(Image: “The Publican and the Pharisee”, Wesley, Frank 1923-2002)
©Order of Worship for Sunday October 26, 2025
Twentieth 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………………………………………………..Valerie W.
Coming of the Light:
Greetings:…………………………………………………..Lorri B.
Announcements:…………………………………………Lorri B.
Call to Worship:……………………………………………..Beverly B.
Rejoice,
for God is among us.
Give thanks,
for in Christ we are a new people.
Sing praise,
for we come to worship God.
Opening Prayer:…………………………………………….Beverly B.
O God,
the strength of those who humbly confess their sin
and place their hope in you,
save us from vain displays of righteousness,
and give us grace to keep faith
with the true humility of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Opening Hymns:….“Gather Us In” #2236 TFWS
Words and Music: Marty Haugen © 1982 GIA Publications, Inc.
1. Here in this place new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away,
see in this space our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in the lost and forsaken,
gather us in the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of your name.
2. We are the young our lives are a myst’ry,
we are the old who yearn for your face,
we have been sung throughout all of hist’ry
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in the rich and the haughty,
gather us in the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.
3. Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
4. Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven, light years away, but
here in this place the new light is shining,
now is the Kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever,
gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
“The Lily of the Valley” #2062 TFWS
Words: Charles W. Fry Music: William S. Hays
1. I have found a friend in Jesus, he’s everything to me.
he’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
the Lily of the Valley, in him alone I see
all I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow he’s my comfort, in trouble he’s my stay,
He tells me every care on him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
he’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2. He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrow borne;
in temptation he’s my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for him forsaken, and all my idols torn
from my heart, and now he keeps me by his power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore,
through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
he’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3. He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
while I live by faith and do his blessed will;
a wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
with his manna he my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory, to see His blessed face,
where rivers of delight shall ever roll;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
he’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
Passing of the Peace:……………………………….Pastor Liz
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, to
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our tithes and offerings………………Pastor Liz
AFUMC Giving Link: https://afumc.com/give/
Offertory:……………………………………………….Valerie W.
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94 UMH
Adapted © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674, adapted by Gilbert Vieira, 1978
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
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!
Prayer After Receiving:………………………………Pastor Liz
The Prayers of the People:………………………….Pastor Liz
The Lord’s Prayer:
Gospel Lesson: ……Luke 18:9-14………………Beverly B.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Hymn of Preparation:“Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” #351 UMH
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1868 Music: William H. Doane, 1870
1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
2. Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief,
kneeling there in deep contrition; help my unbelief.
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
3. Trusting only in thy merit, would I seek thy face;
heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by thy grace.
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
4. Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me,
whom have I on earth beside thee? Whom in heaven but thee?
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
Message: ………………Humble Faith………Pastor Liz
Response to the Word:
Closing Hymn: “I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me” #2151 TFWS
Words and Music: African American spiritual
1. I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me,
I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me,
I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah,
Jesus lifted me.
2.Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me,
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me,
Satan had be bound, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah,
Jesus lifted me.
3.When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me,
when I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me,
when I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah,
Jesus lifted me.
Dismissal with Blessing:………………………Pastor Liz
Postlude:……………………………………………..Valerie W.
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
Follow us on Instagram @aventferryumc and Twitter #aventferryumc
Sunday October 26th Worship Service