Sunday, August 14, 2022, 10 a.m.
In-person Worship* Enter the sanctuary through the doors facing Stockley Gardens.

All must follow our Covid-19 Mitigation Plan outlined here.

Our nursery is available for children through age 3. Our nursery workers are CPR certified and fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus. 
Online Worship Click here to go to our Facebook page or click here to go directly to our "Live" page.

Please complete a Connection Card or write your name in the comments so we know you are worshiping with us.

Streaming licenses: Ghent UMC is licensed to stream our FB Live worship services with permission under CCLI #20175590 and One License A-727358. All rights reserved.
Connect with us: Please click here to let us know you are worshiping with us today. Also, if desired, you may give or update your contact information, make prayer requests, indicate ministry interests, and/or request more information about the church or Methodism.
Thank you to Josh McDonald for sharing his gift of music with us today. He has played his trumpet here on several occasions. The offertory today is a song he wrote on the occasion of the birth of a friend's daughter: "Lullaby for Grace."
Greeting & Announcements

Hymn: “Let My Prayer Rise” by Deanna Witkowski; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  • Words for congregational refrain: Let my prayer rise before you as incense. The lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Let my prayer rise before you as incense. The lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Baptism

Reading: “God is in Us” by Susan Palo Cherwien, Crossings, Morningstar Publications, 2003. Pg. 45
  • Following this reading, and in the spirit of Jazz, we would like to focus and reflect about the reading. During this time, listen to some words and phrases that may be meaningful. We invite you to find your own words and to let those words speak to your heart.

Perhaps we do not remember it,. .. . as loving arms held us
and water of new belonging splashed over us.
Each Ash Wednesday we see the sign again revealed.
We had forgotten it on ourselves;
we had neglected to see it on others,
But it persists.
That sign.
That cross.
A smudge of mortality.
A remembrance of water poured.
A remembrance of anointing.
A remembrance of a way made straight for God.
You have been sealed. . .
With the cross. . .
Forever.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

  • Reflection: Splashed, Sign, Persists, Cross, Smudge of mortality, Water poured, Anointing, Sealed Forever

Hymn #2076: “O Blessed Spring;" Tune: O Waly Waly, arr. by Chuck Marohnic; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  1. O blessed spring, where Word and sign embrace us into Christ the Vine: here Christ enjoins each one to be a branch of this life-giving Tree.
  2. Through summer heat and youthful years, uncertain faith, rebellious tears, sustained by Christ’s infusing rain, the boughs will shout for joy again.
  3. When autumn cools and youth is cold, when limbs their heavy harvest hold, then through us warm, the Christ will move with gifts of beauty, wisdom, love.
  4. As winter comes, as winters must, we breathe our last, return to dust; still held in Christ, our souls take wing and trust the promise of the spring.
  5. Christ, holy Vine, Christ, living Tree, be praised for this blest mystery: that Word and water thus revive and join us to your Tree of Life.

Eucharist

Reading: “Calls to Communion” from Shaping Sanctuary, Kelly Turney, Editor, Reconciling Congregation Program, 2000. Pg. 220
  • From lonely places deep in our hearts and from busy places just around the corner, we come to this feast of longing and fulfillment. We come knowing that often our expectations of what we will receive outweighs our certainty of what we will give. Nonetheless, we come knowing that we will give what we can and receive abundantly the grace which knows no bounds.


Hymn #618 (Please stay seated): “Let Us Break Bread Together;" Tune: Traditional, arr. Bill Carter; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  1. Let us break bread together on our knees, let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
  2. Let us drink the cup together on our knees, let us drink the cup together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.
  3. Let us praise God together on our knees, let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Offering of Ourselves

Offertory: “Lullaby for Grace” by Joshua McDonald

Doxology: "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow;” Tune: Old Hundredth, arr. Chuck Marohnic; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  • Click here to view the sheet music.
  • Words: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him, all creatures here below. Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Trust


Hymn #526: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus;" Tune: Converse, arr. Bill Carter; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  1. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
  2. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
  3. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In his arms he'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

Prayers 

God of all, in Scripture you give us your vision. In love you give us your grace. In wisdom you give us each other.
  • For this we give you thanks and, as one body, offer ourselves and each other as we pray.

For the welfare of the world, for nations and people near and far, for their hopes and fears, for those who weep and those who dance in every part of your world. (Members of the congregation may name a country or a group of people silently or aloud.)
  • God of Love: Open our hearts to both strangers and friends. 

