Note from Pastor:

As we continue to explore worship during this time, I would like to take a moment for you to consider what worship is.

The word worship originates from the Anglo-Saxon word, woerthan or weorthscipe, meaning To declare how much something is worth. Other words associated with woerthan/weorthscipe are sebomai meaning To lift up high; Proskuneo meaning To bow down; and Latrevo meaning To serve. Notice, each word associated with what we know as worship is a verb, an action. Concluding that worship is an action.

So I present to you a simple question; How are you going to worship this day?

Review of CUMC Sunday Worship Offerings:

8:30am – Drive-In Worship Service. Our drive-in worship service offers a time to be present in an in-person way while remaining in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Lawn chairs are allowed during this service with masks and social distancing practices considered. Hymns, special music, scripture, and a message are shared during this traditional-style with a twist worship service.

10:00am – Streaming Worship Service/Limited In-Person Worship. Join us from the comfort of your home or for limited in-person seating for this traditional-style service. You can find us on FaceBook, our website, or on YouTube.

A few things to remember for those attending in-person: Seating is limited to the first 50 people and begins at 9:45am for the 10:00am service to ensure proper attendance/contract tracing requirements. Masks and social distancing are required, and we ask that you please remain in your seats throughout the service. Offering boxes are available when you arrive and upon departing, as an offering time in the service is not taking place. Hymn sing is unfortunately not taking place, but an anthem, pre and postlude music is being shared by our talented music staff.

8:30am Drive-In Worship, East Parking Lot

Join us for a Drive-In Worship Service in the East Parking Lot of CUMC.

You will be guided off of the University Entrance into a parking space. Please turn your radio to FM 88.1 and open your smart phone to our website or FaceBook page where you will find the Order of Service. Relax and enjoy this informal style of worship! Once the service concludes, you will be asked to exit out of the parking lot onto Copper. Please Note: No building/restroom access will be available and you will be asked to remain in your vehicle at all times.

10:00am Streaming Worship,

Found on Centraltolife.org, FaceBook, or YouTube

Join us for our On-Line Worship Service as we continue to explore the Scripture Lessons found in Genesis.

Every Wednesday, Pastor Greg’s Bible Study takes place. The study will be on the Book of Acts.

Read Acts 8:4-40

Questions we will discuss

Join Pastor Kelly for the Educational Opportunities FootSteps of Paul Cruise, October 3-14th 2021 (Tour: GC21, Code C, ID 55108). You will arrive in Venice from Albuquerque on October 3rd, and then on to Katakolon, Santorini, Ephesus, Mykonos, Athens, and Corinth. A pre-tour to Florence and a post-tour to Venice is also available. Additional information and registration information can be found on centraltolife.org or www.EO.travel. http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/files/uploads/GC21_55108_Brooks_005_FINAL.pdf

Contact Pastor Kelly with questions or scholarship information kellyb@centraltolife.org. 

Amplify is a multimedia platform allowing churches large and small to discover, customize, and share diverse resources that encourage deeper discipleship and equip churches to pursue their mission with greater impact.

Use CUMC's Access Code to gain access

In the prayers and the praise,

in the words and the wonder:

we are given enough joy to live each day.

In the justice for the oppressed,

in the unexpected generosity for the lost:

we are given enough compassion

to use in service each day.

In the promises made to all,

in the mercy offered to each:

we are given enough grace to share each day.

Opening Hymn      Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a fellowship, what a joy divine

Leaning on the everlasting arms

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine

Leaning on the everlasting arms

Leaning, leaning

Safe and secure from all alarms

Leaning, leaning

Leaning on the everlasting arms

Creator and loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being;

Grant to us a piety of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, and no weakness from doing it.

In your light may we see life clearly and in your service find perfect freedom;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray….

Scripture Reading  Matthew 20: 1-16

Solo       “Come As You Are”        Dr. Karen Marrolli, solo

Closing Hymn          Amazing Grace

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost

But now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

Through many dangers

Toils and snares

I have already come

'Twas grace hath brought

Me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

When we've been there

Ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We'll have no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we first begun

For at least the first few Sundays of our return to worship in our Sanctuary, those who stream or attend the service in person will notice one element missing: sung or spoken community responses. As Music Director, I would like to take this opportunity to both acknowledge the importance of congregational participation in worship and to explain why we will be starting off cautiously as we reenter sacred space.

There has been a great deal written and speculated about the possible role of aerosols in the spread of COVID-19. Unlike respiratory droplets which are generally accepted to fall to the ground within a short space, aerosols are smaller particles that can spread over larger distances and remain suspended in the air for longer periods. We produce these aerosols just by breathing, but we produce more through speaking or singing. The louder the collective noise, the more aerosols are produced, and these can tend to build up over time in indoor spaces. A single singer or speaker does not seem to pose a danger to others provided that they are positioned an adequate distance away, but there are lingering concerns about how much aerosol can be produced by multiple people singing or speaking at once. The science in this heretofore unexamined area is continuously evolving, and a number of first-of-their-kind studies are currently being done. Churches and Music Directors have been monitoring the progress of these studies for months and have chosen to respond in various ways. Many churches who have returned or plan to return to in-person worship are not allowing singing or spoken responses for the time being. Others are allowing a minimal amount of singing in masks. The good news is, these ongoing studies are very favorable to the practice of singing in masks and spaced a minimum of 6 feet apart to significantly reduce aerosol spread. Volume, not necessarily specific activity (singing vs. speaking) is emerging as the biggest factor in aerosol production. Suggestions for singing in groups also include keeping periods of singing down to 30 minutes, with outside being the safest venue and a large, well ventilated inside space with high ceilings as the next best. All of this information indicates that we should be able to quickly progress to singing short closing hymns at the end of our services. However, we all feel it best to err on the side of caution at the outset and introduce any congregational singing or responses after we have had a few weeks to assess our in-person worship practices, as well as to monitor the spread of the virus in our area.

So, for at least the first few weeks, expect the music in our services to be delivered by keyboard instruments, soloists, and video. Please be patient with us as we navigate this next chapter in our worship lives with everyone’s safety in mind.

In the prayers and the praise,

in the words and the wonder:

we are given enough joy to live each day.

In the justice for the oppressed,

in the unexpected generosity for the lost:

we are given enough compassion

to use in service each day.

In the promises made to all,

in the mercy offered to each:

we are given enough grace to share each day.

Creator and loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being; 

Grant to us a piety of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, and no weakness from doing it.

In your light may we see life clearly and in your service find perfect freedom;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray….

Scripture Reading     Matthew 20: 1-16

Anthem         The Call        K. Lee Scott

Creator and Forgiving God,

From your providing hand we receive more than enough.

Teach us your ways of justice

and lead us to practice your generosity,

so that we may live a life worthy of the gospel

made known through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Musical Benediction      Amazing Grace