Sunday, September 7, 2025
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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Loving care for our youngest children (infants-age 4) is provided in Room 24 during the Worship Service.
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Sunday, September 7, 2025
GATHERING MUSIC
GREETING & WELCOME
Matthew Gemmill
Reverend John Huff and Reverend Mary Beth Morgan
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE AND THE RINGING OF THE BELLS
PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Matthew Gemmill
One: Jesus calls us to take up our cross not for comfort, but for courage; not for privilege, but for purpose.
All: We come, ready to follow Christ, even when the path leads through struggle and sacrifice.
One: To follow Jesus is to count the cost to stand with the oppressed, to speak truth to power, to build peace where there is division.
All: We come, not with empty words, but with hearts ready to act, hands ready to serve, and lives ready to be transformed.
One: Let us worship the One who calls us to justice, to mercy, and to radical love.
All: We worship with boldness and humility, committed to the way of Christ a way that lifts the lowly, challenges the powerful, and brings hope to the world.
*GATHERING HYMN Page 8
All Creatures of Our God and King
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
One: Let us say what we believe:
All: We believe in the God, the Creator who shapes us like clay with intention, care, and love.
We believe that we are masterpieces in progress, formed by divine hands that do not discard, but reimagine and renew.
We believe that God is still molding the Church, calling us to reflect the fullness of Christ, to be vessels of justice, and agents of reconciliation in a broken world.
We believe that transformation is possible for individuals, communities, and systems. We trust in the Spirit’s power to reshape what is cracked, to restore what is wounded, and to build what is just.
We commit ourselves to the Potter’s work to be pliable in love, bold in truth, and faithful in actio n. Amen.
CHILDREN’S MOMENT
MISSION MOMENT
A CALL TO PRAYER
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER
SILENT PRAYERS
THE LORD'S PRAYER
United Women in Faith
Nina Taylor & Linda Crawford
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.
LESSON FROM THE PROPHETS Maria Schmidt
Jeremiah 18:1-6
GRADUAL HYMN
LESSON FROM THE GOSPELS
Spirit of the Living God
Luke 14:27-33
Page 9
Jonathan Michaelsen
GRADUAL HYMN Page 9
Spirit of the Living God
SERMON
A CALL TO GIVING
OFFERTORY
Broken, Reformed, and Called
TheKindofLoveMyShepherdIs Dan Forrest
The King of love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His, And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow, My ransomed soul He leadeth; And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth.
*THE DOXOLOGY
*OFFERTORY PRAYER
Reverend John Huff
The Chancel Choir
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, But yet in love He sought me; And on His shoulder gently laid, And home, rejoicing, brought me.
And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise Within Thy house forever.
Holy and Merciful God, as we bring these gifts to you as an offering, may they be bring hope, healing, and justice. By your Spirit, help us to remain mindful of the many ways you are calling us to love and serve. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
(The leader offers a prayer of thanksgiving, remembering God’s acts of salvation, and concludes:)
One: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join in their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
(The leader continues the thanksgiving, recalling the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and concludes:)
One: And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
(The leader asks for the blessing of the Spirit, and then praises the Trinity, concluding:)
One: All honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever.
All: Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN
One Bread, One Body
*BENEDICTION
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SEPTEMBER 7 , 202 5
Celebrations
The flowers that grace our altar this morning are given by Carolyn & John Collins
To Celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary
Deaths
M ark Cox
Ben Ackerman
Randy Barnes
Liz Collins
Peggy Emard, sister of Karen Korn
Chuck Foster
Mike Grubbs
Diana Hall
John Hopkins, Brother - in - law of Carle and Linda Crawford
Peggy Good Hoyle
Martin, son of Peggy Good Hoyle
John I
Debra Jones
Bill Kemp
Karen Korn
Carrie Lawrence
Tim Lloyd
Bruce Martin
Trish Martin
Doran May
Joan McEvoy
Ann McNair
Jo Parrish, Mother of Susan
Parrish
Suzie Rimstidt
Nancy Rusnak
Jason Shaw
Patricia and Terrence Sullivan , Parents of Daniel (Sully) Sullivan
Georgia Sumner
Cheryl Wolf
Patti Wright
Mike Yost
AH
Ally
Carol
Charles
Cillian
Daniel
David
Gunner
Jenny
Jeremy
Jordan
Julie
Kay
Kim, friend of Annette Lemond
Kip I.
Laura
Matisse
Matt
Phyllis
Sheila
Sue
Tom
Sunday, September 7 , 202 5
9:30am Nomads Room 8
10:30am Worship Service Sanctuary
10:30am Sunday School Rooms 4
11:30am St. Mark’s Picnic
Monday, September 8 , 2025
6 : 00p m Fishhook Meeting Room 15
7 :00pm Trustees Meeting Room 8
Tues day, September 9 , 202 5
4:00pm Dance Class Room 1
5 :30 p m Medicare for All Meeting Library
5: 3 0pm Caring Ministries Room 8
Wednesday, September 10 , 2025
5:00pm Endowments & Memorials Room 8
7:00pm Boy Scouts Troop 100 Garton Hall
Thursday, September 11 , 202 5
11 :00am Women of Wonder and Faith Room 8
5:00pm Thriving Connections Garton Hall
7 :00pm Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary
Friday, September 12 , 202 5
1:00pm Conversations on Life Room 15
Saturday, September 13 , 202 5
7:00am S.O.S. (Men’s A.A.) Room 8
9:00am A.A. Room 8
9:00am Bloomington Quilt Guild Garton Hall
St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Bloomington, Indiana is an inclusive community, bringing Christ - like love, healing and hope to all. We embrace the United Methodist ideal of Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors by welcoming and affirming those of all races, cultures, faith traditions, sexual orientations, and gender identities.