Sunday, February 1, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
In celebration of the beginning of Black History Month, this week’s cover art is a mural painting “Baptism” by self-taught Black folk artist, Clementine Hunter. This piece was painted as a mural at Melrose Plantation, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, 1955.
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 - Grand Jeu, Jean Adam Guillain (1680-1730)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Lord, we come into your sanctuary with eagerness.
May we hear your call and speak your truth.
Lord, we come to abide with you in love.
Gather us in honest and faithful community.
Lord, prepare us to be people of hope and grace.
Kindle in us courage to live as brave and faithful disciples.
Let us worship our God together in this holy place.
Alleluia. Amen!
+ Hymn 1 - Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord,God Almighty!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
Merciful God, we come before you in confession. You have showered us with blessings, but we hoard those gifts,
refusing to share with our neighbors in need. You have given us freedom to live justly, but we to oppress and
judge others. You have called us to live in peaceful community, but discord and fear abound among ourselves.
Forgive us. Soften our hearts and open our minds to hear your call. Inspire us to act justly, love fiercely, and walk
in your way each and every day. Hear us now in our silent prayer.
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
God of wonder, awaken us! As we hear your Word read and proclaimed, open us to be surprised! Enliven us with the
power of the Word and presence of your Spirit. Transform us for our walk with you. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Matthew 5.1-12 pg 165 (NRSVUE)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began
to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my
account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
OFFERING
Offertory - With a Voice of Singing, Martin Shaw, Chancel Choir
SCRIPTURE READING - Micah 6.1-8 OT pg 92
SERMON - Rev.Kathy Riley
STATEMENT OF FAITH - From The Confession of 1967 (Inclusive Language)
In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to God’s self. Jesus Christ is God with us. He is the eternal Son
of the Father, who became human and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. He is present in the
church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission. This work of God – the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit – is the foundation of all confessional statements about God, humanity, and the world. Therefore,
the church calls all people to be reconciled to God and to one another. To God be the glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations! Amen.
+ HYMN 127 - Blest Are They
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S (Debts & Debtors)
INVITATION
• PRAYER OF GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise...
• WORDS OF INSTITUTION
• THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
The congregation is invited to come forward to tear off a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you
would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to
your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
• PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Holy God, you are the giver of blessings. Give us eyes to see you at work among us. Move our hands and feet to
be a blessing in our community. As we leave this table and this holy place, open our hearts and mouths to hear
your word and speak your truth so all can know of your justice and love. Amen.
+ HYMN 536 - Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen
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 - How Firm a Foundation, Claude Murphee
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 - Grand Jeu, Jean Adam Guillain (1680-1730)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Lord, we come into your sanctuary with eagerness.
May we hear your call and speak your truth.
Lord, we come to abide with you in love.
Gather us in honest and faithful community.
Lord, prepare us to be people of hope and grace.
Kindle in us courage to live as brave and faithful disciples.
Let us worship our God together in this holy place.
Alleluia. Amen!
+ Hymn 1 - Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord,God Almighty!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
Merciful God, we come before you in confession. You have showered us with blessings, but we hoard those gifts,
refusing to share with our neighbors in need. You have given us freedom to live justly, but we to oppress and
judge others. You have called us to live in peaceful community, but discord and fear abound among ourselves.
Forgive us. Soften our hearts and open our minds to hear your call. Inspire us to act justly, love fiercely, and walk
in your way each and every day. Hear us now in our silent prayer.
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
God of wonder, awaken us! As we hear your Word read and proclaimed, open us to be surprised! Enliven us with the
power of the Word and presence of your Spirit. Transform us for our walk with you. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Matthew 5.1-12 pg 165 (NRSVUE)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began
to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my
account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
OFFERING
Offertory - With a Voice of Singing, Martin Shaw, Chancel Choir
SCRIPTURE READING - Micah 6.1-8 OT pg 92
SERMON - Rev.Kathy Riley
STATEMENT OF FAITH - From The Confession of 1967 (Inclusive Language)
In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to God’s self. Jesus Christ is God with us. He is the eternal Son
of the Father, who became human and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. He is present in the
church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission. This work of God – the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit – is the foundation of all confessional statements about God, humanity, and the world. Therefore,
the church calls all people to be reconciled to God and to one another. To God be the glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations! Amen.
+ HYMN 127 - Blest Are They
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S (Debts & Debtors)
INVITATION
• PRAYER OF GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise...
• WORDS OF INSTITUTION
• THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
The congregation is invited to come forward to tear off a piece of bread and dip it in the cup. There is gluten-free bread on the table. If you
would prefer to receive Communion in your pew, an elder or deacon will serve you. After consuming the bread and the cup and returning to
your seat, turn your mind to what God is inviting you to consider in this moment of stillness.
• PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Holy God, you are the giver of blessings. Give us eyes to see you at work among us. Move our hands and feet to
be a blessing in our community. As we leave this table and this holy place, open our hearts and mouths to hear
your word and speak your truth so all can know of your justice and love. Amen.
+ HYMN 536 - Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen
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 - How Firm a Foundation, Claude Murphee