18th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 27, 2026
9 a.m. Worship
Prelude
Announcements
Temple Talk: CIC Preschool Updates Morgan Naum
Confession & Forgiveness
Opening Song "The Way”
Greeting
Kyrie ELW p. 184
Canticle of Praise "This is the Feast"
Prayer of the Day
Reading: Philippians 2:1-13
1 If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Children's Message
Gospel Acclamation "Speak, Lord, Your Servant is Listening?"
Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32
The holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 21st chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
23 When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day "Praise the Father, Praise the Son"
Apostles' Creed
Prayers of Intercession
Sharing of the Peace
Offering & Special Music: "You Say" Marci Langan
Offertory Hymn: “As the Grains of Wheat” ELW 465
Offertory Prayer
Great Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Lord’s Prayer (Sung)
Invitation to Communion
Communion Hymns: "More Precious than Silver"
"At the Cross"
Take, Oh, Take Me As I Am" ELW 814
Post Communion Blessing
Prayer after Communion
Benediction
Sending Hymn: “For God So Loved”
Dismissal
Adapted from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2026 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #014958
Weekly Calendar:
Sunday, Sept 27—8:30 a.m. Kool Kids Bell Choir (Spirit Center), 9 a.m. One Blood Big Red Bus (Parking Lot), 9 a.m Worship (Contemporary & Livestreamed), 10 a.m. Sunday School (Spirit Center), Coffee & Fellowship (Narthex), 5:11’s Women’s Group Meeting (Fellowship Hall), 11 a.m. Worship (Traditional)
Tuesday, Sept 29—10:30 a.m. Bible Study (Narthex)
Wednesday, Sept 30—1:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry (Parlor), 7 p.m. Adult Choir (Sanctuary)
Thursday, Oct 1 – 6:30 p.m. Agape Bell Choir (Spirit Center)
Sunday, Oct 4—9 a.m. Worship (Contemporary & Livestreamed), 10 a.m. Sunday School (Spirit Center), Coffee Fellowship (Narthex), 11 a.m. Worship (Traditional)
Announcements:
Office Update: NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: Stephanie’s new e-mail address is: Churchoffice@communityinchrist.net
ALTAR GUILD is looking for new members. If you are interested in joining the Altar Guild, please contact Lynn Maier (tmaier2@verizon.net or text to 917-371-6207). We will provide training and guidance along the way. We especially need members for the 11am service. Please consider helping out.
October Grocery Cart: During the month of October we will be collecting items that are needed in the Angels and Sparrows Community Table Kitchen. Low Sodium Soy Sauce, Beef broth (cartons preferred), Canned corn, Cream of Chicken soup, canned Crushed Tomatoes, Pasta sauce (Prego, Ragu, etc), Tomato sauce, Disinfecting wipes (i.e. Clorox, Lysol wipes), Paper Towels, and Gallon storage bags. Please consider picking up a few of these items and adding them to the grocery cart at CIC. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our grocery cart collections each month. Your generosity is making a difference!
Preschool Registration for 2026/2027: Tuitions for 2026/2027: $340.00 for 2-year-old classes, $310 for 3-year-old classes, $360.00
for 4-year-old & PK class and $370 for TK class. There is an $85 non refundable registration fee.
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Questions? Contact Morgan Naum at preschooldirector@communityinchrist.net to learn more!
Prayer Shawl Ministry: We meet in the CIC Parlor Room on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Join us for some fellowship, idea-sharing, and fun! Questions? Contact Kathy Dutton at mamabissy@gmail.com. Of course, you can also participate in this important ministry at home by crafting items, and bringing them to CIC.
Card Ministry: This month we will meet on Tuesday, October 6th, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, October 27th, at 6:30 p.m. We meet in Classroom One. Participants are asked to enter through the doors nearest the Spirit Center. If you would like information contact: Kathy Shugarman at shugs02@gmail.com or 940-300-2290.
Quilting Ministry: Will meet on Wednesday, September 30th, Wednesday, October 7th and Thursday, October 22nd at 10 a.m. in Classroom #1. We welcome anyone who would like to cut squares, sew squares into quilt tops or help to tie the quilts together. Contact Barbara Eaker at 704-483-2060.
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Blessing of the Quilts will be on Sunday, November 8th during worship.
All women of CIC are welcome to The 5:11s. We are a women’s group that “encourages one another and builds one another up, just as you are doing.”
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The September meeting will be between services on September 27th in the Fellowship Hall
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Reminder we are still collecting Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonalds House and Medical Bottles (remove labels off of the bottles). These can be dropped off in the Narthex at the Ushers desk.
Contact Tracy Lyon (vikingtk@hotmail.com) or Susan Kullstam (skulls01@me.com) with any questions.
PERF Funds Need Replenishing: We invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation to our Pastors' Emergency Relief Fund (PERF). Your generosity helps provide timely support to pastors and their families during unexpected financial emergencies. In recent months, there has been an increased need for assistance and our available funds have decreased. Every gift can make a meaningful difference in someone's moment of need.
