Checking the Level of Wine?

July 9, 2023
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

Due to technical problems, the audio was not recorded.

Prelude – Hani

From Your Starry Threshold
Prayer in the opera: “Mose”
Gioachino Rossini
Public Domain

Welcome and Call to Worship

Leader: Come on ya’ll, let’s worship the Lord! Come to Jesus, all you who have suffered a beat down this week.
People: Come to Jesus, all you who have experienced family turmoil this week.
Leader: Come to Jesus, all you who are tired of conflict all around, tired of high gas prices, tired of glass ceilings, quotas, minimum wage jobs, and limited family values.
People: Come to Jesus, all you who have a job that is getting on your last nerve.
Leader: Jesus said, “I’ll give you rest. I’ll bring you relief. I’ll provide your deliverance. I’ll make a way.”
People: And Jesus will give us wonderful rest!
All: Come on ya’ll, let’s worship the Lord!

(Adapted from Joseph W. Daniels, The Africana Worship Book)

Opening Hymn — #126 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”

1. Sing praise to God who reigns above,
the God of all creation,
the God of power, the God of love,
the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled
and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.

2. The Lord is never far away,
but through all grief distressing,
an ever present help and stay,
our peace and joy and blessing.
As with a mother’s tender hand,
God gently leads the chosen band:
To God all praise and glory.

3. Thus, all my toilsome way along,
I sing aloud thy praises,
that earth may hear the grateful song
my voice unwearied raises.
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart,
both soul and body bear your part:
To God all praise and glory.

4. Let all who name Christ’s holy name
give God all praise and glory;
let all who own his power proclaim
aloud the wondrous story!
Cast each false idol from its throne,
for Christ is Lord, and Christ alone:
To God all praise and glory.

Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
Johann J Schultz | Trans. Frances E Cox | Maurice F Bell
Public Domain

Pastor’s Time With the Children – Rev. Jacob Lee

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.

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 – Josh

When the Love Falls Played
Yiruma

This music is not covered by copyright licensing and cannot be streamed.

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

God of compassion and mercy, you claim each one of us as your children. Like a parent, you are joyful when we find joy and your heart aches when we fall, fail, or feel less than the beloved heirs to the kingdom you meant us to be. The yoke the Bible describes doesn’t burden us but reminds us that you yearn for us to be a church, a community, that supports, steadies, and sustains when life makes us weary. The gifts we give this day we give in gratitude for this yoke that helps us finish the race in faithfulness. Bless our giving and its use, we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

(Matt 11:16-19, 25-30)

Scripture Readings — John 2:1-11 (NRSV)

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Choral Anthem — Chancel Choir

Be Thou My Vision (Slane)
Carlton Raymond Young | Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne
Words: © 1964, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Music: © 1964 Abingdon Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Sermon — Rev. Jacob S. Lee
“Checking the Level of Wine?”

Closing Hymn — #156 “I Love to Tell the Story” (v. 1, 3, 4)

1. I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory, of
Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know ’tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.

Refrain
I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

3. I love to tell the story;
’tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word.

Refrain

4. I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
’twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.

Refrain

I Love to Tell the Story
Arabella Catherine Hankey | William Gustavus Fischer
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

Battle Hymn of the Republic
Arr. William Sreffe
Public Domain