Our Common Humanity

World Communion Sunday

By Rev. David Bonnema, October 05, 2025

9:30am

Prelude - “Fanfare” (Hellman) - Unity Handbells

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Opening Song - “Blessed Be Your Name” - Makenzie Payne

Time of Greeting

Children’s Time

Song - “In Christ Alone”

Reflection on World Communion - Rev. Dana Seiler

Song - “Reflections on Endless Song”

Sermon - “Our Common Humanity”

What have your learned about Cornelius?

Jews— followers of Yahweh, the God of Israel — everyone else

Why was Peter horrified by the vision God gave him?

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything that God has made clean.” —Acts 10:15

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” —Acts 10:34-35

Desmond Tutu said, “My humanity is caught up in yours.” What did he mean?

World Communion Sunday is a call to reclaim our common humanity.

Offering and Prayer

Communion

Song - “O Come to the Altar”

Benediction


11:00am

Prelude - “Fanfare” (Hellman) - Unity Handbells

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Call to Worship - Rev. Dana Seiler

  • Leader: We gather today in many places to worship as God’s people.
  • People: We come to worship the same God.
  • Leader: We celebrate our commonality - our hopes, joys, and dreams.
  • People: We come to worship our Savior, Jesus Christ.
  • Leader: We give thanks for all that has led us to this time and place.
  • People: We come to worship the Holy Spirit.
  • Leader: Let us prepare our hearts for worship today.
  • People: We are ready to worship the God of all nations,
  • and ages, and races.

Hymn - “God of the Ages” - #262 Verses 1, 2, 4

Prayer of Confession:
God of all ages, and nations, and races, we come today mindful of the ways we surround ourselves with those who are like us – who dress like us, and talk like us, and look like us, and think like us, and believe like us. We are wary of those who are different. Please forgive us when we keep ourselves in our own bubble and miss out on the blessings others can bring into our lives. Help us see every person as a fellow creation, someone we should cherish like a brother or sister, all in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Passing of the Peace

Reflection on World Communion

Anthem - “Reflections on Endless Song” (Ryan) - Unity Handbells

Sermon - “Our Common Humanity” - Rev. David Bonnema

What have your learned about Cornelius?

Jews— followers of Yahweh, the God of Israel — everyone else

Why was Peter horrified by the vision God gave him?

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything that God has made clean.” —Acts 10:15

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” —Acts 10:34-35

Desmond Tutu said, “My humanity is caught up in yours.” What did he mean?

World Communion Sunday is a call to reclaim our common humanity.

Anthem - “Bread of the World” (Nussel/Nix) - Unity Choir

Offering and Prayer

Doxology

Communion
Anthem - “Meditation” (Hellman) - Unity Handbells

Affirmation of Faith - The Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Closing Hymn - “This is My Song” - 3 Verses - see screen

Benediction

Postlude - Ginger Wyrick