Sunday, October 03, 2021
10:00 a.m.
World Communion Day
Moments for Preparing Our Hearts – Dean Shinn
*Reminder: Once the music starts it is time for quiet meditation in the sanctuary
CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
Welcome and Announcements – Rev. Kerry Greenhill
Centering Words – Rev. Kerry Greenhill
Praise God who gives us the bread of life.
Praise Christ who unites in the breaking of the bread.
Praise Christ who binds us together in the common cup.
Praise the Spirit who makes us one.
Prelude – Dean Shinn
CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
*Call to Worship (responsive) – Rev. Candee Martin
In Jesus, all Christians are one body.
But we feel isolated from one another,
separated by customs and beliefs.
In Jesus, all Christians are one body.
But we don’t worship alike.
Besides, we speak different languages.
In Jesus, all Christians are one body.
Come share the Lord!
*Congregational Hymn: In The Midst of New Dimensions
TFWS No. 2238
WORDS: Julian Rush; MUSIC: Julian Rush © 1994 The New Century Hymnal; CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
1. In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of
changing ways, who will lead the pilgrim peoples
wandering in their separate ways? God of rainbow, fiery pillar,
leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey
now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
2. Through the flood of starving people, warring factions
and despair, who will lift the olive branches?
Who will light the flame of care? God of rainbow, fiery pillar,
leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey
now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
3. As we stand a world divided by our own self-
seeking schemes, grant that we, your global village,
might envision wider dreams. God of rainbow, fiery pillar,
leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey
now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
4. We are man and we are woman, all persuasions,
old and young, each a gift in your creation,
each a love song to be sung. God of rainbow, fiery pillar,
leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey
now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
5. Should the threats of dire predictions cause us to with-
draw in pain, may your blazing phoenix spirit
resurrect the church again. God of rainbow, fiery pillar,
leading where the eagles soar, we your people, ours the journey
now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
*Opening Prayer (unison) – Rev. Candee Martin
Holy Mystery, Protector of the faithful,
glorious Spirit of wonder, Bread of heaven,
you have made us a little lower than the angels
and crowned us with glory and honor.
You have called us to be your witnesses,
to proclaim the good news
in good times and in bad.
Help us to see ourselves in you,
the living body of the risen Christ,
broken and poured out to feed a hungry world. Amen.
Hebrew Scripture: Genesis 18:1-8 (New Living Translation) – Rev. Kerry Greenhill
1The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
3“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. 4Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. 5And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”
“All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”
6So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” 7Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. 8When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.
Children's Message – Rev. Kerry Greenhill
Prayers of the People– Rev. Kerry Greenhill
Pastoral Prayer– Rev. Kerry Greenhill
The Lord’s Prayer (spoken in unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
Anthem – Come, to the Table of the Lord – Chancel Choir
CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
Sermon– Hospitality and Welcome for All - Rev. Candee Martin
Music Meditation – Dean Shinn
CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
Invitation to Holy Communion - Rev. Kerry Greenhill
Welcome to this sacred place we call sanctuary and to the table of Jesus Christ. In the United Methodist tradition, we believe in an open communion where all are welcome.
We place our trust in the unconditional love of God and the unlimited welcome of Jesus Christ. I invite you to join me as we lift our voices in this humble confession to God.
Prayer of Invitation (unison) - Rev. Kerry Greenhill
Source of unity and strength,
in our longing for wholeness,
we reach out to your Son,
whose touch heals our brokenness;
in our yearning for community,
we take hold of the promises of Jesus the Christ,
whose life and love bind us together as one.
From lives of separation and distrust,
knit us into one family,
where all are welcomed and honored.
As we share the bread of life
and drink the cup of salvation,
forge us anew as one people of faith. Amen.
Words of Assurance - Rev. Kerry Greenhill
God loves us enough to give us teachings to live by.
If we embrace these teachings,
we will find abundant life.
If we embrace these teachings,
we will find sweetness of life.
If we embrace these teachings,
we will find God reaching out
in love and forgiveness, welcoming us home.
Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving Rev. Kerry Greenhill and Rev. Candee Martin
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You have made from one every nation and people
to live on all the face of the earth.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
He commissioned us to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth
and to make disciples of all nations,
and today his family in all the world is joining at his holy table.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
Renew our communion with your Church throughout the world,
and strengthen it in every nation and among every people
to witness faithfully in your name.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Receiving of the Bread and Cup
Prayer after Receiving (unison) - Rev. Candee Martin
We give thanks, O Gracious God,
that you have refreshed us at your table
by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ.
Strengthen our faith,
increase our love for one another,
and send us forth into the world
in courage and peace,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
*Congregational Hymn: I Come with Joy
UMH No. 617
WORDS: Brian Wren, 1968;MUSIC: The Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. By Charles H. Webb, 1987;TUNE: DOVE OF PEACE ©: Words © 1971 Hope Publishing Co.; Harm. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
1. I come with joy to meet my Lord, forgiven,
loved and free, in awe and wonder to recall his
life laid down for me, his life laid down for me.
2. I come with Christians far and near to find, as
all are fed, the new community of love in
Christ's communion bread, in
Christ's communion bread.
3. As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud di-
vision ends. The love that made us that makes us one, and
strangers now are friends, and
strangers now are friends.
4. And thus with joy we meet our Lord. His presence,
always near, is in such friendship better known; we
see and praise him here, we
see and praise him here.
5. Together met, together bound, we'll go our
different ways, and as his people in the world, we'll
live and speak his praise, we'll
live and speak his praise.
*Benediction - Rev. Candee Martin
As you have refreshed us at your table,
weave us together as one body, one people --
a people of integrity in the midst of trials.
As you have shared your sacred meal with us,
strengthen us, that we may be united in faith --
a faith that spans the globe and the ages.
As you have blessed us with your loving presence,
send us forth in courage and peace,
rejoicing in the power of your Spirit. Amen.
Postlude – Dean Shinn
CCS WorshipCast License #12794; CCLI License #11363160
- Centering Words, Call to Worship, B.J. Beu, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2013 (2012, Abingdon Press)
- Opening Prayer, Deborah Sokolove, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2012 (2011, Abingdon Press)
- Prayer of Invitation, Benediction B.J. Beu, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021 (Abingdon Press, 2020)
- Words of Assurance, Joanne Carlson Brown, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2014 (2013, Abingdon Press)
- The Great Thanksgiving for World Communion Sunday,” Copyright © 1972 The Methodist Publishing House; Copyright © 1980, 1985, 1989, 1992 UMPH. Used by permission.”
- Prayer After Receiving, June Boutwell, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2012 (2011, Abingdon Press)
