GATHERING
GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
May those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
Yea, our heart is glad in God, because we trust in God’s holy name.
Let us make a joyful noise to God with songs of praise!
We praise you, O God: we acknowledge you to be Lord.
PRELUDE Patty Bell
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We gather to affirm that we are all united in God’s sacred family;
Many: We are each different and unique, yet we are one as children of God.
One: We gather to affirm that we are called to love one another;
Many: We learn by Jesus’ example to love our neighbor in all that we do.
One: We gather to affirm that each of us has gifts to offer;
Many:We are members of one body, each blessed with gifts for God’s service.
All: Let us celebrate and worship as a family of God.
*PRAISE MUSIC: “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” UMH 526
INVOCATION
We gather together as a community of believers. We gather together seeking solace and encouragement. We gather together to hear yet again your calling for us. We wish that we could have been called like Paul on the road to Damascus with a blinding light, or Moses with a burning bush. We long for your calling to be clear, that’s unequivocal. But more often it is not; we do not know if we are a hand, a foot, an eye of even an ear. Lord, we ask that during this service we hear and feel again your guiding spirit stirring our souls. Amen.
PSALM 124: PB, pg. 547
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
HYMN: “Go, Make Of All Disciples” UMH 571
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
CONFESSION
God, we are people with such potential. You have given us the ability to speak and to listen, to serve and to share, to laugh and to cry. You ask that we take what we have and use it to your glory, inviting us to do all that we do in a way that is pleasing to you. Forgive us, O God, for creating more places to complain than to give thanks, for spending more time examining the mistakes of each other instead of the giftedness in one another. Forgive us for taking so much for granted and for allowing so many of our gifts to lay idle instead of being used. Help us to serve you more faithfully. Show us how to be good stewards of all we have. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Whatever our illness, we are welcomed into a community of healing. Whatever our shortcoming, a door is open to a place of restoration. Enter this new place of healing and restoration. A place is here for you and me.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns
PASTORAL PRAYER
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
* PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING: “Sanctuary”
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus1:8-2:10 PB, pg. 47
GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 16:13-20 PB, pg. 17
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Romans 12:1-8
THE MESSAGE Pastor Vicki Lerdahl
*HYMN RESPONSE: “The Gift Of Love” UMH 408
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “Into My Heart”
Into my heart. Into my heart. Come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today, come in to stay. Come into my heart Lord Jesus.