THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 3, 2025 | 10:00am
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
Andante
Nestoro Baronchelli (1886-1956)
Welcome
Rev. Dr. Jason Hays
Executive Minister
*Call to Worship
Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into God’s presence with singing.
People: It is God, the Creator, who made us.
We are God’s people, and the sheep of God’s pasture.
Leader: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving,
and enter God’s courts with praise.
Give thanks to the Lord, and bless God’s holy name.
People: Let us lift our hearts in praise.
*Opening Hymn
511 Come, Behold! The Feast of Heaven (Llanfair)
*Corporate Confession (Unison)
Holy and merciful God,
in your presence, we confess our shortcomings
and our offenses against you.
You alone know how often we have sinned
in wandering from your ways,
in wasting your gifts,
in forgetting your love.
Help us to live in your light, and walk in your ways,
for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
*Assurance of God’s Love
*Response To Thee, Great One in Three
*Passing of the Peace
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD
Word to the Children
When the music begins, children are invited to gather on the chancel steps as we sing, “This is where children belong, part of our family, part of our song. Be with us, pray with us, help us grow strong: this is where children belong.” Please note that this service is livestreamed and your child’s image may appear on the video.
Anthem
Isaiah 43
Ike Sturm (b. 1978)
Prayer for Illumination (Unison)
Lord, open our hearts and minds
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
That as the Scriptures are read
And your Word is proclaimed,
We may hear with joy
What you say to us today. Amen.
Scripture Lesson
Luke 12:13-21 (Pew Bible New Testament Page 64)
Response to Reading
Leader: Listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Fools and Their Barns
Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, Theologian-in-Residence
Moment for Reflection
Musical Reflection
RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Co-Pastor
Making a financial gift makes Montview’s programs and ministries possible, including this worship service. You are invited to give generously at www.montview.org/giving or by texting a dollar amount to 720.452.6449. Offering boxes are stationed at the exit for cash and checks. We’re grateful for your support.
All are invited to sign and pass the Friendship Pad and greet each other by name.
*Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
God, you have so greatly loved us, long sought us, and mercifully redeemed us. Give us grace that in everything, we may yield ourselves, our wills and our works, a continual thank offering to you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Response
607 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Lord’s Table
Great Thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Gracious God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You have been faithful to us through all generations and continue to speak to us today. We praise you for this table of love you spread in the world as a sign of your love for all people. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join in their unending song.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
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.
Words of Institution
Communion of the People
You are invited to come forward, offering your open palms to the communion server. Once you receive a piece of communion bread and juice, please bring them back to your seat in the pews. Bread at every station is gluten-free. The Presbyterian tradition does not include a specific rite for first Communion. Our parents decide when their children are ready to participate. If you’d like to receive communion in your pew, please signal to a server when they come down the aisle at the conclusion of communion.
Communion Music
Give Me Jesus
Spiritual
This morning’s performance of “Give Me Jesus” – an American Negro Spiritual – is presented in accordance with our reparations royalty pilot program: a practice of valuing the musical contributions of enslaved Africans to American worship and song. Congregants are invited to make a reparation royalty contribution via the pew offering envelope (write “reparations royalty”). Contributions can also be made online at Montview.org/giving (One-time gift: Reparations Royalty Fund) or by clicking here.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Gracious God, you have made us one with all your people in heaven and earth. You have fed us with the bread of life and renewed us for your service. Help us, who have shared Christ’s body and received his cup, to be faithful disciples, so that our daily living may reflect your presence among us, and our love be your love, reaching out into the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Closing Hymn
716 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending (Beach Spring)
SENDING IN GOD’S LOVE
*Charge and Benediction
Postlude
Prelude in G Major, BWV 550
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
GUEST PREACHER: REV. NADIA BOLZ-WEBER
We are happy to welcome Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber to our pulpit once again! Rev. Bolz-Weber is serving as Theologian-in-Residence at Montview Church, as well as Pastor of Public Witness with the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: JOURNEY WITH MIGRANTS
Journey with Migrants, a Partnership of Montview with six other congregations, provides a Matthew 25 response (housing, food, clothing, healthcare, transportation, and legal) to immigrants in the Denver metro. Support this work by attending a fundraising event on August 23, 4:30-6:30pm, at Montview or contributing directly. Click here for tickets and information. Visit their table in Commons today to learn more.
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Guest Preacher: Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber
Liturgists: Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Rev. Dr. Jason Hays and Sandy Prouty
Piano: Adam Waite
Organ: Yinying Luo
Soloist: Dianne Briscoe McKenzie
Reader: Randy Savoren
Sound: Cate Thieme
Video: John Goerner
TODAY AT MONTVIEW
9:30am-11:30am
Childcare – Ages Birth-7
Location: Preschool Floor
Enter via the Commons past Heritage Center to the Education wing.
10:00am
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
11:00am
A Conversation with Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber and Rev. Clover Reuter Beal
Discussion of Nadia’s “Red State Revival Tour”
Location: Sanctuary
Fellowship Time with Refreshments
Location: South Plaza
PARISH NEWS
Prayer Tree
Sylvia Cordy; Jolene Cranston; Mary Gerwin, mourning the death of her mother, Marie Gerwin; Dick Getzinger, brother of Nancy Getzinger; Mark Haynes; Joe Hickman; Judy Hutchison and family, mourning the death of Dave Hutchison; Lynn McNeil and family, mourning the death of Bruce McNeil; Eden Murphy; The Norman Family, mourning the death of Sue Norman; Jim Polsfut; Michael Prouty; Bud and Mary Starker, mourning the death of their son, Adam; Constanza Hege de Tobasia, friend of Lisa Padilla; Nancy Withers, mourning the death of her husband, Robert
Deaths
July 18 | David Hutchison
July 15 | Sue Norman
Memorial Services
Adam Joseph Starker | August 30 at 11:00am in the Sanctuary
Sue Norman | September 6 at 2:00pm in the Sanctuary
Pastoral Care Concerns
Please reach out to the church with pastoral care concerns such as illnesses, hospitalizations, deaths, births, or any other change of personal circumstances or condition. Contact: caring@montview.org or (303) 355-1651 (general mailbox voicemail). For pastoral care emergencies, please call (303) 355-1651 and press 4.
Flower Dedication
The flowers in the chancel today are given to the glory of God by Ann Epps in memory and celebration of the marriage anniversary of John and Ann Epps.
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
Assistive listening devices are available in the sound booth in the back of the sanctuary.
Restrooms are available in the Commons. An all-gender restroom is available on the lower level across from Youth Cellar.
A room for families with children who are not enjoying the service is below the sanctuary with livestream.
Childcare is available for ages Birth-7 on the Preschool floor.
Please note that this worship service will be livestreamed to several social media platforms and your image may appear on the livestream video.
MONTVIEW BOULEVARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org