11th Sunday after Pentecost, KXRA Sunday, Aug 9, 2026
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Brad Lambrecht
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM
*INTROIT The Time for Singing Has Come N. Sleeth
*CALL TO WORSHIP Evelyn Henrickson
One: Please rise in body or spirit as you are able. And remain standing until the passing of the peace.
One: Creating God, you made us in the image of your good love. You know what is in us.
Many: We open our hearts to your grace.
One: Loving Christ, you reach out to us with tender mercy and healing. You set us free.
Many: We open our hearts to your grace.
One: Life-giving Spirit, you fill us with your mercy and power. You bear us on a journey of grace.
Many: We open our hearts to your grace. Heal us, and make us a healing people, in the name of Christ and the power of your Spirit. Amen.
*OPENING HYMN Heaven’s Are Telling tune: Morning Has Broken
lyrics by Steve Garnaas-Holmes (used with permission)
Heavens are telling, galaxies singing,
your Word compelling, “Let there be light.”
All living beings shine with your glory;
all we are seeing is your delight.
God, your love flows in every direction,
filling and blessing every dark place.
Even the shadows shine with your presence,
even the darkness hums with your grace.
Everything moving moves by your Spirit:
flight of the birds and dance of the stars,
migrating whales and flow of the river;
breath of the wind is breath that is ours.
Bless every creature, bright with God’s glory;
bless every feature, fin, fur and wing.
Each is completing God’s wondrous story;
each is God’s greeting; praises they sing.
*OPENING PRAYER (unison) Evelyn
God of love, we come with fears and desires, habits and attachments, and all our compulsive agendas. Give us peace to release them all, to seek only your love, and to give only your love. Bless us with your grace, that our lives may be shaped by the love that bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things, in the name of Christ. Amen.
*GLORIA BLK 760
The congregation sings once in Zulu, then twice in English.
PASSING OF THE PEACE Evelyn
GOD SPEAKS TO US
ANTHEM The Bond of Love Skillings/Bock
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH
SCRIPTURE READING Genesis 1:26-31; 3:1-13, 23-24 Evelyn
26 Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
27 So God created humans in God’s image, in the image of God he created them; male and female God created them.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.
30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31 God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die,
5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to Adam, who was with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 Adam said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
11 God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
12 Adam said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
13 Then the Lord God said to Eve, “What is this that you have done?” Eve said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”
23 therefore the Lord God sent them forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which they were taken.
24 God drove out the humans, and at the east of the garden of Eden God placed the cherubim and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.
HYMN OF PREPARATION Your Ways Are Not Our Own BLK #170
SERMON The Stories We Tell Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
MUSIC For Reflection Brad Lambrecht
WE RESPOND TO GOD
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND JESUS’ PRAYER
Our God in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE
*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY TUNE: Old Hundredth
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done;
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One! Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*SENDING HYMN Called as Partners in Christ’s Service BLK #495
*BLESSING & SENDING FORTH Pastor Jill
*CHORAL RESPONSE As We Now Depart This Place Pethel
Postlude Brad Lambrecht
We welcome all who are joining us for worship virtually, on YouTube, https://tinyurl.com/firstcongalex or Cable Channel #181 (each weekday). Our service is broadcast on KXRA 1490 AM at 11 am the second Sunday of the month.
NEWS IN THE PEWS: SUNDAY August 9, 2026
August 9, KXRA Radio Sunday
9:15 Choir rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online, choir
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
Monday August 10
10:00 Caffeinated Christianity” @ Dunn Bros
4-8 Voice lessons
Tuesday August 11
12-4 Elder network
2:30 Voice lessons
Wednesday August 12
12:00 Connections
4-6 Labyrinth
Thursday August 13
9:00 Habitat Lunch Prep in kitchen
4-7 Arts Space
4:30 Holy Happy Hour
Friday August 14
9:00 Habitat Lunch prep in kitchen
Sunday, August 16,
10:00 Worship in person and online, choir
11:30 Nancy’s Bingo Bash
Today is KXRA Radio Sunday
Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored by Joy Wrolson in memory of Kara Dillingham, her niece and Joy’s grandparents Lawny and Florence Wrolson and Lannie and Evelyn Isackson. The second Sunday of every month our radio broadcast is sponsored by a member of the congregation. Available months include: September and January (2027).
