Worship

February 28, 2021

Biblical prayer is impertinent, persistent, shameless, indecorous. It is more like haggling in an outdoor bazaar than the polite monologues of the church.
~ Walter Wink

The universe is done. The greater masterpiece, still undone, still in the process of being created, is history. For accomplishing His grand design God needs the help of human beings.
~ Abraham Joshua Heschel

The most active workers and thinkers and fighters in the divine service in this world have at the same time been the most active in prayer.
~ Karl Barth

Prayers like gravel

          flung at the sky’s

window, hoping to attract

          the loved one’s attention…
~ R.S. Thomas

Prelude

Joyce Rhodes, organ“Vater unser im Himmelreich” – “Our Father Who Art in Heaven” 
~ J.S.Bach, Georg Boehm, Johann Pachelbel,  Samuel Scheidt 

Call to Worship

Pilgrims, we are invited to journey through this season of Lent
towards the One who calls us each by a new name. 

Disciples, we walk with Jesus wherever he leads us,
pulling our fears, our doubts, our longings behind us.
Believers, we seek to trust the God who always surprises us,
whose promises take on flesh and blood in the good news called Jesus.

Hymn

Sue Livingstone

“Sweet Hour of Prayer” ~ UMH #496 vs. 1, 3

Time for Youth
Robbie Frederiksen, Youth Ministries Director

Scripture Lesson

Luke 11:1-11

Message

Pastor Kate Conolly

“Unraveling the Mysteries”

Offering Prayer

Lord, let our congregation be a witness to you:
             immersed in scripture,
             constant in prayer,
             joyful in worship,
             generous in giving.
             A loving, supportive community
             reaching out to those in need.
             Accept these gifts we offer, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

written by Carol Penner

Offertory

Joyce Rhodes, organ

“The Lord’s Prayer”
~ Albert Hay Malotte, arr. Henrietta Griswold

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn

Sue Livingstone
“Open My Eyes, That I May See” ~ UMH #454 (all three verses)

Sending Forth

The peace of God be in your heart
The grace of God be in your words
The love of God be in your hands
The joy of God be in your soul
Go out in peace. Amen.

Postlude
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Introduction and Toccata in G Major”
~ William Walond 

Worship

February 21, 2021

For prayer exists, no question about that. It is the peculiarly human response to the fact of this endless mystery of bliss and brutality, impersonal might and lyric intimacy that composes our experience of life.

~ Patricia Hampl

Who one believes God to be is most accurately revealed not in any credo but in the way one speaks to God when no one else is listening.

~ Nancy Mairs

Prayer is simply talking to God.

God speaks to us: we listen.

We speak to God: God listens.

A two-way process:

speaking and listening.

~ Mother Teresa

The prayer preceding all prayers is “May it be the real I who speaks. May it be the real Thou that I speak to.”
~ C. S. Lewis

Prelude

Kevin McCullough

Call to Worship

 When we are lonely and feeling lost . . .
 Jesus calls us and brings us hope and peace.
 When we are angry and frustrated . . . 
 Jesus heals our wounds and soothes our tempers.
 When we are sorrowful and broken . . . 
Jesus binds up our wounds with his healing love.
 Come, let us worship the one who cares so abundantly for us.
 AMEN.

Songs

Praise Band

“All Things are Possible”

“You’ll Come”

Children’s Time

Shelley Ahn-Wong, Children’s Ministry Director

Scripture

Luke 5:12-16

Message

Pastor Kate Conolly

“Keep Company with God” 

Offering Song

Praise Band

“Grace Flows Down”

Offering Prayer

Generous God;
Over and over your grace sustains us,
over and over your love provides for us,
over and over your arm steadies us.
We give you these gifts,
with gratitude and joy,
thankful that you are God over all.
Amen.

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Song

Praise Band

“Hosana”

Sending Forth

Sisters and Brothers in Christ.
Go in peace
May God our Creator renew in us the creative Spirit
that brings healing and life to all creation.
May Jesus the Christ, sustain us in boundless grace and love
May the Holy Spirit fill us with courage to be bearers of God’s hope in the world,
Amen.

Postlude
Kevin McCullough

LGUMC live-stream worship service with Pastor Kate Conolly. Los Gatos, California. Also included: Gail Hybarger, Joyce Rhodes, Sue Livingstone, Greg Cook, Cindy Cook, and Pam Parisi. Thank you to the Flower Committee for altar and flower arrangements. www.LGUMC.org

February 14, 2021

Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.   

~ Henri Nouwen

Life is the coexistence of all opposite values. Joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, up and down, hot and cold, here and there, light and darkness, birth and death. All experience is by contrast, and one would be meaningless without the other. 

~ Deepak Chopra

We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world. 

~ Helen Keller

Life is a mixture of periods of joy and sorrow. Develop the courage to welcome both with equal zeal.   
~ Nasreen Basha

Prelude

Joyce Rhodes, organ

“Partita on Deo Gracias”

“O Love, How Deep”

~ arr. Michael Burkhardt

Call to Worship

Here in this place, there are no foreigners,
for all are welcome in God’s house.
Here in this worship, there is only acceptance,
for love is the language of faith.
Here in our lives, there are no divisions,
for God dwells in each of us.
Come, let us worship in unity and love.

~ Adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2012

Hymn

Sue Livingstone

“God Will Take Care of You” ~ UMH #130 vs. 1, 4

Time for Kids

Scripture Lesson

Read by Sean Petrokas

Ruth 4:13-22

Message

Pastor Kate Conolly

“Love Wins!”

Offering Prayer

Offering Prayer

Generous God,
Make us generous in your image.
Make us compassionate in your image.
Make us faithful in your image.
Bless these gifts and all the gifts we offer, that your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Offertory

Joyce Rhodes, organ

“More Love to Thee, O Christ”

~ William H. Doane, arr. Albert L. Travis

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn

Sue Livingstone

“The Gift of Love” ~ UMH #408 (all verses)

Sending Forth

New life beckons,
peace holds out its arms!
Begin your week
knowing that you are walking
straight into the embrace of God.

 ~ Carol Penner

Postlude

Joyce Rhodes, organ

“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” – tune – “Boylston”

~ Lowell Mason, setting Gordon Young

“Agincourt Hymn” – tune – “Deo Gracias”

~ arr. John Dunstable

LGUMC live-stream worship service with Pastor Kate Conolly. Los Gatos, California. Also included: Gail Hybarger, Joyce Rhodes, Gareth Williams, Greg Cook, Cindy Cook, and Pam Parisi. Thank you to the Flower Committee for altar and flower arrangements. www.LGUMC.org

LGUMC live-stream worship service with Pastor Kate Conolly. Los Gatos, California. Also included: Gail Hybarger, Kevin McCullough, Ren Geisick, Mark Eastland, Greg Cook, Cindy Cook, and Pam Parisi. Thank you to the Flower Committee for altar and flower arrangements. www.LGUMC.org

LGUMC live-stream worship service with Pastor Kate Conolly. Los Gatos, California. Also included: Pastor Emeritus Dave Wolf, Pastor Gail Hybarger, Joyce Rhodes, Sue Livingstone, Ken Kasper, Greg Cook, Cindy Cook, and Pam Parisi. Thank you to the Flower Committee for altar and flower arrangements. www.LGUMC.org