Image: “The Last Supper” Saget, Father George, Mural, 1963Keur Moussa, Senegal

©Order of Worship for Sunday October 06, 2024

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

World Communion Sunday which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world


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:.…………“Communion Medley”………..Greg D.
Arr. by Greg D.
 
Coming of the Light:………………………………………..
 
Greetings:………………………………………Pastor Steven

Guest Speaker:
Halie Sue from The Methodist Home for Children
 

Opening Prayer: ………………………………Melrose D.
We gather today as the people of God, as a community of Christ’s followers.
We gather to share Word and sacrament, to discern the ways of faithful service.
Where in the world shall we serve our God?
At home and school and business place – in this community and throughout every land.
How in the world shall we serve our God?
By working toward justice where there is oppression, by offering comfort where there is pain, by sharing love where there is hatred.
Why in the world shall we serve our God?
Because the Spirit beckons us, because Jesus calls us to enact our faith.  Let us now worship the one who calls us!

Opening Hymns:“For the Healing of the Nations#428 UMH
Words: Fred Kaan, 1965 Music: John Hughes, 1907
Words © 1968 Hope Publishing Co.
 
1. For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with
one accord; for a just and equal sharing of the things
that earth affords; to a life of love in action help us
rise and pledge our word, help us rise and pledge our word.
 
2. Lead us forward into freedom; from despair your
world release, that, redeemed from war and hatred, all may
come and go in peace. Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase, fear will die and hope increase.
 
3. All that kills abundant living; let it from the earth be
banned; pride of status, race, or schooling, dogmas that
obscure your plan.  In our common quest for justice may we
hallow life’s brief span, may we hallow life’s brief span.
 
4. You, Creator God, have written your great name on
humankind; for our growing in your likeness bring the life
of Christ to mind, that by our response and service earth
its destiny many find, earth its destiny may find.
 
In Christ There Is No East or West#548 UMH
Words: Sts. 1,2,4, John Oxenham, 1912 st. 3, Laurence Hull
Stookey, 1987 Music: Afro-American spiritual
 
1. In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south
or north; but one great fellowship of love throughout
the whole wide earth.
 
2. In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high
communion find; his service is the golden cord close
binding humankind.
 
3. In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek, and neither slave
nor free; both male and female heirs are made, and
all are kin to me.
 
4. In Christ now meet both east and west, in him meet
south and north; all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
 
Passing of the Peace:…………………………………Pastor Steven
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,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.


Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
 
Giving of our tithes and offerings:
 
Offertory: ……..…….“A Place At The Table”……………..Choir
Words: Shirley Erena Murray Music: Lori True
Words © 1998 Hope Publishing Company Music: © 1001 GIA Publications
 
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
 
Gospel Lesson…………………Matthew 6:1-4…………Melrose D.

AnchorConcerning Almsgiving

Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 
Hymn of Preparation: “We are the Body of Christ#2227 TFWS
Words and music by Scott Wesley Brown and David Hampton (1 Cor. 12)
 © 1996 New Spring Publishing, Inc.
 
One heart, one spirit, one voice to praise you,
we are the body of Christ.
One goal, one vision: To see you exalted.
We are the body of Christ.
And to this we give our lives to see you glorified.
 
One heart, one Spirit, one voice to praise you,
we are the body of Christ.
One goal, one vision: To see you exalted.
We are the body, we are the body,
we are the body of Christ.
 
Sermon:……….Where is the Show?……….Pastor Steven
 
Service of Holy Communion:
 
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
 
 
Closing Hymn:“In Unity We Lift Our Song” #2221 TFWS
Words by Ken Medema © 1994 Brier Patch Music; Music by Martin Luther
 
1. In unity we lift our song of grateful adoration,
for brothers brave and sisters strong.
What cause for celebration!
For those whose faithfulness has kept us through distress,
who’ve shared with us our plight, who’ve held us in the night,
the blessed congregation.
 
2. For stories told and told again to every generation,
To give us strength in times of pain,
To give us consultation.
Our spirits to revive to keep our dreams alive,
When we are far from home and evil seasons come;
How firm is our foundation.
 
3. For sacred scriptures handed down,
a blessed trust and treasure,
Which give us hope when hope is gone
and make us weep with pleasure.
And when our eyes grow blind and death is close behind,
We shall recite them still whose words our hearts can fill
With hope beyond all measure.
 
4. For God our way, our bread, our rest,
of all these gifts the Giver.
Our strength, our guide, our nurturing breast
whose hand will yet deliver.
Who keeps us till the day when night shall pass away,
when hate and fear are gone and all our work is done,
and we shall sing forever.
 
Dismissal with Blessing:………………………Pastor Steven
 
Postlude:……………………………………………………..Greg D.


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

We will be gathering UMCOR Cleaning Kits, also known as flood buckets, to send to Western North Carolina.  Visit our Webpage for more information: Avent Ferry UMC Missions

The combined Disaster Response Team from Avent Ferry and Highland UMC has
been called on by the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church
to assist in responding to the catastrophic disaster in the NC Mountains. Our
team will leave on Tuesday October 8, 2024 for Spruce Pine NC for at least 4 days
of hazard tree work. Contact Cullen Whitley.

Avent Ferry United Methodist Church believes that no one in this world should be hungry.

You can join our Avent Ferry Crop Walk in memory of Rachel Gooding  in the link below.  Please help us reach our Goal!

Avent Ferry UMC Crop Walk Registration and Donation Link

Beginning October 28th we will provide meals for 2 to 5 families that are being housed at the emergency shelter apartments on Method Road.  We need volunteers to provide dinner for the week.
Here is the link to the sign up genius to volunteer. 

Sunday October 6th Worship Service