Blog

September 21, 2025
Changemakers: Week 3
TRADITIONAL Service
Union-Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                          

Welcome and Announcements                       

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Introduction to Theme (Pastor)
Sometimes, it seems like every big problem left in the world is intractable, stubbornly hard to take care of. If it could be solved easily, it would have been done already. Like those disciples, we are inclined to look at the problems in front of us and say, “I don’t know how to fix this. It’s impossible.” But we are children of a creative God. The very first act in this God’s story is the creation of an earth that includes palm trees and sea anemones, giraffes and armadillos—all from nothing. How is God likely to work in the world today? We have the capacity to be creative because God is creative. Look at creation, at diversity. We are made in God’s image. We have everything we need to make change; we have enough. We just need to stretch our imaginations and break out of constrained thinking.

Call to Worship
One: The world needs to change, a lot. There are so many things that need change,
All: and we can get overwhelmed,
One: especially if we think that we need to make all of the change by ourselves. We need to remember that God is already at work.
All: God has been, and always will be, doing a new thing.
One: We are called to show up and cooperate with what God is doing! We are the changemakers, and we are being made ready!
All: May we be changed by this time of worship!

Opening Prayer (unison)
Holy One, help us to understand what you are doing in the Gospel. Help us to understand the ways that we can show up and cooperate with your Spirit. May this story show us the way to become a compassion-driven changemaker, like Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Opening Hymn: #644 God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens (1,2,4)

Children’s Time                     “On God’s Team, Life is Better”

Reading of Scripture
Luke 7:36-50 (CEB)
36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. After he entered the Pharisee’s home, he took his place at the table. 37 Meanwhile, a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster. 38 Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner. 40 Jesus replied, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher, speak,” he said. 41 “A certain lender had two debtors. One owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day’s work. The other owed enough money for fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?”43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.” Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. 47 This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other table guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this person that even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
 

After reading, please say, “Here ends the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Message: Thinking Outside the Box
 

Hymn: #466 Take My Life and Let It Be

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

We Offer Our Gifts

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Creative and Creating God, with these gifts we return to you, help us work together with You to provide much-needed hope and change to a hurting world. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #577 Sing a New Church

Benediction
Now go into the world, risking something big for something good. Know that your creativity is a gift from God, an inherent trait with the power to unlock solutions and change the world. And know that your passion will emerge from the nest when the time is right… and fly!

Sending Music