ORDER FOR WORSHIP

PRELUDE                               Ta Wei Tsai

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS         Lee Kosa

*CALL TO WORSHIP                       Alice Bailey, Lector

Around the world people gather to break bread and pour wine.

We gather with them in heart and mind.

Around the world the broken body is made whole.

As part of that body we join in its unity.

Around the world the Banquet of God is prepared for the table.

We, who share in the banquet, come eagerly to be fed.

Let us worship together, let us share God’s bounty.

GODLY PLAY       Tracy Caruso

*HYMN OF PRAISE         “For the Beauty of the Earth” GTG 14

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Living Lord, by the power of your Spirit, you are present among us.

Yet, like the first disciples, we fail to see you in our midst.

We do not realize you are walking beside us,

for we are rushing to meet the demands

of hectic schedules and overcrowded lives.

We do not notice you in everyday encounters,

for we are distracted by daily labors

and consumed by our own concerns.

We do not recognize you on our streets or at our tables,

for our expectations are too limited

to imagine all the ways you dwell among us.

Open our eyes to perceive you in our midst,

so that—seeing you clearly—

we might follow you faithfully.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE

*THE PEACE

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION                                       

GODLY PLAY:  The Story of Abraham and the Story of Sarah

These stories enrich the story of the Great Family by telling more about Abraham and Sarah, the father and mother of the great family.

For Communion Sunday, children will begin in the service and hear the story with the entire congregation. They will be taken downstairs for their work time and then will return for communion.

LECTIONARY TEXTS

For anyone wishing to study the lectionary texts, this week, 

October 2th, the Lectionary texts are:                                   

Psalm 137

Lamentations 1:1-16;  3:19-26           Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 (worship)

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4       Luke 24:13-32 (preaching)

Psalm 37:1-9

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Luke 17:5-10

YOUTH GROUP The Youth Group will be meeting today after service until 1pm for the first of three classes in our Won’t You Be My Neighbor series. Snacks will be provided.  We hope all our middle and high school students can join us!

FALL CLEANING DAY  We will be cleaning out the stage area on Sunday October 16th. If there is anything you would like the church to save, please make sure to remove it from behind the stage area before Oct. 16th. If you would like to help clean, please join us after church on Oct. 16th for the Great Fall Purge!

SANCTUARY MENTAL HEALTH COURSE  This Tuesday, October 4, we begin an 8 week educational opportunity focusing on Mental Health. The Sanctuary Course provides an excellent integration of how our faith and life together connect with our mental health and the struggles we face on a psychological and social level. Come to learn, process, and explore how we can support each other. Tuesdays, 7pm, in the Fellowship Hall. 

ANNUAL PARISH LUNCH

Sunday, Oct 23

In Fellowship Hall following worship

Deacon’s provide everything

A fellowship opportunity with your Deacon and parish members

SKOOKUM KIDS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Skookum Kids is one of the local agencies that St. James supports financially. Skookum is doing wonderful work in our community, helping children in urgent need of foster homes. In the past year, their accomplishments include:

• More than 70 children have been given emergency shelter
• 7 new families were trained and licensed for the important job of foster parenting
• 11 children exited one of their foster homes to reunify with their families
• 9 children were adopted by their foster family

Skookum Kids' annual fund-raiser, a dinner and silent auction, will be held on Friday October 28, at the Bellwether Hotel, and St. James folks are warmly encouraged to attend. The cost is $70 per person which will cover the cost of the affair, while all proceeds from the auction will go to SK’s program needs. Tickets for the event are only available on-line (not available at the door) at https://give.skookumkids.org/event/eat-drink-and-be-giving/e415338.

If you would like to sit at one of their tables at the event, contact Randy Pries (randypries@gmail.com) or Ray Dellecker (rdellecker@gmail.com).  Or if you have questions contact Randy, Ray, or Pastor Seth. Hope to see you on October 28.

INTERFAITH WINTER COAT DRIVE

Our congregation, along with other churches in Bellingham, is being asked to help out with the annual Winter Coat Drive sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition. They are in need of coats for babies, children, teens and adults in all sizes. The outwear may be gently used, but it must be clean. Hats, gloves and scarves are accepted as well. Beginning October 1st there will be a box in the entry way below the coat racks. The final day to bring them to our church is Sunday, October 9th. They are in need of lots, so feel free to share this with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Contact Gena Gustafson 253-677-6006 if you have any questions.

PRAYERS, PRAISES, AND UPDATES

If you have a prayer request or update you would like to share, please email office@saintjamespres.org.

A video of the live service stream will be available by 10:30 am Sunday morning. You can click on the video to stream the service. Check back and refresh your page to receive new content.

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