LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR A
SEPTEMBER 20, 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 grace enough for today.
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 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” UMH 140
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 grace enough for today in the life of the church. Amen.
A Reading from the Old Testament Exodus 16:2-15 NRSV
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your complaining against the LORD. For what are we, that you complain against us?” And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the LORD has heard the complaining that you utter against him–what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the LORD.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites: ‘Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'” And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites: they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'” In the evening quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
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 33
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Response “Sanctuary” TFSW 2164
†A Reading from the Gospels Matthew 20:1-16 NRSV
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ!
Sermon Reverend Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
†Responsive Hymn “Fill My Cup, Lord” UMH 641
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “In the Heart Where Love Is Abiding” Barnard
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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 grace enough for today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “God Will Take Care of You” UMH 130
†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