LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR A
OCTOBER 11, 2026
†Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Introit “To Him Who Sits Upon The Throne ” Clarke
To Him who sits upon the throne,
The God whom we adore,
And to the Lamb that once was slain
Be glory evermore.
†Call to Worship
Come, people of God, to worship the One who calls us into joy at the banquet.
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. Amen
†Opening Hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ” UMH 89
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 joy at the banquet in the life of the church. Amen.
A Reading from the Old Testament Exodus 32:1-14 NRSV
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, ‘Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ Aaron said to them, ‘Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.’ They rose early the next day, and offered burnt-offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.’ But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, ‘O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, “It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth”? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, “I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it for ever.”’ And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.
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 joy at the banquet, 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 Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 NIV
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ!
Sermon Reverend Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
†Responsive Hymn “What Gift Can We Bring” UMH 87
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “Hear My Prayer” Kopyloff
Hear my prayer, O hear my prayer; at end unto my cry.
For I am weak and helpless, but Thou, Lord, art strong and mighty. Be Thou my shield and protector;
Deliver me, Lord, from the unrighteous and unjust.
Gracious Lord, hear my prayer.
Thou alone can deliver me from all mine enemies.
Deliver me, O Lord. Almighty Father, King of creation,
Hear Thy servant’s imploring cry.
Hear my prayer, Gracious Lord, Mighty Father, Hear my prayer.
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 joy at the banquet in Jesus’ name. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “Rejoice, the Lord Is King” UMH 715
†Benediction
Go in peace. Practice hospitality, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Amen.
†Benediction Response “To My Humble Supplication” Genevan Psalter
To my humble supplication,
Lord, give ear and acceptation.
Save Thy servant that hath
None help nor hope but Thee alone.
Amen.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude