Sunday, March 15, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
In celebration of Women’s History Month, this week’s bulletin art is by artist, Hilma af Klint, a spiritual abstract artist. “The Swan”, 1914.
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 (sing twice)
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 - Elegy, Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889), Theo Meads, bass
CALL TO WORSHIP
We draw near to a loving God,
who meets us not as we imagine we should be, but rather as we are.
We draw near to God who call us
from shadow into light, and certainty into wonder.
We draw near to God
asking that our eyes may be opened, and our seeing shaped by grace.
+ HYMN 802 - The King of Love, My Shepherd Is (Psalm 23)
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God, we confess that we often prefer comfort to honesty, and familiar stories rather than grace that challenges us. Forgive us when we fail to see our neighbour, or turn away from truths that unsettle us. Awaken us again to the truth of your love. Forgive us when we make quick judgments rather than listening carefully; when we cling to what feels safe instead of trusting where You are leading; when we overlook those on the edges or stay silent when love calls us to speak. Open our eyes, gracious God. Help us to see one another as You see us — with compassion, dignity, and hope. Renew us by Your mercy, reshape us by Your love, and lead us forward in the light of Christ. Hear now our silent prayers of confession…
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Gracious God, our way in the wilderness, guide us, by your Word, through these forty days, and minister to us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may be reformed, restored, and renewed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - 1 Samuel 16.1-13 OT pg 259 (NRSVUE)
ANTHEM - For The Beauty of the Earth, John Rutter, Chancel Choir, Loren Tice, piano
SCRIPTURE READING -Ephesians 5.8-14 NT ph 194
SERMON - "What Is Pleasing to the Lord" Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH - From Confession of 1967 - 9.21-22
We believe that the reconciling work of Jesus was the supreme crisis in the life of humankind.
His cross and resurrection become a personal crisis and present hope when the gospel is proclaimed and believed. In this experience, the Spirit brings God’s forgiveness to us, moves us to respond in faith, repentance, and obedience, and initiates the new life in Christ. We believe that the new life takes shape in a community in which we know that God loves and accepts us in spite of what we are. We therefore accept ourselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.
+ HYMN 720 -Jesus Calls Us
OFFERING
• Offertory -Antiphon, Gordon Young (1919-1998)
+• 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 78 - Come! Live in the Light!
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ Benediction Response - Hymn 702, Christ Be Beside Me
1 Christ be beside me;
Christ be before me;
Christ be behind me,
King of my heart.
Christ be within me;
Christ be below me;
Christ be above me,
never to part.
2 Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me,
shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising,
Light of my life.
POSTLUDE - Fugue in C, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
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 (sing twice)
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 - Elegy, Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889), Theo Meads, bass
CALL TO WORSHIP
We draw near to a loving God,
who meets us not as we imagine we should be, but rather as we are.
We draw near to God who call us
from shadow into light, and certainty into wonder.
We draw near to God
asking that our eyes may be opened, and our seeing shaped by grace.
+ HYMN 802 - The King of Love, My Shepherd Is (Psalm 23)
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
God, we confess that we often prefer comfort to honesty, and familiar stories rather than grace that challenges us. Forgive us when we fail to see our neighbour, or turn away from truths that unsettle us. Awaken us again to the truth of your love. Forgive us when we make quick judgments rather than listening carefully; when we cling to what feels safe instead of trusting where You are leading; when we overlook those on the edges or stay silent when love calls us to speak. Open our eyes, gracious God. Help us to see one another as You see us — with compassion, dignity, and hope. Renew us by Your mercy, reshape us by Your love, and lead us forward in the light of Christ. Hear now our silent prayers of confession…
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581, (Gloria Patri)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Gracious God, our way in the wilderness, guide us, by your Word, through these forty days, and minister to us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may be reformed, restored, and renewed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING - 1 Samuel 16.1-13 OT pg 259 (NRSVUE)
ANTHEM - For The Beauty of the Earth, John Rutter, Chancel Choir, Loren Tice, piano
SCRIPTURE READING -Ephesians 5.8-14 NT ph 194
SERMON - "What Is Pleasing to the Lord" Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH - From Confession of 1967 - 9.21-22
We believe that the reconciling work of Jesus was the supreme crisis in the life of humankind.
His cross and resurrection become a personal crisis and present hope when the gospel is proclaimed and believed. In this experience, the Spirit brings God’s forgiveness to us, moves us to respond in faith, repentance, and obedience, and initiates the new life in Christ. We believe that the new life takes shape in a community in which we know that God loves and accepts us in spite of what we are. We therefore accept ourselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.
+ HYMN 720 -Jesus Calls Us
OFFERING
• Offertory -Antiphon, Gordon Young (1919-1998)
+• 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 78 - Come! Live in the Light!
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ Benediction Response - Hymn 702, Christ Be Beside Me
1 Christ be beside me;
Christ be before me;
Christ be behind me,
King of my heart.
Christ be within me;
Christ be below me;
Christ be above me,
never to part.
2 Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me,
shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising,
Light of my life.
POSTLUDE - Fugue in C, Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)