LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR A
SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
†Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Introit “Lead Me, Lord” Wesley
Lead me, Lord, lead me in Thy righteousness,
Make Thy way plain before my face.
†Call to Worship
Come, people of God, to worship the One who calls us into the mind of Christ.
We come with open hearts, ready to receive grace.
Christ meets us in Word, prayer, song, and service.
The Spirit gathers us and sends us in love.
Let us worship God with joy and expectation.
†Opening Hymn “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” UMH 158
Prayer of Illumination
Holy Spirit, open the Scriptures to us. Let the words read and proclaimed become a living word, so that we
may hear Christ, trust your promise, and practice the mind of Christ in the life of the church. Amen.
A Reading from the Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7 NRSV
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with
this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The LORD said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take
some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I will be
standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people
may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the
Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Congregational Prayer
Merciful God, we pray for the church, for our neighbors, and for all who carry heavy burdens. Where there is weariness, give strength; where there is division, give peace; where there is grief, give comfort; where there is injustice, give courage. Form us as a people who embody grace enough for today, and make Lovely Lane a witness of beloved community for Baltimore and beyond. Amen.
Passing of the Peace “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” UMH 334
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Response “Sanctuary” TFSW 2164
†A Reading from the Gospels Matthew 21:23-32 NRSV
When he 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.
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ!
Sermon Reverend Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
†Responsive Hymn “Jesus, United by Thy Grace” UMH 561
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “In the Heart Where Love Is Abiding” Barnard
In the heart where love is abiding, God is in that heart.
And the love of Christ has made us all of one heart.
Then with joyful and with glad hearts let us thank Him.
Let us fear God and remember all His goodness.
Let us love each other with a pure and clean heart.May no quarrelling or dispute come between us.
Let us see Your face, O Lord Christ, now, among us.
Let us sing with all the angels praise to Jesus.
In a song of joy that wells up from a clean heart.
In the heart where love is abiding, God is in that heart. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Generous God, receive these gifts as signs of gratitude and trust. Use them to strengthen worship, deepen discipleship, serve our neighbors, and bear witness to the mind of Christ in Jesus’ name. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” UMH 581
†Benediction
†Benediction Response “Let Us Now Depart In Your Peace” arr. Baker
Let us now depart in Thy peace, blessed Jesus.
Send us to our homes with God’s love in our hearts.
Let not the busy world claim all our loyalties.
Keep us ever mindful, dear Lord, of Thee. Amen.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude