Join Us for Worship Sunday September 24th In Person or Online

(Image: “Moses” John August  Swanson, 1983 Los Angeles)

©Order of Worship for Sunday September 24, 2023
17th Sunday after Pentecost

For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)

The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am

Prelude……..….Cantemos al Señor”…………………Greg/Daniel
(Let’s Sing Unto the Lord)
Words and Music: Carlos Rosas © 1976, Resource Publications,Inc.
 
Call to Worship:……“Let’s Sing Unto the Lord”………….Choir
 
Coming of the Light:……………………………………….
 
Greetings:…………………………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Opening Prayer:…………………………….….Beverly B.
Let us pray together

God of all the ages,
in your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through
times of peril.
Now when our land is troubled, be near to judge and save.
May leaders be led by your wisdom;
may they search your will and see it clearly.
If we have turned from your way,
reverse our ways and help us to repent.
Give us your light and your truth, let them guide us;
through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of this world,
and our Savior. Amen.
 
Opening Hymns:…“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” #127 UMH
Words: William Williams, 1745 Music: John Hughes, 1907
 
1. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this
barren land.  I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me
with thy powerful hand.  Bread of heaven, bread of
heaven, feed me till I want no more: (want no more)
feed me till I want no more.
 
2.Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing
stream doth flow; let the fire and cloudy pillar lead
me all my journey through.  Strong deliverer, strong
deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield; (strength
and shield) be thou still my strength and shield.
 
3. When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious
fears subside; death of death and hell’s destruction, land
me safe on Canaan’s side.  Songs of praises, songs of
praises, I will ever give to thee; (give to thee) I will
ever give to thee.
 
“Go Down, Moses” #448 UMH
© 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words and Music: African American spiritual, adapted and arranged by William Farley Smith, Exodus 3:7-12
 
1. When Israel was in Egypt’s land, let my people go;
oppressed so hard they could not stand, let my people go.
Go down (go down) Moses (Moses)
way down in Egypt’s land;
tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!
 
2. “Thus saith the Lord,”  bold Moses said,
let my people go;
“if not, I’ll smite your firstborn dead,”
let my people go.
Go down (go down) Moses (Moses)
way down in Egypt’s land;
tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!
 
3. No more shall they in bondage toil,
let my people go;
let them come out with Egypt’s spoil,
let my people go.
Go down (go down) Moses (Moses)
way down in Egypt’s land;
tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!
 
4. We need not always weep and mourn,
let my people go;
and wear those slavery chains forlorn,
let my people go.
Go down (go down) Moses (Moses)
way down in Egypt’s land;
tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!
 
5. Come, Moses, you will not get lost,
let my people go;
stretch out your rod and come across,
let my people go.
Go down (go down) Moses (Moses)
way down in Egypt’s land;
tell old Pharaoh to let my people go!
 
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another
 
Gloria Patri:     “Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.


Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
 
Giving of our tithes and offerings:…….
You can do this with no ok fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
 
Offertory…“The Heavens are Telling”………….…..Greg/Daniel
by J. Hayden/ “Get On Board” (The Gospel Train), by H. Burleigh
 
Offertory Response:  “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #95 UMH
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
 
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
 
Prayer After Receiving:………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Prayers of the People:……………………………Pastor Steven
 
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
 
Anthem:……“Give Me Oil In My Lamp”…………………..Choir
Words and Music: A. Sevison, arr. Joseph M. Martin © 2000 by STUDIO P/R
 
Old Testament Lesson:……Exodus 14:19-31………Beverly B.
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.
 
It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided.
 
The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.
 
At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.”
 
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.
 
But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
 
Hymn of Preparation:….“Lead On, O Cloud of Presence”  #2234 TFWS
Words: Ruth Duck Music by Henry T. Smart © 1992 GIA Publications, Inc.
 
1. Lead on, O cloud of Presence, the exodus is come,
in wilderness and desert our tribe shall make its home.
Our slavery left behind us, new hopes within us grow.
We seek the land of promise where milk and honey flow.
 
2. Lead on, O fiery Pillar, we follow yet with fears,
but we shall come rejoicing though joy be born of tears.
We are not lost, though wandering, for by your light we come,
and we are still God’s people. The journey is our home.
 
3. Lead on, O God of freedom, and guide us on our way,
and help us trust the promise through struggle and delay.
We pray our sons and daughters may journey to that land
where justice dwells with mercy, and love is law’s demand.
 
Sermon:…………………………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Closing Hymn:“How Majestic Is Your Name” #2023 TFWS
Words and Music: Michael W. Smith
© 1981 Meadowgreen Music Co.
 
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name
in all the earth. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic
is your name in all the earth.
 
O Lord, we praise your name.  O Lord, we
magnify your name: Prince of Peace, mighty
God; O Lord God Almighty.
 
O Lord, we praise your name.  O Lord, we
magnify your name: Prince of Peace, mighty
God; O Lord God Almighty.
 
Dismissal with Blessing: ……..…………..Pastor Steven
 
Postlude…….“How Majestic Is Your Name”…….Greg/Daniel
 

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