For every community where love is proclaimed as the core of life; and for every church that watches and waits for you. For those who seek, or lead or follow, that the path be made straight for your coming. (Members of the congregation may name any church, church leader or faith community silently or aloud.)
  • God who unites us all: Bless your holy people that we might hold up whatever is true and just, joyfully living your vision for all of creation.

For our nation; for a compassion that informs our decisions, enlightens our understanding, and clarifies our responsibility so that a spirit of mutual respect may inform those who share power with those they pledge to serve. (Members of the congregation may name anyone in a position of power in national or local government or civic organizations, school principals/presidents silently or aloud.)
  • God who makes power of powerlessness: Make us channels of justice and peace that we may speak the truth in love to those in positions of power.

For our local communities, that our love may grow with knowledge and insight as we discern the gifts and the challenges around us. That we may have the courage to learn the names of those around us, as well as the urgency of their needs (Members of the congregation may name their concerns for and/or gifts of the local community, silently or aloud.)
  • God who works in everything: Open our eyes that we may learn your vision of freedom, and that our privilege be blessed in how we use it to benefit those around us.

For those who suffer. For the gift of being companions with them and for the sacred place of wounds. (Members of the congregation may name groups of those who are suffering from illness, mistreatment, or are companions to those who are suffering silently or aloud.)
  • God who enfolds us in your own wounds: Open our hearts to know the healing power of your love that we may bless, with you, those in our midst who are tired or hurting, and those who trust us to pray for them.

For the special needs and concerns, hopes and thanksgivings of the community gathered here. (Members of the congregation may name their concerns, hopes and thanksgivings for those in their lives silently or aloud.)
  • God of your servants in this community: We give thanks for the gifts that we offer one another to fulfill the vision of ministry and mission you set before us.

For those who have died that we may know the presence of the cloud of witnesses around us as we seek to be your people. Bless those who mourn and those who, in their grief, know the sure promise of eternal life in you. (Members of the congregation may name those they mourn or those who are mourning silently or aloud.)
  • God who has come and is coming again, God of forever: We praise you for the wonder of eternal life Stay with us while we wait and light our way to you.

For the promise of faith; that we may see the sacred in each of our lives, believing with our brothers and sisters in faith that we can make a difference, as we claim the Waters of Baptism that flow through all that we are together.  

Healing / Wholeness 

Hymn: “There Is a Balm in Gilead;” Arr. Warren Cooper; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  • Words for congregational refrain: There is a balm. There is a balm. There is a balm in Gilead. Makes the wounded whole. Heals the sin-sick soul. There is a balm in Gilead.  

Eternity

Reading: “Fear Not” by Susan Palo Cherwien, From Glory into Glory, Morningstar Music Publishers, 2009. Pg. 248
Fear not.
The journey itself
is home.
The journey through life
through death
the journey itself
is home.
Here in this spiral procession
deeper and deeper
broader and broader
God is the path
God is the companion
(Whither shall I flee from your presence?)
God, the lighted window in the night
God, the guiding stars overhead
God, the opening door
God, the welcoming voice
God, the waiting meal.
There is no place where God is not.

Fear not.
We are never alone.
We process

from home
through home
to home.

There is no place
Where God is not.

Sermon: The Congregation

Hymn #62, st. 1, 5-7: "All Creatures of our God and King;" Tune: Lasst Uns Erfreuen arr. Deanna Witkowski; Words and music: One License #A-727358
  • Click here to view the sheet music.
  • Words
  • 1. All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, alleluia, alleluia! O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam, sing praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
  • 5. All who for love of God forgive, all who in pain or sorrow grieve, alleluia, alleluia! Christ bears your burdens and your fears, so even in the midst of tears, sing praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
  • 6. And you, most gentle sister death, waiting to hush our final breath, alleluia, alleluia! Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom, fair is the night that leads us home, sing praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
  • 7. O sisters, brothers, take your part, and worship God with humble heart, alleluia, alleluia! All creatures, bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One! sing praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Benediction

Postlude
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Daily Prayer Starter

Please set aside time each day to pray for 2-3 minutes. This week's prayer starter is: 

"God of all, in Scripture you give us your vision. In love you give us your grace. In wisdom you give us each other. For this we give you thanks and offer ourselves as we pray..."

For prayer requests, contact Pastor Ryan Schaeffer.

For more information about Ghent United Methodist Church, please click here to visit our website.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28