(Image: “Last Supper” Christina Saj)
©Order of Worship for Sunday October 01, 2023
18th Sunday after Pentecost
Hispanic Heritage Month
World Communion Sunday
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…..“Break Thou the Bread of Life”…………….Greg D.
Public Domain, Arr. by Greg Dixon
Coming of the Light:………………………………………….
Greetings:…………………………………………..Pastor Steven
Opening Prayer:…………………….………….Elizabeth B.
Opening Hymns:….“Morning Has Broken” #145 UMH
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, 1931 Music: Trad Gaelic melody
© 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
1. Morning has broken like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
2. Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness where his feet pass.
3. Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!
Lift Every Voice and Sing #519, UMH
WordsJames Weldon Johnson, 1921
Music by J. Rosamond Johnson, 1921
1. Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,
ring with the harmonies of liberty;
let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies,
let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
let us march on till victory is won.
2. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod,
felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered;
we have come, treading our path thru the blood of the slaughtered,
out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
3. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
thou who hast by thy might led us into the light,
keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee,
lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee;
shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand,
true to our God, true to our native land.
Passing of the Peace:…………………………….Pastor Steven
Let us show signs of reconciliation and love 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
Video: World Communion
Offertory: ……….“A Communion Meditation”…..Choir
Words: Nancy Price and Don Besig Music: Don Besig
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
Old Testament Lesson:….…Exodus 14:19-31..Pastor Steven
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:…..“God Leads Us Along” #3031 W&S
Words and Music: G .A. Young
1. In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads his dear children along;
where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
God leads his dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
some through the fire, but all through the blood;
some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
in the night season and all the day long.
2. Sometime on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads his dear children along;
sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads his dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
some through the fire, but all through the blood;
some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
in the night season and all the day long.
3. Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads his dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads his dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
some through the fire, but all through the blood;
some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
in the night season and all the day long.
Sermon:……“God Moves the Rock”………Pastor Steven
Holy Communion:………………………………Pastor Steven
We will sing the responses
Communion Hymn:..“One Bread, One Body”, #620 in The UM Hymnal
Words and Music by John B. Foley with harmony by Gary Alan Smith
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
1. Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
2. Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
3. Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one, for all.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Closing Hymn:“Lead On, O Cloud of Presence” #2234 TFWS
Words: Ruth Duck (Exodus 13: 21-22)
Music: 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.
Dismissal with Blessing: ……..…………..Pastor Steven
Postlude:………“My Life is in You, Lord”………………..Greg D.
Words and Music: D. Gardner, © 1986 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Steven: 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.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Steven: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Steven: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Steven: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Steven: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Steven: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: 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.
Pastor Steven: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Steven: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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Sunday October 1st Worship Service In Person or Online