SERMON NOTES WELCOME TO WORSHIP
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. (Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED
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SCRIPTURE — Psalm 139:1-18 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST • AUGUST 23, 2026 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS Welcome to worship at Centenary! We are a church for everyone. As you prepare for worship, we invite you to greet your neighbor and share the love of Christ. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
Psalm-Prelude, Set 2, no. 2 (Psalm 139:11) — Herbert Howells
GREETING INTROIT
Let the People Praise Thee, O God — William Mathias Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP We’ve come to worship the God, who loved us before we were born, who knows us better than we know ourselves, whose presence never leaves us, and whose love for us never ceases. This is our God. Let us worship together!
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #96 Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above —AMSTERDAM
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare:
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We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good. We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come
upon the earth. Amen. †
GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father — GREATOREX Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 139”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY Pilgrims’ Hymn — Stephen Paulus Even before we call on Your name to ask You, O God, when we seek for the words to glorify You, You hear our prayer; unceasing love, o unceasing love, surpassing all we know. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Even with darkness sealing us in, we breathe Your name, and through all the days that follow so fast, we trust in You; endless your grace, o endless Your grace, beyond all mortal dream. Both now and forever, and unto ages and ages, Amen. DOXOLOGY #94 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
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WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD HYMN
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#128 He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought — HE LEADETH ME
BENEDICTION
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE A Clare Benediction — John Rutter May the Lord show his mercy upon you; may the light of his presence be your guide: may he guard you and uphold you; may his spirit be ever be your side. When you sleep, may his angels watch over you; when you wake, may he fill you with his grace: may you love him and serve him all your days, then in heaven may you see his face.
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POSTLUDE Improvisation sur le Te Deum — Charles Tournemire
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Thank you for joining us in worship today.
PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING Reverend Lara “Willis” Greene Senior Minister LITURGIST Reverend Oliver Helsabeck Associate Minister for Congregational Care MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music & Arts Tate Addis, Organist & Associate Conductor The Chancel Choir
CRUCIFER Thor Johnson TORCHBEARERS Charlie Harris Tripp Harris FLOWERS The Chancel flowers are given in loving memory of Stella Davis Stinson by Robin Stinson.
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.