October 5, 2025 – Grace Upon Grace: A Mountain Journey in Stewardship

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At Grace, all are welcome, which means we affirm people of every age, race, language, nationality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, family structure, or economic, social, immigration, and marital status.

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Welcome to Grace UMC! We’re blessed by your presence for worship. Please register your attendance using the red attendance pads in the Sanctuary or the link above. If you are in-person and need an assisted listening device, they are available at the back of the Nave. Please ask an usher or greeter. During worship, we use three hymnals: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and Worship & Song.

 

+Please rise in body or spirit

 

Prelude – Anita Lockwood

 

Welcome – The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

 

+Opening Hymn – UMH 678

“Rise to Greet the Sun”

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+Opening Prayer

Almighty and gracious God, from your fullness we receive grace upon grace, and at your table we are fed with mercy that never runs dry. Pour out your Spirit on us, that in sharing this bread and cup we may be joined to Christ and to one another in love, and sent forth as streams of grace into the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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+Gloria

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Special Music

"The Solid Rock"   Grace Ringers Handbell Ensemble

 

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+Passing the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.​​

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Scripture – Lamentations 1:1-6 (CEB)

Oh, no! She sits alone, the city that was once full of people. Once great among nations, she has become like a widow. Once a queen over provinces, she has become a slave. She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears on her cheek. None of her lovers comfort her. All her friends lied to her; they have become her enemies. Judah was exiled after suffering and hard service. She lives among the nations; she finds no rest. All who were chasing her caught her—right in the middle of her distress. Zion’s roads are in mourning; no one comes to the festivals. All her gates are deserted. Her priests are groaning, her young women grieving. She is bitter. Her adversaries have become rulers; her enemies relax. Certainly the Lord caused her grief because of her many wrong acts. Her children have gone away, captive before the enemy. Daughter Zion lost all her glory. Her officials are like deer that can’t find pasture. They have gone away, frail, before the hunter.​

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This is the Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

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Alongside Babylon’s rivers we sat on the banks; we cried and cried, remembering the good old days in Zion.
    Alongside the quaking aspens
    we stacked our unplayed harps;
That’s where our captors demanded songs,
sarcastic and mocking: “Sing us a happy Zion song!”

     Oh, how could we ever sing God’s song
    in this wasteland?  R.

If I ever forget you, Jerusalem,
let my fingers wither and fall off like leaves.
   Let my tongue swell and turn black
    if I fail to remember you, if I fail, O dear Jerusalem,
    to honor you as my greatest.

God, remember those Edomites,

and remember the ruin of Jerusalem,
    That day they yelled out, “Wreck it, smash it to bits!”
And you, Babylonians—ravagers! 

     A reward to whoever gets back at you 

     for all you’ve done to us.   R.

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+Hymn of Preparation – UMH 434

“Cuando El Pobre (When the Poor Ones) vs. 1,2

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+Scripture – Luke 17:5-10 (CEB)​

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Would any of you say to your servant, who had just come in from the field after plowing or tending sheep, ‘Come! Sit down for dinner’? Wouldn’t you say instead, ‘Fix my dinner. Put on the clothes of a table servant and wait on me while I eat and drink. After that, you can eat and drink’? You won’t thank the servant because the servant did what you asked, will you? In the same way, when you have done everything required of you, you should say, ‘We servants deserve no special praise. We have only done our duty.’”

 

This is the Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

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+Hymn of Preparation – UMH 434

“Cuando El Pobre (When the Poor Ones) vs. 3,4

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Sermon – The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

“Grace from the Summit” Click here for text.​​

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Prayers of the People​​

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Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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(Silence for personal confession and assurance of pardon.)

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Parish Announcements

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Offertory – Chancel Choir

“Always Remember" by Gregg Sewell

​Come, friend and brothers, come to my table. Bring me your hopes and bring me your fears. Here in this moment love flow among us. Stay with me now as my moment draws near. Always remember, I will be with you. Always remember, trust in me. Share in my suffering, share in my passion. Though shadows gather, God is here. Drink from this cup, let life flow through you; Eat of this bread, take your place by my side. Share in my suffering, Trust in me always. Pray with me, “Not my will, but Thine.”​

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Click here for congregational music.

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Today’s loose coin offering is for Network Coffee House

 

+Doxology – Old 100th

From mountain heights your mercies flow,

Through valleys green your blessings grow;

Your grace moves on till all are blessed

By Christ’s full heart, grace upon grace. Amen.

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The Celebration of Holy Communion

In our United Methodist tradition The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is a gift from our abundant God. This is not Grace’s table or the United Methodist Church’s table, but it is God’s table. All that we ask is that you love God, earnestly repent of your sin, and seek to live in peace together. There is a gluten free option. 

 

The Lord be with you.        

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.              

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

It is right, and a good and joyful thing…And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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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.

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ…in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

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Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

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Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine…all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. 

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Amen, amen, amen.

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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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.​

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Giving of the Bread and Cup

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Prayer after Communion

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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+Hymn of Discipleship – UMH 667

“Shalom" (sing twice)

 

+Benediction

 

+Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 

Postlude – Anita Lockwood

"Toccata in E Minor" by Johann Pachelbel​

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Seth O’Kegley, celebrant

The Rev. Isaac Dunn, Karen Snyder, liturgists

Steven Burchard, Anita Lockwood, Grace Ringers Handbell Ensemble, Chancel Choir, musicians

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