CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
September 27, 2026 – 11:00 a.m.
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
American Indian Ministry Sunday
Preparation for worship
“My father taught me that you can read a hundred books on wisdom and write a hundred books on wisdom, but unless you apply what you learned then its only words on a page. Life is not lived with intentions, but action.”
-Shannon Alder
The Rev. Candace Thomas, Pastor
Jay Harragin, Director of Music
Graham Bryan, Church Moderator/ Musician
Graham Bryan, Liturgist
Mike Garcia, Usher
Kevin Salas, Audio/ Visual Technical director
14920 Southwest 67th Avenue, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33158
www.christcongregationalucc.org
office@christcongregationalucc.org | 305.235.9381
*Indicates please stand if comfortably able
GATHERING MUSIC 10:30 AM
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
*LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLE
Leader: The Light shines in the Darkness
All: And the darkness cannot put out the light!
*WORLD PEACE PRAYER (Unison)
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe. Amen.
* CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
One: Holy God, who is both near and far, huge beyond measure and tiny as a mustard seed: to you we come.
Many: We come to worship, to sing your praise, to seek your help, to learn your ways.
One: Help us to open our minds to all that you are: you contain all genders, all melodies, all colors, and all languages.
Many: Holy God, to you we come. Open our minds and hearts to you.
*HYMN “Guide My Feet” (No. 497, NCH)
PRAYER OF INVOCATION (Unison)
God, we pray that you will bless us with an awareness of your enfolding love for all your people. We have come with our arms open to embrace the whole human family and to be embraced. In our troubled world today, we recognize how important it is to celebrate the love you have for us all. Help us to imagine the faces of so many others, those who we may never speak with or see face to face. Turn us into a people who work for peace, justice, and equality for all your people. Amen.
THE COMMANDMENT OF JESUS (John 15:5, 12)
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 21:23-32 NRSV
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
SPECIAL MUSIC “God of Great and God of Small” Natalie Sleeth
COMMUNITY PRAYER (Responsive)
Leader: Holy One, we ask that you continue to mold us into your likeness. We ask that your Holy Spirit move us into being kind, compassionate, and generous as we live out our faith daily. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayers.
Leader: Holy One, we pray for those who are hurting, on the margins, excluded, lonely, and dealing with rejection and unacceptance by society. May each person know you love them and accept and value them as your precious creations. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayers.
Leader: Holy One, we lift all the beautiful diversity of your people in prayer that they may all know your presence, grace, and infinite love for them. Shower them with your blessings, and may the church become a safe place for all your people to gather. Help us, Oh God, to strive for unity and harmony and a more just world. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayers.
Leader: Holy One, we pray for all those in our community who are caregivers, residents in long term care, ombudsmen, nurses, nurses aides, cleaning staff, physical therapists, occupational therapists, first responders, and those who advocate for the well-being of your aged people with memory loss and dementia.
We pray for our police and firefighters, medical personnel, and all who care for us in many ways. Watch over them, and protect them from harm. We thank all who care for us and keep us safe each day. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayers.
Leader: Holy One, we lift in prayer our nation, our leaders, and all those legislators and representatives in our government who are making decisions on our behalf so that they may be fair and just in leading our country. Open their hearts to the suffering of your people and give them the wisdom to lead with compassion and empathy for the least of them. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayers.
Leader: Holy One, we lift in prayer all ecumenical partners and organizations working in our communities to achieve justice for all. May your Spirit continue to lead them in ways that honor you, Oh God, as they seek to work together in unity and with the goals of a unified voice of collaboration for the common good of all your beloved people. Lord, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayers.
Leader: Holy one, we ask that you help us to become the beloved community you want us to be. We ask your forgiveness when we neglect our calling to be your hands, heart, and body. May our actions and deeds honor and glorify You. Into your hands, Holy One, we commend all for whom we pray, in the name above all, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYER SONG “I Need You Every Hour” (No. 517, NCH)
I need you every hour, O God of grace;
The peace your voice affords, I now embrace.
I need you, how I need you! Every hour I need you;
O bless me now, my Savior; I come to you.
TIME OF SILENT MEDITATION
(You are invited to open your heart to the movement of the Holy Spirit.)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE PRAYER OF JESUS (Unison)
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, now and forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO GENEROSITY- Pastor Candy
God, we open our hearts to give generously of the abundant blessings we have received from you. All that we have comes from you; therefore we give our offerings in gratitude for all you have done for us.
MUSICAL OFFERING “The Sheep Shall Safely Graze” J.S. Bach
PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND THANKSGIVING (Unison)
Holy One, we ask that you bless these offerings so they can multiply to be a blessing for our community, our mission, and worldwide needs. Accept our offerings, O God, as a testimony to your goodness in our lives. Amen.
* HYMN “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” (No. 87, HFG)
MESSAGE “Choosing Your Authority”
*PRAISE SONG “Lead With Love”
COMMISSION- Pastor Candy
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
Welcome to Everyone!
Whoever or whatever brought you to our Sanctuary or our Facebook or YouTube on-line worship service this morning, we believe that the Spirit of God had a hand in you joining us. We hope that you feel the Holy Spirit in our service of prayer and praise.
At Christ Congregational Church we strive to love one another as God has loved us and welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Therefore, we are an Open and Affirming church, loving, and welcoming all people in all of God’s variety, including racial, ethnic, and economic diversity, gender diversity and expression, sexual orientation, and physical and mental abilities.
JOYS AND CONCERNS Do you have joys or concerns you would like lifted in worship? Please call or text Pastor Candy at 925.640.9289 or email her at cccpastor@att.net by 10 am Sunday morning.
For Pastoral Care Needs, please call Pastor Candy at 925-640-9289 or you may call and leave a message with the Church Office, 305-235-9381.
ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT CCC? About the United Church of Christ? Pastor Candy would be happy to meet with you to talk about our Christian faith, your spiritual journey, and to discuss what church membership means. Please let her know if you’re interested!
REMEMBERED IN OUR CONTINUING PRAYERS
- Mathews, C.M. Chandler, Ariel Ward, Sibyl Carter, the Wiener Family,
Janet Smith, Daniel Best and Sheryl Chambers and Family.
To keep our prayer list current please let Tracy Williams, Administrative Assistant at <office@christcongregationalucc.org> or Pastor Candy at <cccpastor@att.net> know if you’d like a name included on our Prayer List. It is a blessing to remember that others are praying for us and a blessing to pray for others.
ONLINE GIVING: We invite you to use our online giving option as a quick, simple, and secure method to make your pledges and any ancillary contributions. Clicking on the “Give Online Today” button at the bottom of our weekly newsletter or by going to our website at https://christcongregationalucc.org and clicking “Online giving.” You will be redirected to the secured Moon Clerk site which will allow you to enter your credit card information.
Like to sing? Choir practice today at 10:15 am in the Kelsey Hall Library.
The Neighbors in Need Special Mission Offering Will Be Received Next Sunday.