SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY
October 11, 2026
The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Liturgist, John Lange
CALL TO WORSHIP — from Psalm 145
Leader: All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
People: And all your saints shall bless you!
Leader: They shall make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
*OPENING HYMN #694 Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
*OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN #99 When Morning Guilds the Skies
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
O God our King: We humbly kneel before you this morning, seeking your forgiveness of our sins. We have failed you in thought, word, and deed. We have left undone those things we ought to have done. We have spoken words we should not have allowed past our lips. We have entertained thoughts that dim our vision of your glory. For these, and for our other sins, O Lord, forgive us. Restore us once again by your grace, Through Jesus Christ our Lord and our King. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy, catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offertory
*Offertory Response — Doxology #808
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 13:31-35
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
SERMON: Rev. Robert Mills
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE…
“I will open my mouth in parables” — Matthew 13:35
*CLOSING HYMN #702 I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables…
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
— Matthew 13:1-3, 31-35 (ESV)
SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY
October 18, 2026
The Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Liturgist, June Hedrick
CALL TO WORSHIP — from Psalm 90:13-17
Leader: Return, O Lord! How long?
People: Have pity on your servants!
Leader: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
People: That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Leader: Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
People: And establish the work of our hands upon us;
All: Yes, establish the work of our hands!
*OPENING HYMN #95 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
*OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN #671 Rise Up O Men Of God
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
Almighty God: You have graciously entrusted us with talents to use for your glory. And yet, there have been times when we’ve been thoughtless in out use of your gifts. Forgive us for holding onto blessings you have meant for us to share with those around us. Forgive us for not developing our talents as you intended. Help us to see the needs you have equipped us to meet and to serve you as we use the gifts you have given. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Heidelberg Catechism Q.110-111
Leader: What does God forbid in the eighth commandment?
People: God forbids not only outright theft and robbery but also such wicked schemes and devices as false weights and measures, deceptive merchandising, counterfeit money, and usury; we must not defraud our neighbour in any way, whether by force or by show of right. In addition God forbids all greed and all abuse or squandering of His gifts.
Leader: What does God require of you in this commandment?
People: I must promote my neighbor’s good wherever I can and may, deal with him as I would like others to deal with me, and work faithfully so that I may be able to give to those in need. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offertory
*Offertory Response — Doxology #808
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 25:14-30
Pastor: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
SERMON: Rev. Robert Mills
PARABOLIC TALENTS
“Now after a long time the master of those servants came
and settled accounts with them.” — Matthew 25:19
*CLOSING HYMN #710 We Are Called to be God’s People
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
— Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)
