Bells

Opening Prayer

Loving God, we give you thanks and praise for the story of Jesus's baptism by John in the wilderness, for it reminds us of our own baptisms. Just as you claimed Jesus as your beloved, so also have we been claimed as your own children. Most wonderful God, foolish and flawed though we are, we too delight in your beloved Son. As in his name we gather in the house of many praises, may the heavens be opened for us, that we may catch a glimpse of that Light and Love that transforms our common days with a beauty not of our making. Through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!

Welcome

Introit     Down to the River to Pray     Traditional

Call to Worship 1 2

ONE: The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty.

ALL: May the Lord bless us with God's Peace!

ONE: The voice of the Lord proclaimed Jesus as God's beloved.

ALL: In our own baptisms, we are claimed as God's beloved. Let us worship God together.

Hymn 163      Wild and Lone the Prophet's Voice

Prayer of Confession 2

Merciful God, we confess that we are estranged from you and from one another. We treat others as strangers rather than as people created in your image and fellow children of God. We exploit the earth as though it were our possession rather than a gift entrusted to our care and a reflection of your image and glory. Forgive us our sins and transform us by your Spirit that we might live as people who have been baptized as your own children. Amen.  

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia.

Words of Assurance

ONE: Friends, hear the good news of the gospel — and of Jesus' solidarity in his own baptism by John with all who have been immersed in baptismal waters, repenting of their sin. In his name, God has forgiven us of our own sins and set us on new paths. Let us remember our baptisms and trust in God's mercy to restore our right standing as God's own.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Wade in the Water     Trad. Arr. Jessica Reddell-Popovich

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 164     Down Galilee's Slow Roadways

Invitation to the Offering  2,4,6

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation.  God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    Edelweiss     Richard Rogers, Arr. Jessica Reddell-Popovich

Prayer of Dedication 2,8

O God, in our baptisms we have been named and claimed as your covenant people, connected deeply with you, with one another, and with the earth. May these gifts be used as a witness to your love, peace and justice at work in the world, renewing the face of the earth. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 475    Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude         I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away     Hank Williams and Albert E. Brumley

1 Bruce Prewer

2 Presbyterian Outlook

4 PCUSA Peace and Global Witness

6 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

8 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

God of Righteousness, grant us your life-giving presence. Guide us in our time of worship, and remain with us as we step out into the world, that we may face injustice with courage and love. May we come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. The timing may feel off; the end of the road might be out of sight, yet we trust in your holy presence. How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, because you still reap what you sow. How long? Not long. Because the arm of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. How long? Not long, because you are our God, and all may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Amen.    

Welcome

Introit     Down to the River to Pray     Traditional

Call to Worship 1

ONE: God of the prophets, call to us today

ALL: Call us into Your ways of love, justice and righteousness.

ONE: God of the poets, remind us again how much You love us

ALL: Sing to us Your ways of love, justice and righteousness.

ONE: God of the disciples, teach us how to follow You

ALL: Teach us Your ways of love, justice and righteousness.

ONE: God of all creation, help us to know Your ways

ALL: We gather to hear Your call, to sing Your praise, to teach each other, to pray and worship as the Body of Christ.    

Hymn 3      Womb of Life and Source of Being

Prayer of Confession 2

God of justice, we confess that in the pursuit of our own dreams and desires, we have not always been civil, not always humane, not always right. Guided by your Spirit, what we would like to do is change the world – make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as You intended them to do. Help us to be your witnesses, by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, the poor, of the destitute – the rights of the worthy and the unworthy poor, so that we can, with your help, change the world. Enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, and to love our enemy as our friend. Amen.       

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia.

