Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Sarabande (SuiteXI, HWV437)
G.F. Handel
© Public Domain
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Come sons and daughters,
mothers and fathers,
sisters and brothers and aunts!
Come grandmas and grandpas,
uncles and nephews,
nieces and neighbors and friends!
Christ calls us together as parts of one Body,
for worship and service and praise!
Let’s worship God together!
Opening Hymn — #617 I Come with Joy
1. I come with joy to meet my Lord,
forgiven, loved and free,
in awe and wonder to recall
his life laid down for me,
his life laid down for me.
2. I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread,
in Christ’s communion bread.
3. As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
The love that made us that makes us one,
and strangers now are friends,
and strangers now are friends.
4. And thus with joy we meet our Lord.
His presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known;
we see and praise him here,
we see and praise him here.
5. Together met, together bound,
we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world,
we’ll live and speak his praise,
we’ll live and speak his praise.
I Come With Joy (Dove Of Peace)
Brian Arthur Wren | Charles H. Webb
© Words: 1968, 1971, 1995 Hope Publishing Company
© Music: The United Methodist Publishing House
CCLI License # 656051
Scripture Reading – Romans 12:9-21 (NRSV)
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Children’s Time with Ms Becky
Joys and Concerns — Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Be gracious, O LORD,
and look upon your church throughout the world,
guiding its search for the unity
for which Jesus prayed.
Rise up, O Lord,
and hear our prayer.
Be gracious, O LORD,
and look upon the distress of those
who are persecuted for their faith;
those whose path ahead seems dim;
those who are victims of oppressive relationships.
Look upon the needy,
that they may know the warmth of your faithfulness,
that their hope may not be snuffed out
like a fitful candle flame
Rise up, O Lord,
and hear our prayer.
Be gracious, O LORD,
and look upon those whom we name today
and those named in our hearts,
that in the darkness of their circumstance,
they may feel the gentle light of your presence.
Rise up, O Lord,
and hear our prayer.
Lord God,
let your glory appear among us
and make us sharers of your eternity,
with all your saints,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Offertory – Jones Family
The Potter’s Hand
Darlene Zschech
© 1997 Wondrous Worship
CCLI License # 656051
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
© Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
Merciful and forgiving God, the tithes and gifts we offer to you this morning are but a small portion of the blessings we have received. The Gospels remind us that Jesus instructed us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow,” and yet we deny ourselves little, see the smallest of crosses as too great a burden, and follow only from a safe distance. In doing so, we cut ourselves off from deeper experiences of discipleship. Forgive us and renew our strength and discipline to walk this road with our Savior. In his holy name, we pray. Amen.
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Sorted into Houses
Closing Hymn — #548 In Christ There Is No East or West
1. In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
2. In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.
3. In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek,
and neither slave nor free;
both male and female heirs are made,
and all are kin to me.
4. In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ There Is No East Or West (McKee)
Harry Thacker Burleigh | John Oxenham | Laurence Hull Stookey
© Words: Words: Public Domain; v. 3 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
© Music: Public Domain
CCLI License # 656051
Benediction
Let love be genuine.
Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with deep affection,
thinking of others more highly than yourself.
Serve the Lord with zeal.
Rejoice in hope.
Be patient in suffering.
Persevere in prayer.
And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father,
who loved us and by His grace
gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you
in every good deed and word.
Amen.
Postlude – Hani
With Might and Majesty
Steven Scott