(Image: “Let There Be”, Pittman, Lauren Wright, 2016 USA)
©Order of Worship for Sunday September 21, 2025
Fifteenth 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:……“All Creatures of Our God and King”……Greg D.
Words: Francis of Assisi, ca. 1225 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge,
Adapt. 1989 The UM Publishing House
Coming of the Light:
Greetings:…………………………………………………Lorri B.
Announcements:………………………………………Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………………Ian D.
Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Opening Prayer:………………………………………….Ian D.
Oh God, you who reside in eternal wisdom and compassion, unto whom all hearts are open and all desires known,
we come before you today with singing and thanksgiving for the gift of life and faith.
Speak to our hearts as we wait before you and let your holy spirit renew us.
This morning we join with those throughout your whole creation who offer their praise and prayers to you.
We thank you for this church and for all who gather here as we worship and praise your name in this holy place.
Help us to grow in wisdom. May our lives be strengthened in faith in order to serve you well.
We pray this and all things in the name of your Son who shows us the way. Amen (Rev. Dr. Claudia Demick)
Opening Hymns:…..“Sweet, Sweet Spirit” #334 UMH
Words and Music: Doris Akers, 1962 © 1962 Manna Music, Inc.
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I
know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord; there are
sweet expressions on each face, and I
know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove,
stay right here with us, filling us with your love;
and for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
without a doubt we’ll know that we have been
revived when we shall leave this place.
“This Is the Day” #657 UMH
Words: Psalm 18:24; adapt. By Les Garrett, 1967
Music: Les Garrett, 1967 © 1967, 1980 Scripture in Song
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord hath made,
that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice, let us rejoice
and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that
the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord hath made.
Passing of the Peace:………………………………….Lusi R.
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.
Giving of our tithes and offerings…………………Lusi R.
AFUMC Giving Link: https://afumc.com/give/
Offertory:………..“Stand By Me”………….Aaron/Elizabeth
Words and Music: Charles Albert Tindley, 1906
Arr. © The United Methodist Publishing House
“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:………………………………..Lusi R.
The Prayers of the People:…………………..Pastor Donna
The Lord’s Prayer:
Anthem:……………..“Why Me Lord”…………….Aaron B.
Words and Music: Kris Kristofferson
Scripture Lesson:………….Genesis 1:26-30………………Ian D.
Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
Hymn of Preparation:“This is My Father’s World” #144 UMH
Words: Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901
Music: Traditional English melody; adapted by Franklin L. Sheppard, 1915
1. This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
2. This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
3. This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong
seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!”
Message: ……“There is Hope for Creation”……Pastor Donna
Closing Hymn:….“The Trees of the Field” #2279 TFWS
Words: Steffi Geiser Fuben Music: Stuart Dauermann
© 1975 Lillenas Publishing Co., admin. by The Copyright Co.
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace;
the mountains and the hills will break forth before you;
there’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands. And all the trees of the
field will clap their hands, the trees of the field will
clap their hands, the trees of the field will clap their
hands while you go out with joy.
Dismissal with Blessing:……………………..Pastor Donna
Postlude:……………………………………………………..Greg D.