August 6, 2022

Dear Beloved St. Paul’s UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,

Grace and peace to you, my beloved friends. I have been so blessed by this Summer Series, as we journey with the prophets and are reminded that the call to justice is not some modern invention or media talking point. We have discovered together that the prophets’ call is to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

This week, as we continue our series and celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion together, we will be reminded that however we may have failed in the past, God is inviting us right now to be people of justice. Here is our schedule for tomorrow, August 7th:
9:00 AM
In-person Service of Word and Table in the sanctuary

10:30 AM
Hybrid worship service (with communion) in-person and livestreamed here.
*Please remember that since this service is filmed and live-streamed,
you or your family members may be on our worship recording,
which is streamed and archived on our YouTube channel.

11:30 AM
Discussion Group in-person and on Zoom
(Join by clicking here, or use Meeting ID- 859 0584 5591 and Passcode- stpauls)
IMPORTANT NOTE: We are not currently requiring masks, but remind you that wearing a mask is a great way to reduce the spread of airborne particles, and one way that we can show love to one another Please remember that if you are feeling uncomfortable, or are experiencing any symptoms, you can worship with us via our livestream at 10:30 (see link above).

Grace | Peace,
Pastor Greg
Order of Worship
Prelude: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (J.S. Bach)
Ryan Ditmer

Greeting
Rev. Greg Milinovich

Call to Worship
One: Come, you who hunger, to be fed with the bread of living;
All: We come together in community and communion.
One: Come, you who are weary, to a place of rest and rootedness;
All: We come together in hope, to be people of love and justice.
One: Come, you who are unsure, unsatisfied, or unable;
All: We come together to remind each other that God is good!

Opening Hymn: “All Who Hunger” (FWS 2126)

Passing the Peace
Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 (NRSV)
Rev. Dr. Pam Ford

Message: “Learn to do Good”
Rev. Greg Milinovich

Prayer Song: “What Does the Lord Require,” vs. 1 (UMH 441)

Invitation to the Sacrament

Confession and Pardon 
Merciful God, 
We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church. 
We have not done your will., 
We have broken your law,
We have rebelled against your love, 
We have not loved our neighbors, 
And we have not heard the cry of the needy.  
Forgive us, we pray. 
Free us for joyful obedience, 
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
One: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. 
Glory to God. Amen. 

Offering

The Great Thanksgiving
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.
We give thanks and praise to you…
… 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.
In the fulness of time…
… as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
God of grace and glory…
… in Christ’s name we pray: 
Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Prayer after Communion

Closing Hymn: “The Church of Christ, in Every Age” (UMH 589)

Benediction

Postlude: “Toccata” (Pachabel)
Ryan Ditmer

  • In our text today from Isaiah 1, the prophet writes in God’s voice saying, “your appointed festivals my soul hates.” Why do you think this strong language is used here and in verses 11-15?

  • What do you think the prophet is suggesting about the shape of our lives? What is the relationship between the vertical and horizontal, between worship and justice, between orthodoxy and orthopraxis?

  • In verses 16-20 of our text, Isaiah demonstrates to us again that the Hebrew prophets were far less concerned with soothsaying than with calling people of faith to justice. We have a few more weeks of this “Journey with the Prophets” remaining. What have you learned about prophets so far? 
St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation
250 East College Avenue | State College, PA 16801 | 814-237-2163 | stpaulsc.org