Pastor Jill’s Office Hours
Pastor Jill returns this Sunday. Pastor Jill is available throughout the week for pastoral care, conversation, or coffee! She is typically in the office on Tuesday mornings—and other times as well. It is always best to schedule a time if you want to talk. She can be reached directly at jill@firstcongregationaluccalex.com or (319) 361-0737. Shetypically takes Fridays off. She will have hours this week.
Come walk our Labyrinth: A path for Contemplative Prayer
The labyrinth is open on Wednesdays from 4-6. Anyone at church or the greater community is warmly invited to participate. The labyrinth is a path of prayer, a walking meditation, a crucible of change, a watering hole for the spirit, and a mirror of the soul. May it serve as one of these, and more, for you.
Choir rehearsal
The choir is on its summer schedule and will rehearse on August 5 and August 19 at 4:45. They also rehearse the Sundays they sing at 9:15 am. The choir sings in worship on the 2nd Sunday of the month through June-August.
Habitat Lunch Prep/Meals
Our Missions team and Barb Brown’s Rotary group will be using the kitchen on Thursday and Friday to prepare lunch for the Habitat for Humanity building crews.
Arts Space
This summer, artist Jax Rose will be holding an arts space for teens on Thursday nights 4-7 in our Fellowship Hall. These classes are free to any student who attends, and every student receives one on one instruction. Students are highly encouraged to bring their sketchbook or any projects they might be working on. Classes start June 11th and go to September 3rd. Hope to see you there!”
Angel Care Team July/August
August Angels are Judy Kuhlmann and Mary Mische. Please let the office know if you would like a visit.
Worship Volunteers Needed
We have sign ups at the back of the sanctuary for volunteers interested in ushering, greeting and providing coffee fellowship. You are free to sign up for as many as you wish at a time. If you are interested in tech, let someone at the tech desk know and we can train you on the job.
VIRTUAL GIVING OPTIONS: ONLINE AND TEXT
Check out our updated website: firstcongregationaluccalex.com. Click on the word “Give” at the top of the screen. You can also text (844) 987-4483 to give to our general fund. Please contact the office if you need help setting up a giving account online using our provider, Churchtrac.
BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Nancy Hansen 08/17
Margaret Kalina 08/18
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
Upcoming Events or Community Events
Nancy Hansen’s Bingo Bash
Please join us for Nancy’s bingo Bash on Sunday, August 16 at 11:30 am. Lunch will be provided. If you have a bingo prize to donate, you can bring them to the church office. Sign up at the back of sanctuary or email to 99nahansen@gmail.com
Evening Prayer Services
All are welcome to join the First Lutheran Care for Creation Team for a time of music, scripture, and prayer. The purpose is to pray for the world, for peace, for all leaders, for creation, and for God’s presence in our lives. This prayer service is the 3rd Sunday of every month at 5:00 pm. There is a change in the schedule for August and September. August is canceled and September’s will be Sept 13. October will return to the 3rd Sunday Oct 18.
Diversity Fest
The Diversity Fest is looking for volunteers for their 2026 event on September 15. They will need help with set-up, ticket selling, greeting and assisting with vendors. If you are unable to volunteer, come eat and enjoy the entertainment. More details will follow.
Samaritans screening
Sept 27, 4 pm. We will be hosting a screening of the documentary Samaritans. The director of the documentary will be here for the screening along with one of the Samaritans. It is a volunteer project in the southern Arizona desert and with a border town in Mexico.
We are an inclusive community that welcomes extravagantly, seeks God and follows Jesus into the world.
We are also a member of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and honor the dignity of each person created in God’s image. All are welcome here.
