Weekly Events:
Mon. 6:00pm Gerry's Quilt Class, Criswell Hall
Deadline to register for District Women's Retreat
Tue 9:00am Tai Chi, Criswell Hall
10:00am Sew ‘n Sews & Crafts, McMillen Rm #113
11:00am Chair Yoga, Criswell Hall
5:00pm Bell Choir Rehearsal, Rm #115
3:00pm Joy Circle, Kerren Brown’s House
5:30pm Finance, McMillen Rm #113
7:30pm Friendly Neighborhood Big Band Rehearsal, Criswell Hall
Wed. 9:00am Church Work Morning
2:00pm Church Council, McMillen Room #113
6:00pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Thu. 9:00am Fast walking & Tai Chi, Criswell Hall
11:00am Chair Yoga, Criswell Hall
5:00pm Bell Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Fri. 10:00am Knitting & Crocheting Parks & Recreation, Criswell Hall
10:30am UWF Book Club, Library
Sun. 8:30am Informal Worship Service
10:30am Traditional Worship Service
HOSPITALITY: Today hosted by Communications
September 20th will be hosted by Daughter’s of Grace Circle
Assisting in today's service – Pastor: Rev. Wesley Thompson
Liturgist: Cristy Van Hook, Scripture: Kent Unsworth, Organ: Brad Bettencourt, Sound
Tech: Adrian Paredes, Video: Susan Throndson, Piano/Keyboard: Dennis Eiler, Song
Leader: Tricia Stewart, Special Music: Rev. Derreck Scharn & Gibson Scharn.
First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande
275 N. Halcyon Road,
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
805-481-2692 fumcag@yahoo.com
WorshipWeekly.com
September 13, 2026 10:30 am
Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors
The People of The United Methodist Church
ATTENDANCE
STEWARDSHIP
WEEK
8:30
10:30
IN-
PERSON
VIDEO
TOTAL
Weekly Needed $7,740
Aug 16
43
72
115
46
161
$8,349
Aug 23
42
83
125
55
180
$2,657
Aug 30
44
63
107
31
138
$2,620
Sep 06
47
51
98
98
$6,092
YTD Received: $65,770 YTD Needed 77,400
September 13, 2026
PRELUDE “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus“ Stead/Kirkpatrick
INTROIT “Majesty” No. 176
CALL TO WORSHIP*
[Liturgist] Followers of Christ, we live in a world where we hurt one another, where sin
divides us one from another and makes us enemies instead of neighbors.
[All] Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts
between us.
[Liturgist] The divisions in our world seem like too much to overcome, and we wonder if
this forgiveness thing really works anymore. Maybe it worked for Jesus, but not for us.
[All] Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts
between us.
[Liturgist] We find ourselves tempted by easy answers and quick solutions, reticent to
do the slow and difficult work of reconciliation.
[All] Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts
between us.
[Liturgist] In this place, may we encounter Christ who meets us in the places where we
want to give up, where we despair that life-giving change is even possible, with abundant
grace to sustain us on the journey.
[All] God, form us today as people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the
rifts between us. Amen.
OPENING HYMN* “O How I Love Jesus” No. 170
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING PRAYER
Liberating God, we worship you. We praise you for delivering your people of old
from enslavement in Egypt by opening up a new and unexpected future before
them. They experienced your grace and mercy in awesome and life-sustaining
ways, which must have been like an impossible dream coming true. Through these
acts, you showed your compassion for the weak and powerless of this world.
We praise and adore you for opening up a new future for us when your love and
compassion, your mercy and grace became enfleshed in Jesus Christ. He delivered
us from the bondage of evil and sin through his death on the cross. The impossible
once more became reality when love defeated evil once and for all. We pray that
this time of worship will be a true offering of our wonder and praise that you should
care for us so deeply and so faithfully. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC Rev. Derreck Scharn & Gibson Scharn
SCRIPTURE Matthew 18:21-35 Kent Unsworth
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MOMENT
We invite all children and youth to participate in this intergenerational time of learning
about Jesus. Deb Bradley, Youth Teacher, Proclaimer
Mary Throndson, Children’s Teacher
Lucy Jacob, Youth Sponsor
O God, we thank you for blessing us with the gift of children.
May they learn the stories of Jesus. May we share their joy. Amen.
A TIME OF PRAYER
Call to Prayer “Spirit Song” (Vs 1) No. 347
Prayer/Lord's Prayer
Response “Spirit Song” (Vs 2) No. 347
SERMON: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
OFFERING
Call to Stewardship and Mission
Offertory “When In Our Music, God Is Glorified” Charles V. Stanford
Doxology/Prayer of Dedication*
CLOSING HYMN* “Lord, I Want To Be A Christian” No. 402
BENEDICTION*
May we go now in the blessing and assurance that we are a forgiven people
empowered by grace to forgive and heal the divisions that keep us from truly loving
God, self, neighbor, and all creation with the fullness of our beings. Amen.
RESPONSE “Jesus, Name Above All Names” TFWS #2071
POSTLUDE “To God Be The Glory” Crosby/Doane
*Please stand as able
Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning
against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” 22 “No, not
seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven, 23 because the
Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on
his servants' accounts. 24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was
brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 The servant did not have enough
to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his
children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. 26 The servant fell on his
knees before the king. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you
everything!’ 27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him
go. 28 “Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him
a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe
me!’ he said. 29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with
me, and I will pay you back!’ 30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into
jail until he should pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had
happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him
everything. 32 So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I
forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me
to. 33 You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on
you.’ 34 The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished
until he should pay back the whole amount.” 35 And Jesus concluded, “That is
how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your
brother from your heart.”
Upcoming Events:
Sat. Sep. 26 District Women's Retreat at our church, 10:00-3:00.
Sun. Oct. 04 Friendly Neighborhood Band Concert, 3PM
Sat. Oct. 17 Youth Group, 4pm-5:30pm.
Sun. Oct.25 Alternative Christmas Boutique, after both services.
Mon.Oct.26 Little Pink Houses of Hope dinner.
Fri-Sun. Nov 6-8 Holiday Boutique 9am-2pm, Friday & Saturday.
Sat. Nov. 14 John Lindsey presentation on El Nino,10:30.
Sat. Nov. 14 Youth Group, 4pm-5:30pm.
Sun. Nov. 15 Boutique - Last Chance!
Sat. Nov. 21 Free Golf Lessons for Youth Group at Monarch Dunes
Golf Course, 2-4pm.
Sat. Dec. 05 Holiday Extravaganza Talent Show, 5-7pm.
Sun. Dec. 06 Friendly Neighborhood Band Concert, 3pm.
Tue. Dec. 08 Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, 1pm. Advance
on-line signup required.
Sat. Dec. 12 Youth Group, 4pm-5:30pm.
Thu. Dec. 17 Alternate date: Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant,
1pm. Advance on-line signup required.
