July 20 - 9 AM Connect Service

9 a.m. Connect Worship Service 

July 20, 2025 – Sixth Sunday After Pentecost 

Rev. Robert Galloway

Gathering and Welcome - Mary Blazier-Higman 

1st Gathering Song: “Blessed Be Your Name” - FPC Praise Band  

2nd Gathering Song: “Our God Saves” - FPC Praise Band  

Welcome - Robert Galloway 

Call to Worship - Robert Galloway      

In the stillness and in the song, God draws near.  

We come, drawn by grace, to seek and to sing.  

Christ is the mystery once hidden, now revealed.  

He is the head of the church, our peace and our hope.  

Let us lift up our voices in praise and prayer.  

We rejoice in the God who welcomes and reconciles.  

Come, let us worship God.

Call to Confession - Dottie Young

Prayer of Confession - Dottie Young 

God of truth and mercy, you call to us and give us your word, but we struggle to trust your voice. You invite us into your household, but we choose to close doors instead of welcome you in. You give us Christ, who is our peace, but we are too proud to recognize our need for his grace. Have mercy on us, O God. Set us free from the burdens we carry. Remove our sins. Renew in us our trust in you and the joy of belonging to your body. 

Assurance of Pardon - Dottie Young

…Friends, believe the good news: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Passing the Peace - Dottie Young 

…The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 

Response: “Doxology (Amen)” - FPC Praise Band

Friendship Pad Announcement - Robert Galloway

Time for Young Disciples - Robert Galloway

Worship Song: “Goodness of God” - FPC Praise Band 

Prayer for Illumination - Leonza Hudson

First Scripture Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a - Leonza Hudson 

Sermon Scripture: Colossians 1:15-28 - Robert Galloway 

…The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. 

Sermon - Robert Galloway

Affirmation of Faith: “We Believe” - FPC Praise Band  

Invitation to Offering - Leonza Hudson 

…Please join me in a unison Prayer of Dedication:                                                   

Holy God, all things come from you - life and breath, creation and community, Christ and the church. We return to you a portion of your abundance, symbols of our gratitude and signs of our trust. Bless and multiply these gifts, we pray. Let them serve the work of Christ in the world: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, encouraging the weary, and proclaiming the gospel. Shape us into living offerings, so that in our words and actions your grace may be made visible. May Christ, the head of the body, be glorified in what we give, in how we serve, and in the lives we lead day by day. Amen.

Offertory Song: “Offering” - FPC Praise Band 

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer - Robert Galloway 

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.  

Announcements (for complete list, please see below) - Robert Galloway

Final Worship Song: “Friend of God” - FPC Praise Band 

Benediction - Robert Galloway                         

Praise Band tag 

—————————————-

Announcements:

Today, July 20

  • A Stephen Minister is available at the close of this service

Tuesday, July 22

  • Ladies’ Bible Study, 9 a.m., Youth Center

Wednesday, July 23

  • No Praise Band Rehearsal

Friday, July 25

  • Men's Lunch Bible Study, 12 p.m., via Zoom 

Saturday, July 26

  • Packing pencil cases to get a head-start on Mission Sunday, starting at 8 a.m. in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, July 27

  • Childcare available 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Pickups, Room S-203

  • Connect Service, 9 a.m., Youth Center

  • Power Hour class, 10 a.m., Church Office Conference Room

  • Children’s Sunday School, (Pre-K-5th), 10 a.m., S-203

  • Faith Journey class, 9:45 a.m., Chapel

  • “Next” Adult class, 10 a.m., Room N-123 

  • Mission Sunday! We are partnering with Live Love St Pete to pack supplies into backpacks (our goal this year is 1,000 backpacks!) that will be given away to families in need at the start of the school year. We will also be   working on Saturday, July 26, on prepacking some supplies into pencil boxes. Everything will be set up in Fellowship Hall...we encourage you to come when you can!

Amy McCutcheon