September 6, 2026
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Austin Ashenbrenner and Rev. HT Lee
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Rev. Lottie MacAulay Friedman
Leader: From the beginning, God has been moving toward us.
All: Not waiting for us to find our way, but coming to find us.
Leader: In a manger in Bethlehem, in a meal shared with strangers,
All: In the breaking of bread and the binding of wounds.
Leader: In the grief of a garden and the darkness of a tomb,
All: God was there. God is here. God will not leave.
Leader: This is the name we carry into this hour:
All: Immanuel. God with us.
Leader: So we gather — not to summon God's presence,
All: But to recognize the presence that has never left.
All: Come, let us worship the God who is always, already, with us.
OPENING SONG: “Our God”
Water You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You - None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You - None like You
CHORUS:
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God REPEAT CHORUS
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You - None like You
CHORUS
BRIDGE: And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against
And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against
Then what could stand against
CHORUS
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Austin Pemberton
Gracious God, You have told us your name, Immanuel, God with us, and we confess that we have not always lived as people who believe it.
We have been anxious as though you were absent.
We have been self-sufficient as though we didn't need you.
We have been isolated as though community were optional.
We have walked past the people you placed in our path
as though their presence were an interruption
rather than an invitation.
Forgive us for the distance we create when you have already closed the distance between us.
Forgive us for living as though we were alone when you have promised you will never leave.
Receive us now not as people who have earned your presence, but as people who are learning, slowly, what it means to live in it.
Through Christ, who is with us still.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Please observe a brief moment of silence to rest in God’s presence, to listen to God’s voice and to experience God’s peace
SONG OF BLESSING:
The Lord bless you, and keep you
And give you peace
The Lord bless you and keep you
And give you peace
PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you
Response: And also with you
SONG: “Holy Forever”
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who've gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
And the angels cry holy; All creation cries holy
You are lifted high, holy - Holy forever
If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb - We'll sing the song forever and amen
And the angels cry holy; All creation cries holy
You are lifted high, holy - Holy forever
Hear your people sing holy; To the King of kings, holy
You will always be holy - Holy forever
Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions, All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
And the angels cry holy; All creation cries holy
You are lifted high, holy - Holy forever
Hear your people sing holy; To the King of kings, holy
You will always be holy - Holy forever
You will always be holy
Holy forever
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 1:23 + 28:20
23 “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”
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 the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
SERMON: “With”
Rev. Dr. Austin Ashenbrenner
SONG: “Majesty”
Here I am, humbled by Your Majesty, covered by Your grace so free. Here I am, knowing I'm a sinful man, covered by the blood of the Lamb Now I've found… the greatest love of all is mine
Since You laid down Your life… the greatest sacrifice
CHORUS:
Majesty, Majesty … Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed, but alive in Your hands
Majesty, Majesty Forever I am changed by Your love
In the presence of Your Majesty
Here I am, humbled by the love that You give, forgiven so that I can forgive Here I stand, knowing that I'm Your desire… sanctified by glory and fire Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine
Since You laid down Your life… the greatest sacrifice
CHORUS
OFFERING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE/ 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
SONGS: “At the Cross and Nothing but the Blood”
“At the Cross”
There’s a place, where mercy reigns and never dies
There’s a place, where streams of grace flows deep and wide
PRE-CHORUS:
All the love, I’ve ever found
Comes like a flood, comes flowing down
CHORUS:
At the cross, at the cross
I surrender my life
I’m in awe of you; I’m in awe of you
Where your love ran red, and my sins washed white
I owe all to you, I owe all to you
Jesus
There’s a place, where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart has peace with God, and forgiveness
PRE-CHORUS AND CHORUS
BRIDGE:
Here my hope is found, here on holy ground
Here I bow down, here I bow down
Here arms open wide, here you saved my life
Here I bow down, here I bow_____
CHORUS:
At the cross, at the cross
I surrender my life
I’m in awe of you; I’m in awe of you
Where your love ran red, and my sins washed white
I owe all to you, I owe all to you
I owe all to you, I owe all to you Jesus____
“Nothing but the Blood”
Your blood …speaks a better word
Than all the empty claims… I've heard upon this earth
Speaks righteousness for me
And stands in my defense… Jesus it's Your blood
CHORUS:
What can wash away our sins? What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood… nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can wash us pure as snow, welcomed as the friends of God?
Nothing but Your blood… nothing but Your blood King Jesus
Your cross… testifies in grace
Tells of the Father's heart… to make a way for us
Now boldly we approach
Not earthly confidence … it's only by Your blood
(SING CHORUS TWICE)
CLOSING SONG: “God You Reign”
You paint the night
You count the stars and You call them by name
The skies proclaim: God You reign
Your glory shines
You teach the sun when to bring a new day
Creation sings: God You reign
CHORUS:
God You reign, God You reign
Forever and ever, God You reign
You part the seas
You move the mountains with the words that You say
My song remains - God you reign
You hold my life
You know my heart and You call me by name
I live to say: God You reign
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
Hal - le - lu - jah, hal - le - lu
Hal - le - lu - jah, hal - le - lu
Hal - le - lu - jah, hal - le - lu
Hal - le - lu - jah, hal - le - lu
CHORUS
BENEDICTION
REPRISE: “God You Reign”