GATHERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE Patty B.
*PRAISE MUSIC: “What Gift Can We Bring” UMH 87
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God is call to you today.
People: God is calling us today.
Leader: Why is God calling us?
People: To be the church. People united by God in faith.
Leader: For what purpose would God do such a thing?
People: Because God has given each member a gift to share, so that if we all come together and lean on one another, then we can become all that God has called us to be.
PSALM 14
Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the Lord? There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous. You would confound the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge. O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
HYMN: “We Are The Church” UMH 558
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 PB, pg. 666
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: 1Timothy 1:12-17 PB, pg. 195
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 15:1-10 PB, pg. 74
THE MESSAGE
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, you created us out of love, calling us to choose blessings and to delight in your law; instead, we follow our own capricious nature. Rather than seeing freedom in your decrees, we see constraints. We convince ourselves that we know what we need better than you do. We make choices that hurt others and lead us away from you. Forgive us for all the ways we fall short in what we do and in what we fail to do. Instill in us the desire to grow in our faith and our discipleship so we can help grow your kingdom with integrity. Amen.
PARDON
Beloved of God, the Lord’s mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. In the
name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns
PASTORAL PRAYER
OFFERTORY PRAYER
As forgiven and reconciled people,
let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING:
* PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING
“Glory Be To The Father” UMH 70
COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMN: “Just As I Am” UMH 357 v. 1-2-3
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING: UMH 9-10
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “Here I Am Lord” UMH 593
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.
*BLESSING
*PRELUDE Patty B.