Grace and Mercy Overflow (14 September 2025

Prelude

Welcome

Sharing of Our Joys & Concerns

Introduction of our Guest Speaker

Song of Welcome

CCS 276 — “All Are Welcome”

Call to Worship / Opening Prayer for Peace

Our Prayer of Peace for 14 September 2025 is for the Czech Republic

Loving God,

You have promised to give us rest when we are weary and burdened and to take care of our every need. Yet, we often forget your promises and want control. We grasp our cup of water, not realizing you are turning it into wine. We want to stand our ground, not realizing you are raising us on eagles’ wings.

Lord, we ask your forgiveness in trying to limit you. We often forget that your promises are still true—even in this hectic world. We ask that we be reminded to turn to you for strength and peace, for you are our rock. We ask that this candle will be that reminder, that symbol. We ask that it remind us of your warmth, your light, your love, your peace.

Help us to be more aware of you and to have the faith to see change as an opportunity for you to work in our lives. In joyous anticipation, we turn to you! Amen.

CCS 275 — “Leftover People in Leftover Places”

1. Leftover people, in leftover places,
troubled, disabled, the needy and sad,
scavenging crumbs from society’s plenty,
sick to the soul when their life has gone bad;
these are the ones in God’s upsidedown kingdom
deemed to be worthy and called to the feast,
soup kitchen people invited to banquet,
valued as greatly as royal and priest.

2. Leftover people, disposable people,
locked into prisons of drugs and despair,
poverty’s children in poverty’s spiral,
locked out of learning and earning their share;
those are the ones in God’s upsidedown kingdom,
these are the Christ in their shabby disguise,
these are the least and the highly unlikely,
given a hope and new light in their eyes.

3. Here is God’s testing of true Easter people,
spirited people with service to give,
taking to heart the compassion of Jesus,
feeling how others must struggle to live;
we are a part of God’s upsidedown kingdom,
we know the heart if the gospel’s demand,
taking our part with the leftover people,
widening the space of the lines in the sand.

Children’s Focus Moment
Book: Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson Michele

Response

CCS 285 — “For Everyone Born”

Scripture Reading

Gratitude for Mercy

¹² I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and appointed me to his service, ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me^[a] with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible,^[b] the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.^[c] Amen.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 NRSVue

Morning Message from David Troop

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
Communion scripture and invitation statement

CCS 280 — “Lord, Prepare Me”

Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine

Disciples’ Generous Response/Sending Forth

Introduction to Peaceful Place

Song of Challenge

CCS 273 — “Draw the Circle Wide”

Blessing the space/closing prayer
Praying with our hands – painting the Peaceful Place letters