Prelude
Welcome & Announcements
Hymn of Praise – O God Our Help in Ages Past, v1,2,6 (UMH #117)
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home!
Under the shadow of thy throne,
still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come;
be thou our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home.
Call to Worship:
Pastor: Out of the depths, we cry to the Lord our God.
People: We wait for you, O God; our souls wait for you.
Pastor: May God be attentive to the voice of our supplications,
People: For there is steadfast love and forgiveness with the Lord.
Pastor: Come, and place your hope in the Lord;
People: We will worship and praise the One who redeems.
Affirmation of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed UMH 881
Message in Music – The Holy City - Garry Warlow
Prayer of Intercession
Prayer of Confession
Redeeming God, we cry out to you from the depths, as we are lost in this world of difficulty and suffering. Lord, we try to do good, yet sometimes fail. We also falter and choose to do evil, and sometimes succeed. We long to trust you fully and follow you faithfully, yet we cannot relinquish our tendency to go it alone. Forgive us, O God. Restore our hope, such that we may be vibrant, living witnesses to the Son you have glorified. Amen.
Experiencing and Extending the Peace of Christ (Note: we will extend the Peace of Christ without physical contact.)
Offering
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hymn of Praise – Be Still My Soul, v1,2 (UMH #534)
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways
leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds
still know the Christ who ruled them
while he dwelt below.
Sermon – A Song of Hope - Pastor Brad
Hymn – Hymn of Promise (UMH #707)
In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
Benediction/Postlude/Dismissal
Accompanist: Brian Barber
Special Music: Garry Warlow
Valerie and David Sharper
