8 October 2026 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

“Christ Has Broken Down the Wall”
Words & Music: Mark Miller, OneLicense #A-729109

Christ has broken down the wall
Christ has broken down the wall
Let us join our hearts as one
Christ has broken down the wall

We’re accepted as we are
We’re accepted as we are
Through God’s love all is reconciled
We’re accepted as we are

Cast aside your doubts and fears
Cast aside your doubts and fears
Peace and love freely offered here
Cast aside your doubts and fears

We will tear down the walls
We will tear down the walls
God has called us one and all
Christ has broken down the wall

Gathering Words

Jen Nelson

Opening Song

“His Eye is on the Sparrow” (TFWS #2146)
Words: Civilla Martin, Music: Charles H. Gabriel

1 Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

2 “Let not your heart be troubled,”
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

3 Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song give place to sighing,
when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

Prayer of Confession

Jey Sanyangore

Leader:

God of the sparrow and God of the mountains,
You have set the rhythm of our heartbeats
and put the stars on their courses above.
We are humbled by your love for us,
shown sometimes in ways too large to fathom
and in other times ways too intricate for us to see.
You have entrusted us, Holy One,
with your creation,
with our neighbors’ welfare,
and with unique vocations carved out for each of us.
Forgive us for the times we have overlooked
opportunities to love,
and for the times we have chosen our own comfort
instead of actions that are selfless and kind.
By your grace, you call us again and again, O God.
Give us ears to hear and a heart to follow.

(moment of silent prayer)

Assurance of Pardon

Leader: Beloved children of God,
hear, believe and proclaim the good news of the gospel:
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

Song

“Because He Lives,” vs. 1&3
Words/Music: Bill Gaither, OneLicense #A-729109

God sent the Son, they called him “Jesus.”
He came to love, heal and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon.
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Refrain: Because Christ lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because Christ lives.

And then one day, I’ll cross that river.
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then, as death gives way to vict’ry,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know God reigns.

Refrain: Because Christ lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because Christ lives.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSVUE)

Hyunjun Jung

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon

“Small Edits and a Great Commission”

Rev. Dr. Jess Winderweedle

Musical Response

“Here I Am, Lord”
Words/Music: Dan Schutte, OneLicense #A-729109

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry,
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Refrain
Here I am, Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne My people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them.
Whom shall I send? Refrain
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? Refrain

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Rev. Dr. Jess Winderweedle

Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You made us in your image
and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed,
your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity,
made covenant to be our God,
and spoke to us through your prophets,
who looked for that day
when justice shall roll down like water
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,
when nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

Your Spirit anointed your Son Jesus Christ
to preach good news to all who need it:
the impoverished, the oppressed, the captive, the sick,
and all those with burdens too heavy to bear.
Through the same Holy Spirit you gave birth to your Church,
calling us to proclaim the same good news to all the world.

And so, with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Leader: On the night in which he gave himself up for us,
Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples and said:
“Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these
your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and cup,
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by His blood.
By your Spirit, make us one in Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory,
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God,
now and forever.

All: Amen.