GATHERING
GREETING and ANNOUNCEMENTS:
O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good
God’s steadfast love endures forever!
Let all creation say,
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
PRELUDE Guest Bob Reese
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We gather for worship, frazzled from running errands and running committees, running out of energy and running out of time, running from problems and running from uncomfortable truths.
People: Let us be still and rest in the love of God.
Leader: We gather, yearning to be a people of comfort and peace.
People: Let us open our hearts to possibilities.
All: We gather in anticipation of being inspired and renewed in our desire to be a people of inclusion and love.
PRAISE HYMN “In Christ There Is No East or West” UMH 548
PSALM 22: 25-31 UMH 753
TIME WITH THE YOUTH: OPENING HYMN
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN: “Where Charity And Love Prevail” UMH 561
PROCLAMING GOD’S WORD
GOSPEL LESSON: John 15: 1-8 PB, pg. 104
EPISTLE LESSON: 1 John 4:7-21 PB, pg. 223
MESSAGE Pastor Vicki Lerdahl
HYMN RESPONSE: “Help Us To Accept Each Other” UMH 561
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
OFFERTORY PRAYER: We give our gifts in love and thanksgiving for all that we have been given. Help us give with hearts and minds open to the possibilities of what we can do to heal the brokenness of our world. Let our love travel where we do not, making pathways of peace where there are none, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING
“Glory Be To The Father” UMH 71
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PASTORAL PRAYER: Slow us down, O God. And speed us up.
Let us be slow to speak out in judgmental anger and quick to offer words of encouragement and understanding. Enable us to catch the vision of a life in which the creeds and deeds are one and make the vision our own.
Enable us to catch the vision of lives seeking similarities rather than differences, of common ground rather than divergent roads. Enable us to catch the vision of Jesus, in whom all things are one, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
COMMUNION AND SENDING FORTH
CONFESSION AND PARDON UMH 12
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING: UMH 13-14
THE LORD’S PRAYER
RECEIVING COMMUNION All are welcome to the Lord’s Table!
Following communion please form a circle
*CIRCLE SONG UMH 393
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
BLESSING
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*Stand as you are able. Bulletin/sermon used by permission of Homiletics.
Next week Matt and Mary Magill from the Gideon’s return to give testimony and sing praises!