Sunday, February 1, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
In celebration of Black History Month, this week’s cover art is, “Sermon on the Mount” by Bronx- based artist, Laura James, 2010.
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
INTROIT 411 - God Is Here Today
God is here today;
as certain as the air I breathe,
as certain as the morning sun that rises,
as certain when I sing you’ll hear my song.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Prelude and Fugue on the Kyrie, Gaspard Corette (1670-1730)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!
Their descendants will be strong throughout the land. The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;
Their righteousness stands forever.
They shine in the dark for others who do right. They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever!
They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Let us worship God together.
+ Hymn 667 - When Morning Gilds the Skies
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God of heaven and earth, you sent Jesus into this world not to abolish the law and prophets but to fulfill them. You created each of us with a purpose, but we resist your call. We live for ourselves and apart from you. We have turned from our neighbors and refused to bear the burdens of others. We ignore the pain of the world, turning our backs on the hungry, the poor and the oppressed. Forgive us, and fulfill your purpose in us, that your will may be done on earth as in heaven; through Christ our Lord. Hear us now as we offer up our silent confessions…
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
O God, by your Holy Spirit tell us what we need to hear and show us what we ought to do to obey Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 2.1-16 NT pg 166 (NRSVUE)
ANTHEM - Set Me as a Seal, René Clausen (b. 1953), Chancel Choir, based on Song of Solomon 8.6
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 5.13-20 NT pg 4
SERMON - "A Spirit of Discernment", Rev. Matt Falco
STATEMENT OF FAITH - From The Iona Community
We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the
church: To celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in creation, to love and serve others, to seek
justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life
beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
+ HYMN 726 -Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)
ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE1 Cor. 12:4–7, 27
There are varieties of gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them.
There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served.
God works through each person in a unique way, but it is God’s purpose that is accomplished.
To each is given a gift of the Spirit to be used for the common good.
Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.
STATEMENT ON ORDINATION
Deacons and Ruling Elders to Be Ordained and Installed:
Lauren Feltner - Deacon
Anna Wethington - Deacon
Troy Cooper - Ruling Elder
Jonah Falco - Ruling Elder
Alicia Hart - Ruling Elder
Peter Perry - Ruling Elder
Elizabeth Varney - Ruling Elder
Deacons and Ruling Elders Previously Ordained, Now to Be Installed
Debbie Acker - Deacon
Lauren Falco - Deacon
Zane Kercsmar - Deacon
Matt McMahan - Deacon
Dan Farrer - Ruling Elder
Michelle Gardner - Ruling Elder
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS
PRAYER OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
DECLARATION OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
CHARGE TO THE NEW CLASS OF ELDERS AND DEACONS (Hebrews 12.1-4)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S (Debts & Debtors)
Offering
• Offertory - From the Nets of Our Labors, Chancel Choir, Lauren Falco, violin
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ
the Word in flesh born low; Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 700 -I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
Benediction Response - Hymn 733, We All Are One in Mission
We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. A single, great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.
POSTLUDE - Trumpet Tune, Michael McCabe, (b. 1941)
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
INTROIT 411 - God Is Here Today
God is here today;
as certain as the air I breathe,
as certain as the morning sun that rises,
as certain when I sing you’ll hear my song.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Prelude and Fugue on the Kyrie, Gaspard Corette (1670-1730)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!
Their descendants will be strong throughout the land. The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;
Their righteousness stands forever.
They shine in the dark for others who do right. They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever!
They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Let us worship God together.
+ Hymn 667 - When Morning Gilds the Skies
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God of heaven and earth, you sent Jesus into this world not to abolish the law and prophets but to fulfill them. You created each of us with a purpose, but we resist your call. We live for ourselves and apart from you. We have turned from our neighbors and refused to bear the burdens of others. We ignore the pain of the world, turning our backs on the hungry, the poor and the oppressed. Forgive us, and fulfill your purpose in us, that your will may be done on earth as in heaven; through Christ our Lord. Hear us now as we offer up our silent confessions…
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
O God, by your Holy Spirit tell us what we need to hear and show us what we ought to do to obey Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 2.1-16 NT pg 166 (NRSVUE)
ANTHEM - Set Me as a Seal, René Clausen (b. 1953), Chancel Choir, based on Song of Solomon 8.6
SCRIPTURE READING - Matthew 5.13-20 NT pg 4
SERMON - "A Spirit of Discernment", Rev. Matt Falco
STATEMENT OF FAITH - From The Iona Community
We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the
church: To celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in creation, to love and serve others, to seek
justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life
beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
+ HYMN 726 -Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)
ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE1 Cor. 12:4–7, 27
There are varieties of gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them.
There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served.
God works through each person in a unique way, but it is God’s purpose that is accomplished.
To each is given a gift of the Spirit to be used for the common good.
Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.
STATEMENT ON ORDINATION
Deacons and Ruling Elders to Be Ordained and Installed:
Lauren Feltner - Deacon
Anna Wethington - Deacon
Troy Cooper - Ruling Elder
Jonah Falco - Ruling Elder
Alicia Hart - Ruling Elder
Peter Perry - Ruling Elder
Elizabeth Varney - Ruling Elder
Deacons and Ruling Elders Previously Ordained, Now to Be Installed
Debbie Acker - Deacon
Lauren Falco - Deacon
Zane Kercsmar - Deacon
Matt McMahan - Deacon
Dan Farrer - Ruling Elder
Michelle Gardner - Ruling Elder
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS
PRAYER OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
DECLARATION OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION
CHARGE TO THE NEW CLASS OF ELDERS AND DEACONS (Hebrews 12.1-4)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S (Debts & Debtors)
Offering
• Offertory - From the Nets of Our Labors, Chancel Choir, Lauren Falco, violin
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ
the Word in flesh born low; Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 700 -I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
Benediction Response - Hymn 733, We All Are One in Mission
We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. A single, great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.
POSTLUDE - Trumpet Tune, Michael McCabe, (b. 1941)