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WELCOME
PRELUDE Dr. Dan Cummings, piano
* CALL TO WORSHIP
We are gathered to worship our God.
Send your Spirit upon us.
We come from many places, with many burdens.
Send your Spirit upon us.
We turn our hearts to you, O God.
Send your Spirit upon us, and make us your beloved family.
* PROCESSIONAL HYMN This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
* RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS & REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM
Introduction
Sisters, brothers, siblings in Christ:
through the sacrament of baptism
God's Spirit has been poured out upon water,
water poured over and immersing us,
water that flows freely for all who will receive it,
water from the streams of God's saving power and justice,
water that brings hope to all who thirst for righteousness,
water that refreshes life, nurtures growth, and offers new birth.
Today we come to the waters,
to renew our commitments
in each other's presence
to Christ who has raised us,
the Spirit who has birthed us,
and the Creator who is making all things new.
Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith
And so I ask you, will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?
We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
Reject the evil powers of this world,
And repent of our sin!
Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?
We accept the freedom and power God gives us
To resist evil, injustice, and oppression
In whatever forms they present themselves!
Will you proclaim the good news and live as disciples of Jesus Christ, his body on earth?
We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior,
put our whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as our Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races!
Will you be living witnesses to the gospel, individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?
We will remain faithful members of Christ's holy church
And serve as Christ's representatives in the world.
Will you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
We affirm and teach the faith of the whole church
as we put our trust
in God, the Father Almighty.
in Jesus Christ, his only Son.
and in the Holy Spirit,
one God now and forever.
Thanksgiving Over the Water
The Spirit of the Lord is with us.
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Let us pray.
God of our ancestors, and God of all creation,
the life you birthed in us
by baptism into Jesus Christ
will never die.
Your justice never fails.
Your mercy is everlasting.
Your healing river flows.
Your Spirit blows where you will.
We cannot stop you, God!
But sometimes we try.
We try to block the flow,
we redirect the winds of the Spirit,
or we walk so far away from the life-giving Stream
that we do not hear its sound,
and we forget its power.
We parch ourselves.
We are dry and thirsty, O God.
Come, refresh us!
Come upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come upon us, Holy Spirit!
Come upon these waters.
Come upon these waters.
Let these waters be to us drops of your mercy.
Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice.
Let these waters renew in us the resurrection power of Jesus.
Let these waters make us long for your coming reign.
Most Holy God, Creator, Preserver of All Life!
Glory to you!
Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord!
Glory to you!
Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness!
Glory to you!
Eternal God, One in Three and Three in One!
All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen!
MUSICAL RESPONSE “I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light” (vs1) UMH 206
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
In Christ there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
AN EPISTLE READING Ephesians 3:1-12 Stoker
Anthem Down in the River to Pray Spiritual Dr. Karen Marrolli, mezzo-soprano
HOMILY “What Prayer Does”
MUSICAL RESPONSE “I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light” (vs1) UMH 206
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
In Christ there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD: WE ARE CENTRAL — PRAYER
INVITATION TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY Dr. Dan Cummings, piano
* DOXOLOGY Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow 94 UMH
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We are incredibly stubborn, O Lord.
We have entered the season
in which Your Light has been given to the world,
your blessings have been poured out on the world,
and yet all we can think about is our own problems,
our own needs, our own desires.
Help us to desire you, Lord.
Help us to yearn for your presence.
Pour your baptismal waters over us again,
cleansing us from our self-pity and arrogance.
Nourish and heal us so that we may joyfully serve you.
Wash away our jealousy, greed,
and all negative thoughts and behaviors
that stand in the way of our truly being
the people you have called us to be.
Again let us receive the blessings offered in creation,
in the birth and baptism of Jesus,
and in the ministry of the saints of light.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
AN ACT OF HOLY SILENCE
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS AND PARDON
The love of God is always offered to us,
freely, joyfully, for all eternity.
Rejoice, dear friends,
this is the Good News of our Lord. Amen.
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.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Our God, creator of heaven and earth.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth,
from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are God.
You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth.
You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,
and spoke to us through your prophets.
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,
in whom you have revealed yourself, our light and our salvation.
In his baptism and in table fellowship he took his place with sinners.
Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
and to announce that the time had come
when you would liberate your people.
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.
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.
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 Father (God), now and for ever.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER — Our Father/Creator…
MUSIC AT COMMUNION Dr. Dan Cummings, piano
INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
CLOSING HYMN Leaning on the Everlasting Arms 133 UMH
* BENEDICTION
Go in peace; love and care for one another in the name of Christ;
and may the Spirit of God which filled those first followers,
fill your hearts, souls and minds;
may the power of God which upheld them,
strengthen you for each day;
and may the love of God which directed their every action
be your guiding light and your shining star,
both now and forevermore. Amen.
POSTLUDE Dr. Dan Cummings, piano
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