Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary as an in-person service and also live streamed at this link. Click on “live” for live stream. Join us!
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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Sarah Shumpert
Call to Worship
Leader: God has blessed each and every one of us.
People: We want to serve God.
Leader: Each talent, each skill can be used for peace and justice
People: Lord, help us be part of ministries that promote hope and peace.
Leader: Come, let us praise God for the diversity present here.
People: Enable us, O God, to discern what you would have us do. AMEN.
Opening Hymn “Morning Has Broken” Hymnal #664
1) Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh
from the Word!
2) Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.
3) Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning, born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation; praise every morning, God’s recreation of the new day!
1) Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh
from the Word!
Scripture Reading Matthew 16:13-20
Sermon “Who Do You Say That I Am?” Rev. Tricia Lytle
Thoughts to Ponder: Jesus ask the disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
The question for us this Sunday is, "Who do we say God is?"
In a world where being a Christian is rapidly being redefined,
how do we claim God's love in our lives and share that love with the world?
Prayerful Circle of Care
Closing Hymn and Offertory “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” Hymnal #700
1) I’m gonna live so (live so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna live so (live so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
2) I’m gonna work so (work so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so (work so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
3) I’m gonna pray so (pray so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so (pray so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
4) I’m gonna sing so (sing so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so (sing so) God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
Benediction
Discussion
Shalom (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)
Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.
Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom. ******************************
Calendar of Service -
August 2 - Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter
August 9 - Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter
August 16 - Dave Johnson
August 23 - Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter
August 30 - Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter
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Welcome to our new minister, Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter! She will begin leading worship services on August 2, 2026. Since this is our usual Sunday potluck meal, we will have an extra celebration during our meal. Folks are asked to bring in any beautiful flowers you have in your yards and decorate the sanctuary. Many thanks to the Search Committee: Joanne Batten, Sarah Shumpert, Karen Manley, David Sanders and Ed Yokley.
Rev. Laura Bethany Buchleiter (LB) is a pastor, speaker, writer, and musician with over 35 years of experience in various Christian ministry settings - from music to missions!
When traveling, she speaks on topics ranging from gender and sexuality to spiritual/religious trauma and faith formation. After years of serving in churches, she finally started seminary in Indianapolis, IN, in 2017, graduating in 2021. During that time she has been an active advocate and speaker, launched a non-profit focused on healing spiritual wounds through creative expression, and been active with the 1001 New Worshipping Communities of the PC(USA).
For a while now, it's been a goal in life to “settle down without holding still.” While not “home” - LB has lived in 11 states and 1 territory - Indianapolis has been “home-base” for nearly a decade. She is looking forward to shifting that base to Anderson, adding state #12, and settling in, so long as the Lord wills it!
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3 Nights of Nature was a huge success! Thanks to Manella Calhoun and Sharon Fowler for organizing the event and gathering our speakers. "It truly takes a village!" She also writes, "Sincere appreciation to all who helped make Three Nights of Nature a success: our thought provoking speakers and those providing refreshments, hosting, recording, technical help, running the dishwasher, those moving chairs, tables, & hymnbooks, checking attendance, sign changers, and all the rest!”
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PFLAG will host a Movie Night (“The Prom”, PG-13) on Saturday, July 25 at 6:00 pm. Come for a fun night! Popcorn snacks too!
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Meet and Eat group will gather next time on Wednesday, August 5, at Fruit Punch Sandwich Shop on Hwy 24. Everyone is welcome!
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Anderson Forum on Progressive Theology (AFPT) will present Kieran Fox, MD PhD on August 9, 2026, at 3 pm at North Anderson Community Church Presbyterian. Dr. Fox will speak about his book, I Am a Part of Infinity: The Spiritual Journey of Albert Einstein. His talk will be both live and available via Zoom.
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Shower Update: The shower is now under construction. Please excuse the happy mess!
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Keep up with the latest news from Foothills Presbytery here.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom. The topic is Apocalyptic Eschatology along with the Book of Revelation. Dave says he will try to make sense of it! If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list, contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com.
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Please remember to donate non-perishable food items to AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries). An extra item when you shop is a great help to others in our community.
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Remember in prayer: Nancy Fox; Peggy Casey; Steve and Brenda Swearingen; Jay Lyn Martin and Jerry Meehan; Mary Alice Mundy; Latha Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of the World in ALL walks of life and strife.
NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions