OCTOBER 26, 2025
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
REV. KENDRA BALLIET
ORGANIST JIM ROSS
Prelude - Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Paul Randall Keith
Welcome & Announcements
*Call to Worship
PASTOR: The world needs to change.
And we are the changemakers!
This work of changemaking is going to take a while.
PEOPLE: We are called to be changemakers for our whole lives!
PASTOR: And this work is going to take all of us. If we want to keep change going, we need to be inviting others, joining with others, witnessing to others, and empowering others to do this work with us.
For many of us, this is the hardest part of making change,
PEOPLE: but we are ready to be bold.
PASTOR: We come to worship this morning, eager to be part of this movement and to bring others along in our work. We come to worship this morning, trusting that God will empower us. We are the changemakers, and we are ready!
PEOPLE: Thanks be to God!
* Opening Hymn – “God of Love and God of Power” #578
*Apostles’ Creed #881
*Glory Be to the Father #70
** Prayer of Confession
Holy One, you have shown us how to empower other people through the life of Jesus Christ, and yet, we insist on doing this changemaking work alone.
We say that’s because no one else came to do the work, but did we bother to invite them? No, we didn’t.
Maybe we were too afraid to ask. Maybe we were afraid they would say, ‘No.’ We don’t like the feeling of rejection.
Or maybe we wanted things done our way, and we didn’t want someone else to mess it up. We do like the feeling of control.
But in all of this, we forget that the work of changemaking is not about us. It is God’s work. It is important work that must continue beyond us, and after us.
Forgive us.Forgive us for making your work small. Forgive us for our weakness and timidity.
Send us your spirit again, and free us from our fear and complacency. Embolden us. Make us unafraid of change, and undeterred in our work of changemaking. Amen.
Silently Confess Our Sins
Words of Assurance
Children’s Chat
Scripture- Mark 10:46-52 (CEB)
Pastor: The Word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God
Series: “The Changemakers”
Message: “A Story about Empowerment”
Tithes and Offering
Offertory - The Good Samaritan - Robert Swift
*Doxology – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #94
Prayers of the People - Joys and Concerns
*Prayer Hymn – “Let Us Be Makers” Insert
[sung to the tune of “Blessed Assurance”]
Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
*Closing Hymn – “We All Are One In Mission” TFWS#2243
Action Steps and Benediction
Postlude – Now Let Us Rejoice - Franklin Ashdown
Thank you for sharing in this worship service. Please continue to stay in touch through our website (stoneumc.org) and/or by following us on Facebook (Stone UMC). If you have joys or concerns that you would like lifted up in prayer, please fill out the Prayer Card in the pew, on the website, or share them by contacting us at 814-724-6736 or churchoffice@stoneumc.org