GATHERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE Patty Bell
*PRAISE MUSIC: “Wonderful Words of Life” UMH 600
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
People: We will sing of his greatness!
Leader: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
People: We will proclaim the joy of the Lord!
Leader: Make music to the Lord, for he is our King!
People: We will worship with instrument and song.
Leader: The King is coming! Let us clap and dance and sing.
People: We praise you, Lord, with all our hearts! The King is worthy of praise! —-Adapted from Psalm 98
HYMN: “Christ For The World We Sing” UMH 568
ISAIAH 12: A psalm of Thanksgiving
You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Heavenly Father, as we begin to look into your Word, we ask you to open our hearts and minds to the message you’re speaking to us today. Let us see your words in a new light, and may our heart’s desire be to follow in obedience. Above all, let us see you more clearly and respond with the worship you so greatly deserve. Thank you for meeting us in this place. Amen.
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 21:5-19 PB, pg. 80
THE MESSAGE:
*HYMN RESPONSE:
“Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” UMH 581
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns
PASTORAL PRAYER
Merciful Savior, you loved the world so much that you gave your all—your very life—for us. We often receive your outrageous gift imperfectly, forgetting the abundance of it, and living instead in poverty of spirit. We often reject the grace you freely offer and cling instead to guilt and shame. We often deny your gift’s liberating power and live instead in fear. Grant us, we pray, courage and faith to live as children of a risen and saving Christ. Amen.
CONFESSION AND PARDON
We confess to you, God of all nations, that we and our country have not lived up to your ideals for your reign. We have not cared for all people. We have not shared the resources of food, wisdom, health care and education equally with all. We have not cared for the outsider and stranger in our midst. We have allowed bullying, domestic abuse and human trafficking to go on unabated. We have encouraged competition rather than cooperation, power over love, revenge over mercy. We have desired to be your holy city of light and justice, and yet too often we have fostered shadow and injustice. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience in your ways—freedom that is open and generous, cooperative and reconciling, freedom that leads to your reign, O God of all the nations. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
God hears your cries and covers your sins with mercy. Go to live in ways that bring in God’s reign.
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
* PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING “Eat This Bread”
Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to me and never be hungry. Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in me and you will not thirst.
COMMUNION
THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “Sanctuary”
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.