Words of Assurance

ONE: Romans 8 says “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is those words that assure us that we are forgiven.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Jonah 31:1-10

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Down to the River to Pray     Ken Medema, Arr. MacDonald

Sermon     Changing God's Mind     Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz

Hymn 279    Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove

Invitation to the Offering  3,4

Just as Martin Luther King did, may we dream of a world made new – where together we shout for justice, seek God's righteousness, fight against oppression, and sing God's praise. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give. We invite you to bring your offerings here to the basket on the table now, or later, and as always you may continue to mail your offerings to the church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory    Lamb of God     Nikolaus Decius, Arr. Pooler

Prayer of Dedication 5

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 408    There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude         The Lord's Prayer/It's Yours     Matt Maher

1 Rev. Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy, adapted from “Our God is Marching On!”

(Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Alabama State House, March 25, 1965)

2 Eric Thomas, inspired by Dorothy Day More Light Presbyterians

3Christine Sine Godspace (adapted)

4 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

5 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Jesus, you are the Light of the World. Shine your light in us today. Chase away the darkness of sin, the darkness of fear and doubt and despair. Fill us with the light of your truth, your Word. Produce in us the fruits of righteousness – the evidence that your Holy Spirit lives in us and works in us and works through us. Meet us here this morning and teach us what is pleasing to you. Make us a shining example of your amazing grace, redeeming love, and life-changing power. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     What Splendid Rays     John Antes

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Jesus calls us to praise and prayer, to song and silence;

ALL: Jesus calls us to worship.

ONE: Jesus calls us to hearing and healing, to service and solidarity;

ALL: Jesus calls us to love.

ONE: Jesus calls us to advocacy and action, to protest and provision.

ALL: Jesus calls us to justice.

ONE: Let us heed the call of Christ.

ALL: Let us worship God together with joy.

Hymn 86      The People Who Walked in Darkness

Prayer of Confession 3

ONE: God, our Light and Salvation,

ALL: Forgive us for those moments when we have walked in darkness, stumbling in the wilderness of quarrels, division, and bickering. You have called us to follow you and to fish for people but too often we think that our way is the only way to do your will. Forgive us, Lord, for the brokenness that we bring upon ourselves.

ONE: God, the Stronghold of our Life

ALL: Hear our cry as we come to you for unity. Send your Spirit to gather us as you desire us. Remind us that unity does not mean uniformity. Teach us that the “same mind” you call us to have is not ours, but the mind of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.      

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia.

Words of Assurance

ONE: Romans 8 says “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is those words that assure us that we are forgiven.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4, Matthew 4:12-23

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    We Are     Kari Jobe

Sermon     Rev. Debra McGuire

Hymn 170    You Walk Along Our Shoreline

Invitation to the Offering  4,5

The God of Heaven and Earth, has called us to leave behind our preoccupations and to follow God into the future. Sometimes we find that call challenging. We are comfortable, maybe even complacent, in our present. May our acts of giving be a gesture of our willingness to follow where you lead.

Offertory    10,000 Reasons     Matt Redman and Steve Angrisano

Prayer of Dedication 6

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 265    Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude         Stories of Jesus      Arr. Page & Shafferman

1 beliefnet.com http://www.beliefnet.com/ilovejesus/features/10-great-prayers-from-ephesians.aspx?p=2#2Fx15YHzCLC4gS4l.99

2 Joanna Harader Spacious Faith

3 Stephen Fearing Wild and Precious Life

4 United Methodist Foundation of Michigan

5 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

6 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Oh God, Our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer—How do we thank you? How do we show our gratitude? Do you want signs and sacrifices? Do you want gold and cattle? Can we turn over our children to you? Would that repay our debt, make everything right? Tell us, what do you require in return for all your goodness? Oh God, Our teacher, example, companion—You have shown us what is good, and call us to remember that what you require is not repayment of debt or settling the score, but obedience. Show us, God, when to do justice, how to love kindness, and where to walk, humbly, with you. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     Here I Am To Worship     Timothy Hughes

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Beloved, what worship does God desire of us?

ALL: To do justice, love kindness, and live humbly with God.

ONE: In our life together as the body of Christ, what worship does God desire of us?

ALL: To do justice, love kindness, and live humbly with God.

ONE: When we share the good news with all creation, what worship does God desire of us?

ALL: To do justice, love kindness, and live humbly with God. Come, let us worship God with justice, kindness, and humility using our voices and our lives. Thanks be to God!

Hymn 643      Now Thank We All Our God

Prayer of Confession 3

ONE: God, our Light and Salvation,

ALL: Forgive us for those moments when we have walked in darkness, stumbling in the wilderness of quarrels, division, and bickering. You have called us to follow you and to fish for people but too often we think that our way is the only way to do your will. Forgive us, Lord, for the brokenness that we bring upon ourselves.

