Sunday, July 12th, 2026
Guest Preacher ~ Mary Jane Bisset
Prelude I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. c. 1963 John W. Peterson Music Company)
Welcome and Announcements
Responsive Call to Worship
God’s Word is a lamp to our feet;
and a light to our path.
God’s Word is made visible in Christ;
in him we are rooted in truth.
God’s Word is revealed through the Holy Spirit;
and lived out in faithful service.
Come and listen for God’s Word in this time of worship.
We wait to receive the Word of Life.
*Hymn # 467 Praise, My Soul, The God Who Crowns You
1. Praise, my soul, the God who crowns you,
crowns with mercy all your days;
bless the God whose good surrounds you,
rescues, heals, forgives, reclaims.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
all within me, bless and praise.
2. Praise God’s mighty works of justice,
for, as far as east from west,
God removes transgression from us
and restores the sore-oppressed.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
may the Holy One be blest!
3. Mortal days are few in number;
soon our place is known no more.
God eternal will remember,
and the faithful will restore.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
children’s children will adore.
4. Praise the Lord in highest heavens,
mighty ones who do God’s will;
angels, cry through all dominions,
God is sovereign over all.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
praise your Maker, O my soul.
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
The 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 trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass 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.
Assurance of Pardon
*Hymn # 435 All Things Bright And Beautiful
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
in love God made them all.
1. Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours;
God made their tiny wings.
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
in love God made them all.
2. The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
God made them, every one.
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
in love God made them all.
3. The rocky mountain splendour,
the haunting curlew’s call,
the great lakes and the prairies,
the forests in the fall,
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
in love God made them all.
4. God gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God almighty
who had made all things well.
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
in love God made them all.
Children’s Time
Scripture Readings
Old Testament
Isaiah 55:10-13 RSV
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and return not thither but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out in joy,
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off.”
Responsive Psalm 65
Praise is due to you,
O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
2 O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
3 When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
you forgive our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those whom you choose and bring near
to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house
your holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
6 By your strength you established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
7 You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
8 Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds
are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening
shout for joy.
9 You visit the earth and water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 RSV
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Response to the Word of God
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God for this word to us today.
*Hymn # 637 Take My Life, And Let It be Consecrated
1. Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days:
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.
3. Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King;
take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart; it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
Sermon God Knows
Offering
Offertory Just As I Am
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. c. 1834 Words by Charlotte Elliot; c. 1849 Music by William Batchelder Bradbury)
*Doxology All Things are Yours
All things are yours,
We make that true
When we return our gifts to you.
And so we give, and so we share.
In Christ’s strong name expressing care.
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. Worship & Rejoice # 687)
Offertory Prayer
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
*Hymn # 775 Sent Forth By Your Blessing
1. Sent forth by your blessing, our true faith confessing,
your people, O God, from your table take leave.
The supper is ended: oh now be extended
the fruits of your service in all who believe.
The seed of your teaching, our hungry souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for all humankind.
Your grace shall incite us, your love shall unite us
to work for your kingdom, your purpose to find.
2. With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living
the task of our everyday life we will face,
our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing as neighbours all those of each race.
One feast that has fed us, one light that has led us,
unite us as one in your life that we share.
Then may all the living, with praise and thanksgiving,
give honour to Christ and his name that we bear.
*Benediction
*Response Walking a Path of Peace
I am walking a path of peace.
I am walking a path of peace,
I am walking a path of peace,
lead me home, lead me home.
I am home.
(All rights reserved. Used with permission)
Postlude In The Valley He Restoreth My Soul
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. c. 1970, Rambo Music Inc.)