GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Who is invited to worship God?
People: All who seek the blessings of the spirit.
Leader: All who have gifts to offer for God’s service.
People: All who are thankful for our redemption.
Leader: All who live in hope of God’s reign on earth.
People: Who is invited to worship with God?.
Leader: The children of God are invited. You are the children of God, so let us worship God.
*GREETING
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the people with equity and guide all the nations on earth.
Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.
The earth has brought forth its increase; may God, our own God, bless us.
Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
OPENING PRAYER – Unison
Most gracious God, you crown the year with your goodness.
We praise you that you have ever fulfilled your promise that, while earth remains, seedtime and harvest shall not cease.
We bless you for the order and constancy of nature, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea, and for the providence that year by year supplies our need.
We thank you for your blessing on the work of those who plowed the soil and sowed the seed, and have now gathered in the fruits of the earth.
And with our thanksgiving foe those blessings, accept our praise, O God, for the eternal riches of your grace in Christ our Lord; to whom, with you O Father, and the Holy Spirit, be all glory and honor and worship, forever and ever. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC Sally Reese
* HYMN “All Glory, Laud and Honor” UMH #280
CALL TO CONFESSION – PRAYER OF CONFESSION-Unison
O Lord our God, You are the King of glory!
Should we not throw open the doors and welcome you?
Yet we stand in this holy place with unclean hands and impure hearts.
We have lifted up our souls to the false idols of our culture:
To greed and power, to fame and wealth.
We have been deceitful in our ways and deeds.
Yet, with all the world, we are yours.
Forgive us O God.
Fling open the doors of our hearts and come in.
You are the King of Glory, and we will sing your praises.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*HYMN “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” UMH #127
PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Caring God, who both leads us and feeds us, who nurtures and nourishes us, we bring these gifts to you, confessing that we have often been those who have put the bread for our stomachs before the bread for our soul. We have consumed lavishly and given grudgingly. Help us to keep our sights on what you offer that has real power to sustain us: the Bread of Life! Help us to give as those who trust in you and in the bread that can satisfy all our needs. We pray this in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING
*DOXOLOGY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Joys and concerns.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Colossians 1:3-8 PB, pg. 187
THE MESSAGE “What Must We Expect From the Church” Michael Keffer
HYMN RESPONSE “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” UMH #402
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “He Lives” UMH #310
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives! He lives within my heart.
*BLESSING (Go in peace to love and serve your neighbor)
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*Stand as you are able. The quiet room is available in the back of the sanctuary if needed.