18th Sunday after Pentecost, _____________________________________ Sept 27, 2026
*Indicates please stand in body or in spirit
WE BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
PRELUDE Brad Lambrecht
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Jill
POURING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATER Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders
Introit The Presence of Our God is Here K. Carr
*CALL TO WORSHIP Betty Cichy-Anderson
Leader: God, this world can be a desert wilderness.
All: We come thirsty for your presence.
Leader: Our lives can seem like dry stones.
All: We come thirsty for your love.
Leader: Yet you strike the rock of our lives,
All: and your grace flows freely.
We thank you, and we drink deeply of this mystery.
Refresh us, that our lives may flow with your grace. Amen.
*OPENING Hymn Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer Blk 18
*OPENING PRAYER (unison) Betty
Gracious God, you who are ever present, who accompany us in love, who surround us with your glory, we too often forget; we do not see. Speak to us, whose hearts are thirsty for water but sometimes feel dry as stone. Open our hearts now to your truth, to your presence, to your faithfulness. May we drink deeply of your love. Amen.
*ACT of PRAISE BLK 55, vs 5
PASSING OF THE PEACE Betty
GOD SPEAKS TO US
ANTHEM God is Here
READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE Exodus 17:1-7 Betty
17 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as God commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
2 The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test God?”
3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”
4 So Moses cried out to God, “What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
5 God said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go.
6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is God among us or not?”
MOMENT WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH Pastor Jill
READINGS FROM THE GOSPEL Matthew 21:23-32
23 When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as Jesus was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ Jesus will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went.
30 The father went to the second and said the same, and this son answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe John.
HYMN OF PREPARATION As the Deer W & R 471 On screen and in bulletin
SERMON “Is God Among Us or Not?” 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 Brad Lambrecht
*DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth, Matt Laney
Do justice, says the One we praise,
In loving kindness, spend your days,
Walk humbly with the living Christ:
The way, the truth, our endless life.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*SENDING Hymn It is Well With My Soul Blk 438
*BLESSING & SENDING FORTH
Choral Blessing T. Dorsey
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 Sept 27, 2026
THE WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday, Sept 27
9:15 Choir rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
11:00 Memorials Board Meeting
12:30 Celebration of Life of Diane Alveshere, Broadway Ballroom
5:00 Samaritans Documentary screening
Monday Sept 28
10:00 “Caffeinated Christianity” @ Common Ground
4-8 Voice lessons
Tuesday Sept 29
2:30 Voice lessons
Wednesday Sept 30
4-6 Labyrinth
4:45 Choir rehearsal
5:30 Calvary partnership—child/parent program
Thursday Oct 1
9:00 Walking group @ Big Ole
12:00 Women’s fellowship, Board meets at 11 am
4:30 Holy Happy Hr
Saturday Oct 3
10:00 Group Spiritual Direction Orientation
Next Sunday, Oct 4th, World Communion
8:30 Band Rehearsal
10:00 Worship in person and online, First Sunday music
11:00 Coffee Fellowship
2:00 Blessing of the Animals
Diane Alveshere’s celebration of life
Please join us for Celebration of Diane’s life September 27, 2026 @ 12:30pm at Broadway Ballroom 115 30th Ave East Alexandria, MN. All are welcome!
Samaritans screening
Sept 27, 5 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.
Pastor Jill’s Office Hours
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.
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.
Calvary Partnership
We will host the parents of Calvary’s Kid and Student Programming. 5:30 Wednesdays. If you have a child between newborn to 5th grade, you can meet with other parents while your child is attending a Wednesday evening program at Calvary.
Women’s Fellowship
Bring your own lunch and a sweet treat and coffee will be served by Sandy Grove and her assistant (call Sandy if you want to help her .
Our speaker will be our own Bonnie Bina of Douglas County Senior Services. She will review the services provided by her resource office and answer questions.
Group Spiritual Direction Orientation
Again this year, The Board of Spiritual Life is offering a listening process called Group Spiritual Direction. It’s a place to gather with other people in this hectic noisy world, to slow down for an hour and a half once a month, October through May, and try to see God in whatever has been occupying your mind. At each meeting, we sit in silence for a few minutes to quiet ourselves and then take turns listening as a group member shares. We ask clarifying questions. We reflect what we’ve heard. Rather than jumping in with quick-fix solutions of our own, we try to understand how God is involved. We gain new insights about God from others, and we grow closer to God in surprising ways. Sign up for the Orientation on October 3, 10 am -noon at the back of the Sanctuary or contact Marcie directly at marciewatson2027@gmail.com, or at (319) 310-0565.
Blessing of the Animals Sunday
Join us on the south lawn on Oct 4 at 2 p.m. where Pastor Jill will bless the animals! Bring your critters if you have them—and come and join us even if you have no pet to bring but love animals. All Creatures Great and Small—the Lord God loves them all!
Thrivent Community Action Grant
Are you a Thrivent member? Have you used your Thrivent Action Grant this year? If you are a member of Thrivent consider using your allotted grant money for the Samaritans documentary (for pizza or other refreshment), the Spaghetti dinner or Christmas dinner. See Joy in the office for possible grant ideas for all three coming events.
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.
Harvest Table
If you have extra produce from your garden, please consider sharing your bounty. If you have need of veggies, herbs, flowers or other produce, consider making a free will donation to be used by the Missions committee as they determine needs.
Bountiful Basket
The Bountiful Basket is back Sunday as we begin our Sept/Oct collection for the Alexandria College. (ATCC) Items needed will be posted on the basket but we encourage gift cards for gas, groceries and local restaurants, items for their food shelf and items appropriate for Bingo prizes.
Neighbors in Need
Beginning next Sunday, we will be participating in the Neighbors in Need UCC offering. The Neighbors in Need offering supports ministries of justice and compassion, with one-third of the offering given to the Council for American Indian Ministries and the remaining two-thirds supporting UCC justice ministries.
In 2025, the Neighbors in Need Offering supported 26 grant recipients across the UCC who were engaged in projects of direct service and advocacy. Learn more at www.ucc.org/nin
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
Susan Keehn 10/05
Bonnie Tanquist 10/06
Kris Sundberg 10/06
Roger Hochsprung 10/10
If we have missed your birthday or other important date, please let us know.
Upcoming Events or Community Events
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. October will return to the 3rd Sunday Oct 18.
UCAN Domestic Abuse Awareness and Prevention Luncheon
Sign up for the UCAN Luncheon October 14 at 11:30 at Broadway Ballroom. Tickets are $25. We plan to get two tables as a church group. Please write checks out to UCAN. Sign up at the back of the sanctuary.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the first and 3rd Mondays of the Month. 6:30-8:30. The 1st Mondays are at Glenwood United Parish, the 3rd Mondays rotate between us and Alexandria United Methodist.
Youth Group Events coming up
Starting in October there are multiple youth group events—please put the following dates on your calendar—see the Church Visitor for more details. Oct 7, 6-7:30 Youth Bowling Night, Oct 11 4-6 pm Common Table Game Night, Oct 14 6:30-8 Youth Group Game Night, Oct 28 6:30-8 Collaborative Youth Group at Alex UMC, Oct 31 Trunk or Treat.
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.
