up to thee we give,

Thine, wholly thine, to die and live.

 

Father, accept them through thy Son,

And ever by thy Spirit guide!

Thy wisdom in their lives be shown,

Thy name confessed and glorified;

Thy power and love diffused abroad,

Till all the earth is filled with God.

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

PASTORAL PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER

 

SCRIPTURE READING Romans 13:8–14 NRSV Liturgist

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

--

9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

--

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. 

--

11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 

--

12 the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 

--

13 let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 

--

14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE Liturgist

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

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC Dr. Troy Banks

 

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 18:15–20 NRSV Pastor

15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. 

--

16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 

--

17 If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. 

--

18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

--

19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 

--

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE Pastor

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

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SERMON “Stop Going Around” Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

**TFWS HYMN #2223 “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”

We are one in the Spirit, 

we are one in the Lord;

We are one in the Spirit, 

we are one in the Lord;

And we pray that all unity 

will one day be restored.

 

And they'll know we are Christians 

by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians 

by our love.

 

We will walk with each other, 

we will walk hand in hand;

We will walk with each other, 

we will walk hand in hand;

And together we'll spread the news 

that God is in our land.

 

And they'll know we are Christians 

by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians 

by our love.

 

We will work with each other, 

we will work side by side;

We will work with each other, 

we will work side by side;

And we'll guard each man's dignity 

and save each man's pride.

 

And they'll know we are Christians 

by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians 

by our love.

 

All praise to the Father, 

from whom all things come;

And all praise to Christ Jesus, 

His only Son.

And all praise to the Spirit 

who makes us one.

 

And they'll know we are Christians 

by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians 

by our love.

 

HOLY COMMUNION

Pastor:  The Lord be with you.

People:  And also with you.

Pastor:  Lift up your hearts. 

People:  We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor:  Let us give thanks to the Lord.

People:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

(Pastor Prays)

People:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

(Pastor Prays Prayer of Consecration)

People:  Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

 

CLOSING SONG “Just as I Am - I Come Broken”

Just as I am without one plea

But that thy blood was shed for me

And that thou bidst me come to thee

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

 

I come guilty to be pardoned 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

 

Just as I am and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To thee whose blood 

can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God I come, I come

 

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

 

I come guilty to be pardoned 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

 

Just as I am I would be lost

But mercy and grace 

my freedom bought

And now to glory in your cross

O Lamb of God I come

 

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

 

I come guilty to be pardoned 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

Praise God just as I am

 

FELLOWSHIP BLESSING Youth Representative

 

As we gather around these tables, may God help us go to one another with love, grace, and honesty. Bless our food, our conversations, and our fellowship, that we may leave this place reflecting Christ's love in all our relationships. Amen.

 

**BENEDICTION Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

POSTLUDE Dr. Troy Banks

(Please be seated as the postlude closes our service)