WHAT'S HA P P ENI N G
Weekly Events:
Mon. 6:00pm Gerry's Quilt Class, Criswell Hall
Tue 9:00am Tai Chi, Criswell Hall
10:00am Sew ‘n Sews & Crafts ,McMillen Room #113
11:00am Chair Yoga, Criswell Hall
7:00pm Trustees, McMillen Room #113
7:30pm Friendly Neighborhood Big Band Rehearsal, Criswell Hall
Wed. 9:00am Church Work Morning
10:00am Fellowship Ministry, Library
5:30pm Worship Team, McMillen Room #113
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
10:00am Plantel Tour, Meet at Church 9:20am
Sat. 4:00pm 4pm –6pm Youth Group Empty Bowls at Evelyn & Deb’s home
Sun. 8:30am Informal Worship Service
10:30am Traditional Worship Service
HOSPITALITY: Today hosted by Trustees
September 06th will be hosted by Worship Team
Assisting in today's service – Pastor: Rev. Wesley Thompson
Liturgist: Patti Melsheimer, Organ: Brad Bettencourt, Piano/Keyboard: Dennis Eiler,
Sound Tech: Adrian Paredes, Video: Susan Throndson
Special Music: Dave & Carolyn Anderson, Song Leader: Dave & Carolyn Anderson
First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande
275 N. Halcyon Road,
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
805-481-2692 fumcag@yahoo.com
WorshipWeekly.com
August 30, 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
Weekly Needed $7,740
Aug 02
35
87
122
31
$7,504
Aug 09
45
68
113
13
$11,825
Aug 16
43
72
115
42
$8,349
Aug 23
42
83
125
$2,657
YTD Received: $57,058 YTD Needed $61,920
PRELUDE “Children’s Song Medley” By. Mark Hayes
INTROIT “All Hail King Jesus” TFWS # 2069
CALL TO WORSHIP*
[Liturgist] Sometimes God calls us through burning bushes, telling us to go free a whole
people despite our insecurities and fears.
[All] God, help us accept your call on our lives.
[Liturgist] Sometimes God calls us, and we don’t understand the full meaning of the call,
the ways our families, friends, and communities may resist the good news and us as
messengers of it.
[All] God, help us accept your call on our lives.
[Liturgist] Sometimes God calls us to a path that is harder than we think we can handle,
asking us to trust that God will provide what we need.
[All] God, help us accept your call on our lives.
[Liturgist] God’s call takes many forms. Sometimes it feels as natural as breathing, and
sometimes we want to run as far as we can. But take assurance in this: You are not
alone. God is with us, and God’s call can be trusted, because no matter where it leads,
God is there.
[All] God, help us accept your call on our lives and to trust that what you equip us to
do is what you call us to do as members of the Body of Christ. Thanks be to God!
Amen.
OPENING HYMN* “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love” TFWS #2223
(Vs 1,2,3,4)
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING PRAYER
Holy Spirit of God, into our hearts and minds. Help us to know more clearly and grasp
more fully the Good News of Jesus. And help us then to know how to share it. We ask
this through Jesus Christ, who with You and the Father, are One God. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Still Be My Vision” Arr. Rebecca Belliston
SCRIPTURE Mathew 16:21-28
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
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 “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” No. 334
Prayer/Lord's Prayer
Response “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” No. 334
SERMON: Following Christ
OFFERING
Call to Stewardship and Mission
Offertory “Cantilena ” By Robert Lau
Doxology/Prayer of Dedication*
CLOSING HYMN* “The Servant Song” TFWS #2222
BENEDICTION*
[All] When the path is easy and when the path is rough, when God calls through a
burning bush or a still, small voice or a loving rebuke, remember: you are not alone.
May God bless us with the courage and humility to accept God’s call and with the
assurance that if God calls us, God will equip us. Amen.
RESPONSE “Bind Us Together” TFWS #2226
POSTLUDE “Who Is On The Lords Side/ Royal Banner Reichardt/McGranahan
*Please stand as able
I would like to deeply express thank you to Pastor Wes and the
Congregation for all your sincere prayers & cards and support
during this difficult time on the passing of my two
Great-granddaughters
Kylie Wetmore, Kloie Westmore
and their mother Vanessa Wetmore
On Behalf of Bobbi Merris & Family
Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death
21 From that time on Jesus began to say plainly to his
disciples, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from
the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I
will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to
life.”
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “God
forbid it, Lord!” he said. “That must never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned around and said to Peter, “Get away from
me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these
thoughts of yours don't come from God, but from human
nature.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you want to
come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross,
and follow me.
25 For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it;
but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.
26 Will you gain anything if you win the whole world but
lose your life? Of course not! There is nothing you can give
to regain your life.
27 For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father
with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to
his deeds.
28 I assure you that there are some here who will not die until
they have seen the Son of Man come as King.”
UPCOMING EVENTS :
Fri. Sep 4 Plantel Nursery Tour, Santa Maria, 10am, Meet
at church 9:20
Sat. Sep12 Dana Adobe History Day. Carpool from church
at 9:30
Sun. Sep13 Volunteer Appreciation Sunday after 2nd
service. Includes lunch and games.
Sat. Sep 26 District Women's Retreat at our church
Sun Oct 4 Friendly Neighborhood Band Concert, 3PM
Sun.Oct 25 Alternative Christmas Boutique, after both
services
Mon. Oct 26 Little Pink Houses of Hope Dinner
Nov 6-8 Boutique
Sat. Nov14 John Lindsey presentation on El Nino. 10:30
Sun. Dec6 Friendly Neighborhood Band Concert 3pm
Tue. Dec 8 Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.1pm,
Advance on-line signup required.
Thu, Dec17 Alternate date: Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power
Plant. 1pm, Advance on-line signup required.