Katelyn Aguayo Katelyn Aguayo

Gathering Preview | Matthew 20: 1-16

CALL TO WORSHIP

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. Revelation 21:3-7 (CSB)

SONG | GREAT IS THE THE LORD

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And tear your heart and not merely your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in mercy. Joel 2:12-13 (NASB)

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

SONG | YOU ARE HOLY

PRAYER OF ASSURANCE

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:4-8;15-18

SONG | ALL THE POOR AND POWERLESS

SCRIPTURE READING -THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the workers on one denarius, he sent them into his vineyard for the day. When he went out about nine in the morning, he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He said to them, ‘You also go into my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So off they went. About noon and about three, he went out again and did the same thing. Then about five he went and found others standing around and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’ “‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.“‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he told them. When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first.’ “When those who were hired about five came, they each received one denarius. So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner: ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat.’ “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous because I’m generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first last.” Matthew 20:1-16 (CSB)

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

SONG | I SURRENDER ALL

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BENEDICTION

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

PEACE BE WITH YOU. And Also with you

Read More
New Circle Church New Circle Church

SANCTUARY

Builder, Paige McNally wrote this beautiful reflection. Enjoy!

I was thinking about our church building birthday and wrote this and thought I would share.

I sit in the 100-year-old sanctuary today and hear the sighs and sniffles of my brothers and sisters. I wonder how much weeping you have heard in this space, Lord. How many groans and pains and prayers? How many victories and celebrations have You heard? And how many tears of joy have dropped onto these floors? These wooden pews have provided respite to so many- Physical rest for our bodies, as our souls have rested under the leadership of those our God has chosen to shepherd us so well.

These stained glass windows have filtered colored light and provided physical beauty in situations where beauty wasn’t otherwise evident. This is the sanctuary where wedding covenants were made and where women have rocked and swayed with babies in their bellies and we have been introduced to teeny ones once they finally come.

This sanctuary has housed funerals where choked goodbyes were whispered one last time. The altar has given stage to the beautiful feet of those bringing good news, both in preaching and song. Oh the altar where heads have been dunked in beautiful baptism and babies were dedicated to the Lord. This place isn’t the church, but this place houses the church. This place is sacred. This place is a sanctuary.

Read More
Katelyn Aguayo Katelyn Aguayo

Gathering Preview | Matthew 21:33-46

CALL TO WORSHIP

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (CSB)

Almighty God, you who continually call your people to yourself, draw us by the power of your Holy Spirit into such a warm and binding relationship that we may faithfully follow you all the days of our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN.

SONG | Cornerstone

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. Hosea 6:1-3 (CSB)

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

SONG | Way Maker

PRAYER OF ASSURANCE

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes. Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I can learn your commands. Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in your word. I know, Lord, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly. May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant. May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight. Psalm 119:71-77

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING -PARABLE OF THE WICKED TENANTS

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away. When the time came to harvest fruit, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his fruit. The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” “He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his fruit at the harvest.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is what the Lord has done and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to apeople producing its fruit. Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew he was speaking about them. Although they were looking for a way to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people regarded him as a prophet. MATTHEW 21:33-46

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

SONG | How He Loves

BENEDICTION

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

PEACE BE WITH YOU. And also with you

Read More
Katelyn Aguayo Katelyn Aguayo

Gathering Preview | Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

CALL TO WORSHIP

You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God. The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold; the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living. Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart— fools never even get to say hello. God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak. Proverbs 14:31-34 (The Message)

SONG | THIS IS AMAZING GRACE

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

I turned to the Lord God, praying diligently, begging for His mercy, grieving and fasting in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Eternal One my God, praising His greatness and confessing our sins: Lord God, You are great and awesome! You are always faithful to the covenant You made with us. Your unfailing love extends to all who love You and keep Your commandments. But we have sinned and wronged You. We have acted wickedly in our rebellion, going so far as to disregard Your commandments and regulations. But You, O Lord our God, still show us compassion and forgiveness even though we have openly rebelled against You. Daniel 9:1-5;9 (The Voice)

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

SONG | ESTABLISH THE WORK OF OUR HANDS

PRAYER OF ASSURANCE

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth! What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me. I will keep my promises to the Lord in the presence of all his people. From Psalm 116 (NLT)

SONG | IS HE WORTHY

SCRIPTURE READING -PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS

He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared.The landowner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he told them.“‘So, do you want us to go and pull them up?’ the servants asked him.“‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’” Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness.They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen. MATTHEW 13:24-30;36-43

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

SONG | IN CHRIST ALONE

ANNOUNCEMENTS & GIVING

BENEDICTION

But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. TITUS 3:4-7 (NLT)

PEACE BE WITH YOU. And also with you!

Read More