Click HERE for a printable version of the Order of Worship
Dear Church Family,
We are happy to share the Order of Worship for our service on Sunday, October 11, 2026. We will gather for worship at 10am, and we would love for you to join us.
You are welcome to worship with us in person or virtually by conference call, Zoom, Facebook Live, or through our website—whatever works best for you.
Our hope is that everyone has the opportunity to worship and feel connected, wherever they may be.
Thank you, and as always, welcome to St. Matthew’s UMC!
If you have difficulties with the Facebook link, feel free to join Zoom.
Live-Stream
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Zoom
-
- Meeting ID: 996 0251 9769
- Password: 14900
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Facebook
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Website
Conference Call
- Conference Call Dial-In: +1-301-715-8592
- Enter Access Code: 996 0251 9769 #
- Password: 14900 #
- Then, please wait for the host to begin.
Closed Captioning Available
Worship, classes, and meetings Zoomed now have the capability for closed captioning. The catch is that you must “turn it on”.
To do that, click on the button labeled “More…”. Then in the droplist, click on “Show Subtitles”.
If you need further assistance with this, please contact georgewood@stmatthews-bowie.org
Sunday, October 11, 2026:
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Stewardship Sunday
PRELUDE: Moderato in d minor —Caspar Ett (1788-1847)
WELCOME
*CALL TO WORSHIP —Psalm 66: 1-2, 5, 16
L: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
A: Sing to the glory of God’s name.
L: Come and see what God has done,
A: the awesome deeds of the Lord in the midst of mortals.
L: Come and hear, all who revere the Lord
A: I will proclaim what God has done for me.
*OPENING HYMN: O Jesus, I Have Promised UMH 396
*OPENING PRAYER: —John Wesley (1703-1791)
You are never tired, O Lord, of doing us good.
Let us never be weary of doing your service.
But as you have pleasure in the well-being of your servants,
let us take pleasure in the service of our Lord
and abound in your work
and in your love and praise evermore. Amen.
*ACT OF PRAISE: Gloria Patri UMH 71
JOYS & CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
PASSING OF THE PEACE
*HYMN BEFORE SCRIPTURE:
Lord of All Hopefulness TFWS 2197
Today’s Epistle reading is taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-18
2 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals but to please God, who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed, 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
The Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
*Please stand as you are able for the Gospel Acclamation
& remain standing for the reading of the Gospel.
*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Halle, Hallelujah TWFS 2026
*The Gospel Reading this morning is from the Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 22:1-14)
22 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Gospel of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
MUSIC FOR MEDITATION: Verset in c minor
—Caspar Ett (1788-1847)
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
MUSIC AT THE GRADUAL: Verset in B Flat Major
—Caspar Ett (1788-1847)
MESSAGE —Rev. JW Park
THANKSGIVING PRAYER BEFORE THE OFFERING
MUSIC DURING THE OFFERING: Always —Maureen Howell
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CLOSING HYMN: Maker, in Whom We Live UMH 88
*CHORAL BENEDICTION: The Lord Bless You & Keep You
—Peter C. Lutkin (1858-1931)
POSTLUDE: Andante in D Major —Caspar Ett (1788-1847)
The flowers on the altar today are dedicated to the glory of God.
DAILY SCRIPTURES
Mon: Exodus 3:7-22 Tues: Jeremiah 31:23-34
Wed: 1 Samuel 18:1-5 Thur: Hebrews 8:1-12
Fri: Hebrews 13:1-21 Sat: John 15:1-17
SPECIAL THANKS TO TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS!
| Greeters | St. Matthew’s Members |
| Welcome Desk | St. Matthew’s Members |
| Ushers | Stacy Ann Samuels*, Corey Smith, Maysen Gore-Duran,
Angela Cockrell |
| Acolytes | Kenzie Smith, James Belcher |
| Liturgist | Jacquelyn Gerard |
| Musicians | Chancel Choir |
| Counters | Allison Pena, Carolyn Fisher, Ed Darnell |
| Projection Design | Jane Thessin |
| Broadcasting | The Hulens, George Wood, Steve Smith, Bruce Thoman, Zoom Team |
| Coffee Hour | Lisa Wilson |
WHAT’S HAPPENING…
| Today | 11am | Coffee Hour | Fellowship Hall |
| Adult Sunday School | Parlor | ||
| Children’s Sunday School | Room 126 | ||
| 12pm | God & Guinness | Molloy’s – Gambrills | |
| 4pm | Youth Group | ||
| Mon. | Indigenous Peoples Day / Columbus Day – Church Office Closed | ||
| 1pm | Friendship Circle | Parlor | |
| 7pm | Gloria Ringers Rehearsal | Sanctuary | |
| Tues. | 945am | Bible Study w/Isaac Borocz | Parlor |
| 11am | Angel Gang | ZOOM | |
| 7pm | Christian Book Club | ZOOM | |
| Wed. | 8am | Men’s Breakfast | Rip’s Country Inn |
| 7pm | Simple Prayer Service | Sanctuary | |
| Thurs. | 7pm | Chancel Choir Rehearsal | Choir Room |
| Fri. | 6pm | Messy Church | Church-wide |
| Sat. | 930am | Altar Guild | Sanctuary |
MORNING PRAYER CALL: Monday-Saturday, 630-645am
Dial 267-807-9601 and enter access code: 111-576-270 #
Monday, October 12th – Saturday, October 17th: Pastor Marguerite Matthews
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nursery Care Update
Due to Ms. Prisca’s absence in our Nursery during Worship Services, we are following our policy. Mr. Mark will be available in the Nursery for all children ages 1-6 years old. We are asking all other children to remain in the Sanctuary during worship until after the Children’s Message. We will then go to Children’s Church.
The Christian Book Club – Tuesday, October 13th at 7pm | ZOOM
This month we will discuss Allen Levi’s novel Theo of Golden. Note: we will meet on the second Tuesday of October rather than the normal third Tuesday.
Messy Church – October 16th at 6pm
Join Becky for our October Messy Church. Messy Church is a joyful, intergenerational experience where faith comes alive through creativity, conversation, and community. Come as you are, bring your family and friends, and join us for an evening of learning, wonder, and connection. Our evening will begin with Dinner in Fellowship Hall at 6pm.
Trunk or Treat – October 23rd at 6pm
Join us and the Early Education Center for our annual Trunk or Treat! The evening begins with dinner and ends with trick-or-treating from trunk to trunk. We’d love for members of the congregation to decorate their trunks and be part of the fun. Donations of candy or small items to hand out are also welcome.
If you’d like to volunteer, please contact Becky Roper. Volunteers should plan to arrive at 5 pm.
Little Free Pantry Update
Thank you for your donations to the LFP. The current needs are canned and dried fruit, dried beans, rice, cereal, and shelf-stable milk. (bethlingg@comcast.net)
Bowie Food Pantry Update
At this time, the Pantry is most in need of canned tomato products (diced, stewed, etc.), canned fruit or applesauce, and peanut butter. Please place donations in the shopping cart in the coat room.
CONTACT US
| Facebook Page | www.facebook.com/stmbowie | |
| Senior Pastor | Rev. JW Park | jwpark@stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Dir. Music Ministries &
Adult Education |
Isaac Borocz | isaacborocz @stmatthews-bowie.org |
| Dir. Children & Youth Ministry | Becky Roper |