08/30/2026
West Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church
Belleville, Pennsylvania
August 30, 2026
9:30 a.m.
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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Congregation reads text in BOLD
*If you are comfortable doing so, please stand.
GATHERING
PRELUDE
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let us read together silently the Centering Thought and Prayer
CENTERING THOUGHT:
โWhat in the world is there to be afraid of? ...and yet we are afraid, and the reason is
simple: to enter into relation a part of us that is very fierce and very in control and very
sure of everything has to step aside and soften. This encounter involves a tiny act of
โkenosisโ-- self-surrendering love โand the ego isnโt inclined in this way.โ
SILENT PRAYER:
Surrendering God, โGreat I amโ - help us to notice where you are calling us and let our
egos step aside to serve in collaboration with others. Amen
CALL to WORSHIP:
Seek the Lord! Seek God in the wilderness.
Seek God in the sanctuary.
Seek God in the burning bush.
Seek God in the burning heart.
The Lord is here! This place is holy!
We are standing on holy ground.
*HYMN: PH #334 When Israel Was in Egyptโs Land (Go Down Moses)
*CALL to CONFESSION:
Sin casts us out into the cold, but the warmth of Godโs forgiveness welcomes us back.
Trusting in Godโs love, let us confess our sins to God:
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*PRAYER of CONFESSION:
God of wonders, we confess that we do not understand why you call us when we
are scared, clumsy, busy or flawed. We confess that we think we know better than
you do who is qualified to do your work. Forgive our fears and excuses and self-
doubts. Lend us your fire and your strength, as we go about the work of serving our
neighbors, building up your church, loving your children, and tending to the
scorched places of our world. Help us to burn for you, without burning up or
burning out. Give us a purpose and the courage to pursue it. We ask this in Jesusโ
name. Amen.
*SILENT PRAYER of CONFESSION:
A time for silent reflection and self-examination
*ASSURANCE of PARDON
*PEACE of CHRIST:
Let us extend the Peace of Christ to those here and beyond the walls of our Sanctuary.
The Peace of Christ be with You!!
And, also with You.
*GLORIA PATRI (PH #579)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, Amen.
THE WORD PROCLAIMED
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION:
Divine Light, shine on these pages of scripture that the stories may speak again to us
today. Shine on our hearts that we might know how to respond. Amen
SCRIPTURE: First Testament Reading: Exodus 3:1-15
New Testament Reading: Romans 12:9-18
MESSAGE: Turn Aside and Look Rev. Ela J. Robertson
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RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*HYMN: PH #335 Though I May Speak (tune: The Water is Wide)
*AFFIRMATION of FAITH: (adapted from the Confession of 1967)
Godโs sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of our minds. We believe that
God has created the world of space and time to be the sphere of Godโs dealings
with humankind. In its beauty and vastness, transcendence and awe-fulness,
order and disorder, the world reflects to the eye of faith the majesty and mystery of
its Creator.
We believe that God has created us for a personal relationship in which we may
respond to the love of the Creator. Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a
task to be pursued with courage.
JOYS and CONCERNS
PRAYERS of the PEOPLE
Jesus Christ, Savior, Light of the world, we lift our prayers to you, confident that you
hear us, weep with us, laugh with us, and stay always close by us. We have much to
celebrate today. . . .
We also have much to grieve today. . . .
We look with hope to all the stories of peace and joy that occupy less space on the
front page: . . .
We lift all these things to you, knowing that your arms are wide enough to encircle the
whole world, even as we cannot comprehend it all. . . .
Secure that Christ has heard all these prayers, along with those we have not formed
into words, let us say together the words he himself taught his disciples to pray, saying,
โOur Father ...โ
LORDโs 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.
INVITATION to the OFFERING:
With gratitude for all God has given us, let us return our offerings to God.
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*DOXOLOGY (PH #592)
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
SENDING
*HYMN: PH #428 We Give Thee but Thine Own (verses 1-4)
*CHARGE and BENEDICTION:
I send you out now into the world: where are there are many fires burning that could
consume you. But still I say: do not be afraid!
You bear the fire that does not consume: the strength of God who keeps you, the clarity
of Christ who calls you, and the flames of the Holy Spirit, who makes you brave and
bold. Amen.
SENDING SONG:
Go ye, go ye into the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature
Go ye, go ye into the world,
and I will be with you there!
Go ye, go ye into the world,
and make disciples of all the nations.
Go ye, go ye into the world,
and I will be with you there!
POSTLUDE
Credits
Centering Thought: Amy Frykholm
Liturgy: Carol Prickett, Presbyterian Outlook, August 30, 2026
Cover Art: Winslow Homer, Warm Afternoon (1878), watercolor, gouache, and graphite on
gray-green wove paper faded to brown, National Gallery of Art
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Worship Team
Worship Leader: Rev. Ela J. Robertson
Lay Reader: Brent Stoner
Digital Accompanist: Matt Waddell
Greeters: Ann Thompson and others
Offering helpers from the following: Penelope, Jonah, Addy and others
Sexton: Heather McNabb
Bulletins: Laura Geller
Offering counters: Bev Eichhorn, Tammy Carothers, Sandy Kauffman and others
ANNOUNCEMENTS
September 6: Feast of Creation in Christ Marking the first celebration of the first feast day
added to the lectionary in 40 years. Youโre invited to bring something from your garden,
flowers or vegetables to swap or share.
September 13, 3 p.m. โCelebration of Godโs Gifts of Musicโ at St. Johnโs Lutheran
Lewistown. FREE CONCERT
UPCOMING
September 2 Session Meeting โ 6:00 p.m.
September 13 The Lordโs Supper
September 13 Sunday School Begins
October 4 World Communion
JOYS AND CONCERNS
Prayers for all those mentioned in our joys and concerns in the last weeks.
Prayers for strength and resilience in dealing with recurring and ongoing health concerns:
especially for Sally Johnson and Jon Helfrick
Pray for Family and friends of John Stroup.
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Pray for Family and friends of Barb Frankhouser.
Pray for Brenda Heathโs grand-daughter, Hannah, and family
Pray for those in our community who are ill, undergoing diagnosis, operations, treatments
especially those mentioned in joys and concerns today and in past weeks,
For children that they may know safety and security wherever they are and have faithful
mentors to guide them in their journey to adulthood.
For all young people as they begin or return to school.
For the families of victims of violence in our country and our world
For all those displaced from their homes by war, deportation and refuge seeking.
For those addicted to chemical means of coping with stress and anxiety that the peace of
Christ may guide them and always be sufficient.
For protection from scamming and other forms of contemporary highway robbery.
For communications within families that they may be open, honest, productive and
loving, leading to peace and understanding
For the Firemen and safety personnel responding to accidents that they may have the
open hearts and emotional strength to deal with crisis and suffering in others.
Elliana Byler, Pam Ritchey, Levi Fultz, Cathy Drury, Hannah Faulkner, Jim Marthouse, Pat
Byler, Cindy Coder, Shawna Horn.
Dr. William F. Kline, 600 Freemason Dr., Rm 2636, Elizabethtown, PA 17022-3200
Huntingdon Presbytery prayers for the upcoming week: Mount Union congregation (Rev.
Sam Strohm, Moderator), Huailoi Church (Elder Mr. Samakhi), Sue Docherty, Virginia and
Lee Rainey, Kathy Braun recovering from a broken arm, Congregations searching for a
pastor. Those who have experienced loss and all who are suffering.
West Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church Session Members:
Bill Corbin, Cindy Beal, Mike Maclay,
Matt Waddell, Jen Wilson
