CCLI Number: 2880734
October 11, 2026
Words of Welcome Rev. John Hill
Centering Music “Praise to the Lord Almighty”
Call to Worship Amy Noon
God chose a people and promised to them a land.
God anointed leaders to guide them in the ways of justice.
We too are a chosen people, a royal priesthood.
May we give ourselves to lives of righteousness.
Opening Hymn “Rejoice, the Lord Is King” (UMH #715)
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
Jesus the Savior reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
His kingdom cannot fail;
he rules o’er earth and heaven;
the keys of earth and hell
are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear th’archangel’s voice;
the trump of God shall sound, rejoice!
Opening Prayer (by Steffie Misner-Wampler) Amy Noon
Great Creator God,
the same God who humbled yourself before all humanity,
teach us what it means to be chosen by you.
Let us remember,
as we hear the stories of your beloved people of Israel,
the words spoken to Joshua
before he crossed the River Jordan into the promised land:
“Be strong and courageous;
do not be frightened or dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Amen.
Children’s Moment Emily Brazzel
Prayer of Confession (Book of Worship #480) Amy Noon
We confess to you, all-knowing God, what we are.
We are not the people we like others to think we are.
We are afraid to admit, even to ourselves,
what lies in the depths of our souls.
But we cannot hide our true selves from you.
You know us as we are, and yet you love us.
Help us not to shrink from self-knowledge.
Teach us to respect ourselves for your sake.
Give us the courage to put our trust in your guiding power.
Raise us out of the paralysis of guilt
into the freedom and energy of forgiven people.
And for those who through long habit find forgiveness hard to accept,
we ask you to break their bondage and set them free;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Silent Confession
Words of Assurance Rev. John Hill
Hear the Good News: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.
Passing the Peace
Hymn “For the Healing of the Nations” (UMH #428)
For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
to a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word,
help us rise and pledge our word.
Lead us forward into freedom;
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase,
fear will die and hope increase.
All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life’s brief span,
may we hallow life’s brief span.
You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find,
earth its destiny may find.
Prayer for Illumination Amy Noon
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading (1 Kings 11:1-13) Amy Noon
King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the Israelites, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for they will surely incline your heart to follow their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. Among his wives were seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not completely follow the Lord, as his father David had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites on the mountain east of Jerusalem. He did the same for all his foreign wives who offered incense and sacrificed to their gods.
Then the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this matter, that he should not follow other gods, but he did not observe what the Lord had commanded. Therefore, the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of your father, David, I will not do it in your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. I will not, however, tear away the entire kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
Response to the Scripture Reading Amy Noon
For the Word of God we hear in scripture,
for the Word of God we encounter among us,
and for the Word of God at work within us,
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Chosen: Kings” Rev. John Hill
Musical Reflection
Pastoral Prayer Rev. John Hill
The Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Offer Tithes and Gifts
https://onrealm.org/CrievewoodUMC/Give
Offertory “All Creatures of Our God and King”
Doxology (UMH #95)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God, above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Invitation to Discipleship
Closing Hymn “We Are Called” (TFWS #2172)
Come! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God!
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God!
Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless,
so all hatred and blindness will be no more!
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God!
Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we’ll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love!
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
Benediction Rev. John Hill
Benediction Song “Standing on the Promises” (UMH #374, Chorus only)
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God my Savior;
standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.