Sunday Gathering

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Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before, O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before, O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near, and mytime has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forever more

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before, O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

I'll worship Your holy name

I'll worship Your holy name

Our call to worship this morning comes from Psalm 113:1-2

“Praise the Lord, all Who Listen:
Praise the Name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,
Both now and forever.”

Let the weak, Look to their brother
Lean on a shoulder when they can't stand
No shame in needing one another
Reach out and take hold of a healing hand
Rejoice, again, I say rejoice
Sinners, strangers, we're welcomed in
Lift up your hands, lift up your voice
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Let the strong, Carry their neighbor
Bind up the wounded and wash their feet
Open your door, And set your table
The place of honor for the least of these
Rejoice, again, I say rejoice
Sinners, strangers, we're welcomed in
Lift up your hands, lift up your voice
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Make us one
Hold us together
Make us one
Make us one
Hold us together
Make us one
Make us one
Hold us together
Make us one
Make us one
Hold us together
Make us one
Rejoice, again, I say rejoice
Lift up your hands, lift up your voice
Rejoice, again, I say rejoice
Sinners, strangers, we're welcomed in
Lift up your hands, lift up your voice
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend
Sing with all your heart he calls you friend

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no power no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

CONFESSION

Please join me in reading our prayer of confession:

“Eternal God,

in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins,

and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts:

cleanse us from all our offenses,

and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires,

that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you,

confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son.”

ASSURANCE

And now hear this assurance from Ephesians 5:

“For at one time we were all in darkness, but we have been rescued and redeemed, and live in the light of the Lord! Let us walk as children of that light!”

At this time, we would like to take a few moments to pass the peace of Christ. Please greet one another.

Elementary is dismissed, Foundations will remain in service today.

FALL POTLUCK

On Sunday, October 5, you're invited to stick around after our service for our church-wide fall potluck! If you'd like to bring a dish to share, you can sign up on the Church Center app or on our website. And for this potluck, we’d especially love to see soups, chilis, and other fall-themed favorites. We'd love to have you join us.

SHOWCASE NIGHT

The Artist Fellowship is hosting a special Showcase Night tonight at 6:30pm, here at the church. Join us for an evening of original music, poetry, and visual art. We've got a lot of amazing artists from the broader Des Moines community signed up to share, and we'd love to invite you to join the audience. The event is open to the public, and anyone is welcome. We'd love to see you tonight!

We are going to enter into a time of giving. If you would like to give at this time, there are a couple of ways available to you:

- Visit our website at thegatewaychurch.com to give online.

- Or you can grab an envelope and drop it in the black offering box at the back of the room.

Please join me in reading our generosity liturgy.

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Holy Father, there is nothing I have that You have not given me.

All I have and am belong to You, bought with the blood of Jesus.

To spend everything on myself, and to give without sacrifice,

is the way of the world that You cannot abide.

But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord;

who love Him with free hearts and serve Him with renewed minds.

Who withstand the delusion of riches that chokes the word;

Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the systems of the world.

I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us.

I am determined to be trustworthy with such a little thing as money that You may trust me with true riches.

Above all, I am determined to be generous because You, Father, are generous.

It is the delight of Your daughters and sons to share Your traits, and to show what You are like to all the world.

Please stand with me for the reading of God’s word. Our passage comes from 1 John 2:3-11:

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”

This is the word of the Lord

(All: Thanks be to God)

You may be seated

Communion is available in the baskets at the end of each row. Contains juice and wafer (gluten-free option available).

I hear a gentle breeze

Outside my window

I watch the leaves blow in the wind

I feel the chair beneath me

As the time slows

Fully present where I am

A million thoughts travel

In all directions

Each moment is a famine or a feast

I breathe in and out

A gentle correction

It helps me set my mind at ease

God give me serenity

To accept what I can't change

And God give me the bravery

To change the things I can

Oh, God give me serenity

The world is what it is

I don't always like it

I know You also felt this pain

I am just a person

With limitations

Help me to know that that's okay

God give me serenity

To accept what I can't change

And God give me the bravery

To change the things I can

Oh, God give me serenity

I am just a person

With limitations

Help me to know that that's okay

God give me serenity

To accept what I can't change

And God give me the bravery

To change the things I can

Oh and God give me sobriety

Keep me humbly in my place

And God give me serenity

Serenity and grace

Oh God give me serenity

God give me serenity

Serenity

Lord I've got the world upon my shoulders

But you've been saying Child put it down

I prayed and prayed that you would take my burden

But you keep saying Child put it down

Maybe I'm addicted to the worry

Maybe I'm a slave to holding on

Help me put it down

Help me put it down

I've heard it said the Gospel is rest

Oh how I need it

Say it again

'Til I believe it

Oh how I need it

Oh how I need it

Lord you took the world upon your shoulders

Now all I have to do is put it down

I'm living like some weary beast of burden

And you keep saying Child put it down

Well maybe I've been trying to be the hero

Fighting wars that you've already won

Help me put it down

Help me put it down

Oh how I need

That peace that passes understanding

How I need it

Oh how I need it

That peace that passes understanding

How I need it

Oh how I need it

Hear this benediction:

“Just as God’s Word was sent into the world to heal and redeem, so God sends you into the world this day to be light and love, healing and hope.

Go now to be light for the world!

And may the grace and peace of God the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer

pour out upon you this day and remain with you always. Amen.”