(Image:  “Jubilate” Photograph, E. Hopkins, 2023, Maine Coast)

©Order of Worship for Sunday July 16, 2023

7th 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.
Text for hymns are found below each hymn.  Click on the hymn highlighted text for music if shown.

Prelude:……………….“Intermezzo”………………..Greg D.
G. Bizet
 
Coming of the Light:…………………………………………Eli A.
 
Call to Worship:..“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”.. Diane C.
and Jean Marie A.
Words: Henry Van Dyke, 1907, Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824
 
Greetings:…………………………………………….Pastor Steven

Opening Prayer:………………………..………………Lusi R.
 
O God, in mystery and silence you are present in our lives,
bringing new life out of destruction,
hope out of despair, growth out of difficulty.
We thank you that you do not leave us alone but labor
to make us whole.
Help us to perceive your unseen hand in the unfolding
of our lives,
and to attend to the gentle guidance of your Spirit,
that we may know the joy you give your people. 
Amen.
 
Opening Hymns:…..“Marching to Zion#733 UMH
Words: Isaac Watts, 2707, refrain by Robert Lowry, 1867
Music: Robert Lowry, 1867
 
Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be
known; join in a song with sweet accord, join in a
song with sweet accord and thus surround the
throne, and thus surround the throne.
 
Refrain
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful
city of God.
 
2.Let those refuse to sing who never knew our
God; but children of the heavenly King, but children
of the heavenly King may speak their joys abroad,
may speak their joys abroad.

Refrain
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful
city of God.
 
3.The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets
before we reach the heavenly fields, before we reach
the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets,
or walk the golden streets.
 
Refrain
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful
city of God.
 
4.Then let our songs abound, and every tear be
dry; we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,
we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground, to
fairer worlds on high, to fairer worlds on high.
 
Refrain
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful
city of God.
 
On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand#724 UMH
Words: Samuel Stennett, 1787  Music: The Southern Harmony,
Public Domain
 
1. On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful
eye to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.

Refrain
I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the
promised land; oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
 
2. O’er all those wide extended plains shines one eternal day;
there God the Son forever reigns, and scatters night away.
 
Refrain
I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the
promised land; oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
 
3. No chilling winds or poisonous breath can reach that
healthful shore; sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are
felt and feared no more.
 
Refrain
I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the
promised land; oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
 
4. When I shall reach that happy place, I’ll be forever blest,
For I shall see my Father’s face, and in his bosom rest.
 
Refrain
I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the
promised land; oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
 
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us show signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father” #71
The United Methodist Hymnal
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.

Giving of our tithes and offerings:……………….Phillip J.
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:..……………………………………………………..
 
Offertory Response:  
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (The Doxology) #94
The United Methodist Hymnal 
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 Steven
 
Prayers of the People:…………………………..Pastor Steven
 
Hymn of Preparation:………“Sanctuary#2164 TFWS
Words: John Thompson and Randy Scruggs, arr. By Nylea L.
Butler-Moore © 1982 Whole Armor/Full Armor Music
 
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy,
tried and true.  With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
sanctuary for you.
 
Señor prepára me para serun santuario puro y
bendecido de probada calidad. Lleno de gracia
Seré un santuario viviente para ti.
 
Old Testament Lesson:……….Ezekiel 40:1-4…………..Lusi R.
 
1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me there. 2 He brought me, in visions of God, to the land of Israel and set me down upon a very high mountain on which was a structure like a city to the south. 3 When he brought me there, a man was there whose appearance shone like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand, and he was standing in the gateway. 4 The man said to me, “Mortal, look closely and listen attentively, and set your mind on all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you; declare all that you see to the house of Israel.”
 
Sermon:……………………………………………Pastor Steven
 
Anthem:…….“Ezekiel Saw the Wheel”
Afro-American Spiritual arr. William L. Dawson
 
Ezekiel saw the wheels;
Way up in the middle of the air.
Ezekiel saw the wheels;
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Chorus
And the big wheel run by Faith,
And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;
A wheel in a wheel,
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Who’s that yonder dressed in white?
Way in the middle of the air.
It must be the children of the Israelites:
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Chorus
And the big wheel run by Faith,
And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;
A wheel in a wheel,
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Who’s that yonder dressed in red?
Way in the middle of the air.
It must be the children that Moses led:
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Ezekiel saw the wheels;
Way up in the middle of the air.
Ezekiel saw the wheels,
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Who’s that yonder dressed in black?
Way in the middle of the air.
It must be the children running’ back:
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Chorus
And the big wheel run by Faith,
And the little wheel run by the Grace of God;
A wheel in a wheel,
Way in the middle of the air,
Way in the middle of the air.
 
Announcements:………………………………………Phillip J.
 
Closing Hymn:………“Cry of My Heart#2165 TFWS
Words & Music by Terry Butler (Psalm 25:4-5)
© 1991 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
 
It is the cry of my heart to follow you.
It is the cry of my heart to be close to you.
It is the cry of my heart to follow
all of the days of my life.
 
Teach me your holy ways, O Lord,
so I can walk in your truth.
Teach me your holy ways, O Lord,
and make me wholly devoted to you.
 
It is the cry of my heart to follow you.
It is the cry of my heart to be close to you.
It is the cry of my heart to follow
all of the days of my life.
 
Open my eyes so I can see
the wonderful things that you do.
Open my heart up more and more,
and make me wholly devoted to you.
 
It is the cry of my heart to follow you.
It is the cry of my heart to be close to you.
It is the cry of my heart to follow
all of the days of my life.
 
Dismissal with Blessing: …………………..Pastor Steven
 
“Postlude:………“The Heavens Are Telling”……Greg D.
From “The Creation”  J. Hayden


 
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Sunday July 16th Worship Service In Person and Online