CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP
THE PEOPLE GATHER
BRINGING IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
PRELUDE
God of the Ages (Warren) Phyllis Swift
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Steven Law
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Rev. Kathy Brown
**Gathering Hymn
This is My Song UMH #437
**PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church welcomes and extends our love to all persons regardless of age, race, income, nationality, life experiences, sexual orientation, or gender identity. All are welcome into our family. You are invited to greet one another with signs of God’s peace. Peace be with you. ALL: And also with you.
**CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, all that are weary, all that are carrying burdens so heavy.
Jesus will give us rest.
Come, take what Jesus has to offer: love, forgiveness, and grace.
Christ will give us peace.
Come, find rest, and learn from Jesus.
For our Savior will give us rest in our souls.
Come, let us worship our God.
Let us follow the One, who leads us into life.
**HYMN OF PRAISE
The Gift of Love (vs. 3) UMH #408
**OPENING PRAYER
from the UMC Book of Worship
Almighty God, you rule all the peoples of the earth. Inspire the minds of all those to whom you have committed the responsibility of government and leadership in the nations of the world. Give to them the vision of truth and justice, that by their counsel all nations and peoples may work together. Give to the people of our country zeal for justice and strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will. Forgive our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and love the truth. We pray all these things through Jesus Christ. Amen.
*NICAEA
UMH #64
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
CHILDREN’S TIME
Marti Law-Lowery
This, this is where children belong.
Welcomed as part of the worshipping throng.
Water, God’s word, bread and cup, prayer and song.
This is where children belong.
TIME OF PRAYER
Cares Chorus TFWS #2215
I cast all my cares upon you.
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
And any time that I don’t know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND PASTORAL PRAYER
One: Lord in Your Mercy Many: Hear our prayers.
READING FROM THE PSALTER
Psalm 145:8-14
SPECIAL MUSIC
When the Poor Ones (Manzano) Jackie Odell
**READING FROM THE Gospel
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
SERMON
A Gift Unlike Any Other Rev. Earleen Reedy
HOLY COMMUNION
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.
Almighty God, Creator of the universe,
Ruler of all nations, judge of all flesh,
you have placed us, your people, in this land made rich
with rivers, forests, mountains, and creatures great and small.
Here, you set before the founders and pioneers of this nation
an opportunity beyond measure to build a realm of justice,
peace, and freedom.
Here you continue to call your people,
freed from the law and baptized into Christ Jesus,
to be a sign of your reign in all the world.
For such a place, such a vision
and such a calling we give you thanks,
praying we may ever join afresh the dreams you set before us
as we join with your people in every land on earth
and with all the company of heaven
in your unceasing praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Above all we give you thanks
for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ,
who sends us into the world
to declare the good news of your kingdom
to every creature:
Justice to all peoples, good news to the poor,
release for prisoners, sight for the blind,
and freedom for the oppressed.
On the night before he was arrested and sentenced to death
by the authorities of his own nation,
he took bread, gave thanks, broke it,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.”
When supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks,
gave it to his disciples, and said,
“Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the covenant
poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins.”
And so we remember and proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
We pour ourselves out before you in praise and thanksgiving,
a holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ’s offering for us.
So pour out your Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make Christ known to us in the breaking of this bread,
and the sharing of this cup.
Renew our relationship with Christ,
that we may be for the world his body
poured out for the world
at this time in this nation, in this world,
and at that great banquet in the fullness of your new creation
where justice flows like rivers,
righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,
where none shall hunger or thirst,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
By Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty God,
now and ever. Amen.
And now, with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray:
The Lord’s Prayer
HYMM OF INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come to the Table of Grace
Come to the table of grace. Come to the table of grace.
This is God’s table it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of grace
(Vs. 2 Come to the table of peace; vs. 3 love; )
GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERING
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Let Us Be Bread TFWS # 2260
Let us be bread, blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared, life for the world.
Let us be wine, love freely poured.
Let us be one in the Lord.
OFFERTORY INTERLUDE
Phyllis Swift
**DOXOLOGY
UMH #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts.
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
**HYMN OF INVITATION AND DISCIPLESHIP
UMH #519
Lift Every Voice and Sing
(vs. 1 & 3)
**BENEDICTION
Taking Out the Light of Christ
DEPARTING CHORUS
Goodness is Stronger than Evil TFWS # 2219
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours, victory is ours through him who loved us.
Victory is ours, victory is ours through him who loved us.
POSTLUDE
America (arr. Schram) Phyllis Swift
Remember wherever you are, you are shining the light of Christ into the world.
Make it shine
