(Image: “Peace Begins With Love” From the Peace Wall in
Hamilton, New Zealand)
©Order of Worship for Sunday January 14, 2024
Second Sunday After Epiphany
Human Relations Day
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: ……………………………………….Valerie W.
Coming of the Light:……………………………………..
Greetings:……………………………………Pastor Steven
Opening Prayer: ………………………..…………..Lusi R.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
As we worship today,
we remember our brothers and sisters
who are worshiping elsewhere throughout the world.
Inspire each of us to work more faithfully
for justice and dignity of life everywhere.
Raise our vision above the barriers
of color, culture, and creed that separate us.
Give us wisdom as we deal with one another.
Help us to recognize and to respect different ways,
rather than to judge.
In the Spirit of Jesus who came not to be served,
but to serve, we now must walk in the world.
We must reach out our hands with help and open our
hearts in love. Awake in us the desire to seek your way
of serving you in the world. Amen.
Opening Hymns:“He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought”
#128 UMH
Words by Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862 (Psalm 23)
Music by William B. Bradbury, 1864
1. He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
by waters still, o’er trouble sea,
still ’tis his hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
3. Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
4. And when my task on earth is done,
when by the grace the victory’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” #474 UMH
Words: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932
Music: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932
© 1938 Hill & Range Songs, renewed Unichappell Music, Inc.
1.Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm through the night, lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
2.When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near,
when my life is almost gone,
hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
3.When the darkness appears and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone,
at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
Installation and Recognition of
New Leaders in the Church:………………….Pastor Steven
Giving of our tithes and offerings …………………
You can do this with no 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:………………………………………………..Valerie W.
Offertory Response:…Offertory Response: “The Doxology” #94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623;
Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
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 up-lifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer After Receiving:………………………….Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People:……………………………Pastor Steven
Anthem:“Guide My Feet” .#2208 TFWS……Choir/Congregation
Words and Music: African American spiritual
Harm. © Estate of Wendell Whalum
1.Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race,
for I don’t want to run this race in vain!
2.Hold my hand…
3.Stand by me…
4.Search my heart…
5.Guide my feet…
Gospel Lesson:………….John 1:43-51………….….Lusi R.
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Hymn of Preparation:“Would I Have Answered When You Called” #2137 TFWS
Words: Herman G. Stuemple, Jr. Music: Trad English melody
Words: © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.
1.Would I have answered when you called, “Come, follow,
follow me”? Would I at once have left behind both work
and family? Or would the old, familiar round have held
me by its claim and kept the spark within my heart from
bursting into flame?
2. Would I have followed where you led through ancient
Galilee, on roads unknown, by ways untried, beyond
security? Or would I soon have hurried back where home
and comfort drew, where truth you taught would not disturb
the ordered world I knew?
3. Would I have matched my step with yours when crowds
cried, “Crucify!” when on a rocky hill I saw a cross against
the sky? Or would I too have slipped away and left you
there alone, a dying king with crown of thorns upon a
terrible throne?
4. O Christ, I cannot search my heart through all its tangled
ways, nor can I with a certain mind my steadfastness
appraise. I only pray that when you call, “Come, follow,
follow me!” you’ll give me strength beyond my own to
follow faithfully.
Sermon:……..“Who Do You Follow?”……………Pastor Steven
Closing Hymn: “Oh, I Know the Lord’s Laid His
Hands on Me” #2139 TFWS
Words: African American spiritual
Music: African American spiritual
Refrain
Oh, I know the Lord, I know the Lord,
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Oh, I know the Lord, I know the Lord,
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
1. Did ever you see the like before?
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
King Jesus preaching to the poor!
I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
Refrain
2. Oh, wasn’t that a happy day
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
when Jesus washed my sins away!
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Refrain
3. Some seek the Lord and don’t seek him right;
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
they fool all day and pray at night,
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Refrain
4. My Lord’s done just what he said;
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
he’s healed the sick and raised the dead;
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Refrain
Dismissal with Blessing:…….……………Pastor Steven
Postlude:…………………………………………………Valerie W.
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Sunday January 14th Worship Service