GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Remembering 9-11-01
GREETING
Love is the key that can open another’s heart.
Our goal is to love one another as Christ has loved us.
Therefore, be assured that all are lovingly welcomed to God’s house.
Let us rejoice together now!
PRELUDE Patty Bell
OPENING PRAYER: (Book of Worship526)
O God, you are the hope of all the ends of the earth, the God of the spirits of flesh. Hear our humble intercession for all races and families on earth, that you will turn all hearts to yourself, Remove from our minds hatred, prejudice, and contempt for those who are not our own race or color, class or creed, that, departing from everything that estranges and divides, we may by you be brought into unity of spirit, in the bond of peace. Amen.
OPENING HYMN:“This is My Song” UMH 437
PSALM 114 : Together UMH 835
THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS UMH 481
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
HYMN: “Forgive Us Our Sins As We Forgive” UMH 390
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMUNATION:
Lord, open our hearts and minds that as the scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed we shall hear with joy what you have for us this day.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Exodus 14:19-31 PB, pg. 59
GOSPHEL LESSON: Matthew 18:21-35 PB, pg. 19
THE MESSAGE: Pastor Vicki Lerdahl
*HYMN: “Let There Be Peace on Earth” UMH 431
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
OFFERING PRAYER
God of miracles, multiply these gifts in ways that we cannot fathom.
Make them be for the world the very blessing that it needs. Amen.
*RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
“Glory Be To The Father” UMH 71
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns
PASTORAL PRAYER
As we enter into this time of prayer, O God, we ask that you would help us to let go of what is past. Release us from anger and resentments and hurts of days gone by; free us from bitterness and help us to fill this space with the love of Christ.
We offer our gratitude for the gift of love.
We offer our thanks for those people in our lives who love us unconditionally.
We offer our thanks for those who provide a safe place in the shelter of their unselfish love.
We offer our praise for those who give expecting nothing in return for the gift.
We offer our gratitude to those who cause us to rise to our greater selves.
We offer thanks for those who help us to put the pieces of our lives back together when dreams and hopes are shattered.
Let us honor the past and look forward to the future with hope so that the fires of hatred might be transformed into flames of love through Christ our Lord, who has taught us to pray,
Our Father who art in heaven…
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “Bind Us Together” Renew 292
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken. Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together in love.
*BLESSING