(Image: “Butterfly and Wild Rose” Zeshin, Shibata, 1885 Honolulu Museum of Art, USA)
©Order of Worship for Sunday September 07, 2025
Thirteenth 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…..……“Search Me, O God”………………Greg D.
Words: J. Edwin Orr; Music: Maori melody; arr. By Robert F. Douglas
Arr. © 1986 WORD MUSIC
Coming of the Light:
Greetings:……………………………………………….Pastor Liz
Announcements:………………………………………..Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………….Melrose D.
This is the day that God has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before God, our Maker.
From Psalms 118 and 95
Opening Prayer:……………………………………Melrose D.
Loving and tender Creator, you knit us into being. You truly know us. You forever love us. Praise to you at morning’s light. Praise from heavenly heights, praise all our days. Wonderful is your love. Amen. *by Larry Peacock 2006 Upper Room Books
Opening Hymn:……“Womb of Life” #2046 TFWS
Words: Ruth Duck Music: Skinner Chávez-Melo © words, 1992 Gia Publications, Inc. music, © 1985, 1991 Skinner Chávez-Melo
1. Womb of life, and source of being, home of
every restless heart, in your arms the worlds
awakened; you have loved us from the start.
We, your children, gather ‘round you, at the
table you prepare. Sharing stories, tears, and
laughter, we are nurtured by your care.
2. Word in flesh, our brother Jesus, born to
bring us second birth, you have come to stand beside
us, knowing weakness, knowing earth. Priest who
shares our human struggles, Life of Life, and
Death of Death, Risen Christ, come stand among
us, send the Spirit by your breath.
3. Brooding Spirit, move among us; be our
partner, be our friend. When our memory fails,
remind us whose we are, what we intend. Labor
with us, aid the birthing of the new world
yet to be, free of servant, lord, and
master, free for love and unity.
4. Mother, Brother, Holy Partner; Father,
Spirit, Only Son: We would praise your name
forever, One-in-three and Three-in-one. We would
share your life, your passion, share your
word of world made new, ever singing, ever
praising, one with all, and one with you.
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,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our tithes and offerings………………Pastor Liz
AFUMC Online Giving link: https://afumc.com/give/
Offertory:……..“Jesus Savior, Pilot Me”………………..Greg D.
Words: Edward Hopper, 1871, Music: John E. Gould, 1871
“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:……………………………..Lusi R.
Anthem:………….“Wonderfully Made”……………..Pastor Liz
Words and Music: Ellie Holcomb, 2017
Scripture Lesson: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18……………Melrose D.
You have searched me out
O LORD, you have searched me and known me.You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them — they are more than the sand; I come to the end — I am still with you.
Message: ……………………………………….Pastor Liz
Response to the Word: Holy Communion
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Liz: 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 Liz: 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 Liz: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Liz: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Liz: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Liz: 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 Liz: 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 Liz: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Communion Hymn: “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart”#629 UMH (to be sung during Communion)
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest
wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the
bread of life to eat.
1. As when the shepherd calls his sheep,
they know and heed his voice, so when you
call your family, Lord, we follow and rejoice.
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest
wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the
bread of life to eat.
2. With joyful lips we sing to you our praise
and gratitude, that you should count us worthy,
Lord, to share this heavenly food.
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest
wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the
bread of life to eat.
3. Is not the cup we bless and share the blood
of Christ outpoured? Do not one cup, one loaf
declare our oneness in the Lord?
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest
wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the
bread of life to eat.
4. The mystery of your presence, Lord, no mortal
tongue can tell; whom all the world cannot
contain comes in our hearts to dwell.
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest
wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the
bread of life to eat.
5. You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless
let us be, to serve each other in your name
in truth and charity.
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest
wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the
bread of life to eat.
Closing Hymn: “Forth in Thy Name, O Lord #438 UMH
Words: Charles Wesley, 1749 Music: John Hatton, 1793
1. Forth in thy hame, O Lord, I go, my daily
labor to pursue; thee, only thee, resolved
to know in all I think or speak or do.
2. The task thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me
cheerfully fulfill; in all my works thy
presence find, and prove thy good and perfect will.
3. Thee may I set at my right hand, whose eyes mine
inmost substance see, and labor on at
thy command, and offer all my works to thee.
4. For thee delightfully employ whate’er thy
bounteous grace hath given; and run my course with
even joy, and closely walk with thee to heaven.
Dismissal with Blessing:……………………………Pastor Liz
Postlude:………………………………………………………..Greg D.
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