(Image: “Tempest”, Kathleen Peterson, 21st Century)

©Order of Worship for Sunday October 22, 2023
21st 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……“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”………….Greg D.
Words: William Whiting  Music: John B. Dykes
 
Coming of the Light:…………………………………………
 
Greetings:…………………………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Opening Prayer:……………..……….……………Beverly B.
O creator and mighty God,
       you have promised strength for the weak,
       rest for the laborers, light for the way,
       grace for the trials, help from above,
O creator and mighty God,
       help us to continue in your promise.  Amen
 
Opening Hymns:….“Stand By Me”, #512 UMH
Words & Music:  Charles Albert Tindley, circa 1906
Arranged by William Farley Smith, 1989
 
1. When the storms of life are raging,
stand by me (stand by me);
when the storms of life are raging,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
When the world is tossing me
like a ship upon the sea,
thou who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (stand by me).
 
2. In the midst of tribulation,
stand by me (stand by me);
in the midst of tribulation,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
When the host of hell assail,
and my strength begins to fail,
thou who never lost a battle,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
3. In the midst of faults and failures,
stand by me (stand by me);
in the midst of faults and failures,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
When I’ve done the best I can,
and my friends misunderstand,
thou who knowest all about me,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
4. In the midst of persecution,
stand by me (stand by me);
in the midst of persecution,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
When my foes in war array
undertake to stop my way,
thou who saved Paul and Silas,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
5. When I’m growing old and feeble,
stand by me (stand by me);
when I’m growing old and feeble,
stand by me (stand by me).

When my life becomes a burden,
and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou Lily of the Valley,
stand by me (stand by me).
 
We’ll Understand It Better By and By #525 UMH
Words and Music: Charles Albert Tindley, 1906
 
1. We are tossed and driven on the restless sea of time;
somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled
away, we will understand it better by and by.
 
By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
for we’ll understand it better by and by. (by and by)
 
2. We are often destitute of the things that life demands,
want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands;
we are trusting in the Lord, and according to God’s word,
we will understand it better by and by.
 
By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
for we’ll understand it better by and by. (by and by)
 
3. Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand
all the ways that God would lead us to that blessed
promised land,
but he guides us with his eye, and we’ll follow till we die,
for we’ll understand it better by and by.
 
By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
for we’ll understand it better by and by. (by and by)
 
4. Temptations, hidden snares often take us unawares,
and our hearts are made to bleed for a thoughtless word or deed;
and we wonder why the test when we try to do our best,
but we’ll understand it better by and by.
 
By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
for we’ll understand it better by and by. (by and by)
 
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
 
Offertory: ……..…“Ye Servants of God”………..Handbell Choir
Music: William Croft Arr. James D. Kimbal ASCAP
 
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
 
Anthem:……………..“Simple Gifts”……………….Handbell Choir
Music: Shaker Melody Arr. by Patricia Sanders Cota
© 1996 Agape, Carol Stream, Illinois
 
Gospel Lesson:…..…Mark 4:35-41…………Beverly B.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”  And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.
 
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
 
He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.
He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
 
And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
 
Hymn of Preparation:…..“Be Still, My Soul   #534, UMH
Words: Katharina von Schlegel, 1752
Musc: Jean Sibelius, 1899; arr. from The Hymnal, 1933
 
1. Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
 
2. Be still, my soul:your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.
 
3. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
 
Sermon:………“Having Faith in a Crisis”………Pastor Steven
 
Closing Hymn:“Awesome God #2040 TFWS
Words and Music: Rich Mullins
© 1988 BMG Songs, Inc.
 
Our God is an awesome God; he reigns from
heaven above with wisdom, pow’r and love.
Our God is an awesome God!
 
Our God is an awesome God; he reigns from
heaven above with wisdom, pow’r and love.
Our God is an awesome God!
 
Our God is an awesome God!
Our God is an awesome God!
 
Dismissal with Blessing: ……..……………………..Pastor Steven
 
Postlude:……“When the Waves Are Crashing”……….Greg D.
Words: Gareth Hill  Music: Jackson Henry  Words: © 2007 Hope Publishing Company;
Music: © 2011 Jackson Henry
 


For Online Giving, follow this link Avent Ferry Give .  You can also mail checks to Avent Ferry UMC, 2700 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.

For additional AFUMC Announcements: See your AFUMC Announcements E-mail or Click Announcements Here

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CROP Walk Sunday October 29th at 3:00pm
We are dedicating our Avent Ferry Crop Walk in memory of Rachel Gooding! Please help us support and raise money for this special Missions event!For this year’s Walk we return to downtown Raleigh. The Step off will be from First Baptist Church on Salisbury Street parking lot (GPS 176 Hillsborough Street). There is plenty of parking with an adjoining state parking lot (by Sanctuary on Hillsborough St, just past 99 N. Salisbury) and state parking deck 77 on West Edenton Street (turn left onto Edenton Street from N. Salisbury just before you reach the State Capitol). Both parking options are no charge.
Please go to Here to Donate for information about our benefitting partners, sponsors, walk route maps, etc.

Sunday October 22nd Worship Service In Person and Online