Worship
Sunday, September 19, 2021
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
GATHERING MUSIC
Patricia Milstead, organ
PRELUDE
Patricia Milstead, organ
“An Appalachian Air” ~ Gilbert Martin
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Rev. Jeffrey D. Hall
THE SACRAMENT OF SILENCE
INSTRUMENTAL
“There’s Something About That Name” ~ UMH #171
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Jeffrey D. Hall
*CALL TO WORSHIP
John Palmer
L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P: And also with you.
L: Jesus challenges us in today’s gospel:
P: Whoever wants to be first must be last and servant of all.
L: Then Jesus took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them:
P: Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes not only me but the one who sent me.
L: To change the world we must change the way we love and welcome all children!
P: May we learn to love all children as if they were our own!
*OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
John Palmer
Holy One, with the presence of our children we welcome you with joyful hearts this morning. Teach us the way to make the last first and to be servants of all. Guide us in your way of humility and service. Show us how to become disciples of Jesus Christ — your Child and our Brother. We ask for blessings on all your children in your Holy Name. Amen.
*HYMN
Linda Juhl, Sue Livingstone, John Palmer, Tom Waldrop
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” ~ UMH #89
TIME FOR CHILDREN
Shelley Ahn-Wong, Director of Children’s Ministry
THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
John Palmer
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
John Palmer
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
PRAYER CARDS COLLECTED
HYMN
Linda Juhl, Sue Livingstone, John Palmer, Tom Waldrop
“Near to the Heart of God” ~ UMH #472
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Rev. Jeffrey D. Hall
PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Rev. Jeffrey D. Hall
SCRIPTURE READING
John Palmer
Mark 9:30-37
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
SERMON
Rev. Jeffrey D. Hall
Whoever Welcomes One Such Child
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE WORD
WORSHIP WITH TITHES & OFFERINGS
John Palmer
Opening our hands and our hearts to the children of this world in Christ’s name, let us worship with our tithes and offerings.
OFFERTORY
Patricia Milstead, organ
“Siciliano” ~ Domenico Scarlatti
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH 95
*HYMN
Linda Juhl, Sue Livingstone, John Palmer, Tom Waldrop
“Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service” ~ UMH #581
THE COMMUNITY DEPARTS FOR MINISTRY
*BENEDICTION
Rev. Jeffrey D. Hall
POSTLUDE
Patricia Milstead, organ
“An Exultant Alleluia” ~ Lani Smith
* Stand as you are able