ONE: God, the Stronghold of our Life

ALL: Hear our cry as we come to you for unity. Send your Spirit to gather us as you desire us. Remind us that unity does not mean uniformity. Teach us that the “same mind” you call us to have is not ours, but the mind of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.      

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia.

Words of Assurance 3

ONE: This is the time of God's favor, God's grace continues to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind, Good News to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.

ALL: We live as loved, forgiven and free people through the grace of God! Hallelujah! Amen

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture:  Micah 6:1-8  Matthew 5:1-12

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Folk Beatitudes     David Eddleman

Sermon     Rev. Debra McGuire

Hymn 706    Commit Your Way to God the Lord

Invitation to the Offering  5,6

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation. God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give. We invite you to bring your offerings here to the basket on the table now, or later, and as always you may continue to mail your offerings to the church.

Offertory    I Am the Light of the World     Jim Strathdee

Prayer of Dedication 7

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 5

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

ONE: The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you

ONE: Lift up your hearts

ALL: We lift them up to the Lord

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

ALL: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, creator of the universe. You made us from the dust of the earth, Breathed into us the breath of life, And set us in your world to love you. We rejected your love, your peace. We chose to live in enmity with one another Rather than peace with you and all creation. But you did not reject us, and you called us back to you over and over again. We thank you for the prophets like John who prepared the way of peace. Therefore we praise you, Joining our voices with the heavenly choirs And with all the faithful of every time and place, Who forever sing to the glory of your name, saying together:

ALL:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE:  We give you thanks for Jesus at whose birth the angels sang of the coming reign of peace on earth, who fed the hungry, humbled the mighty, and proclaimed the good news. With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, Remembering Christ's dying and rising, And praying: Come, Lord Jesus! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us— this bread, this cup, this people— Christ's body and blood, that brings us peace. As you make us one in the Spirit, grant us the strength and wisdom to seek peace in the world. Keep us in the peace of Christ until you gather us at your table in glory Guide us in the path of peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we seek to serve you. Lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 740    Lead Me, Guide Me

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude         Stories of Jesus      Arr. Page & Shafferman

1 Dana Cassell http://www.beliefnet.com/ilovejesus/features/10-great-prayers-from-ephesians.aspx?p=2#2Fx15YHzCLC4gS4l.99

2 Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2025

3 Stephen Fearing Wild and Precious Life

4 Rev Gord Worship Offerings

5 Peace and Global Witness PC(USA)

6 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

7 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

8 re:worship

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

God of mystery and of judgment, who has made us to be salt and light in a tasteless, shadowed world, guide us in this time of worship. Grant us understanding and spiritual discernment so that others may see your good works through us, give you the glory, and be moved to serve you. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     Thy Word     Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant, Arr. Jack Schrader

Call to Worship 1

ONE: If the human body, body of blood and muscle, is to live, it needs salt.

ALL: If the body of Christ, body of peace and justice, is to live, it needs us!

ONE: If the earthly creation, bustling and blooming, is to flourish, it needs the sun's light.

ALL: If the new creation we are in Christ is to flourish, it needs the Spirit's light! Jesus says we are salt of the earth, light of the world. Our faith, our love, our hope —essential as salt and light.

ONE: But if salt isn't salty?

ALL: It isn't what it's meant to be.

ONE: And if a light doesn't shine?

ALL: It isn't what it's meant to be.

ONE: Jesus says we are salt of the earth, light of the world. Briny and bright, we are God's faithful people.

ALL: We shall be who we are meant to be in Christ: a welcoming oasis, a compassionate community, a justice-making people, giving glory to God! Let us worship!

Hymn 74      When God Restored Our Common Life

Prayer of Confession 3

ONE: God, our Light and Salvation,

ALL: forgive us for those moments when we have walked in darkness, stumbling in the wilderness of quarrels, division, and bickering. You have called us to follow you and to fish for people but too often we think that our way is the only way to do your will. Forgive us, Lord, for the brokenness that we bring upon ourselves.

ONE: God, the Stronghold of our Life

ALL: hear our cry as we come to you for unity. Send your Spirit to gather us as you desire us. Remind us that unity does not mean uniformity. Teach us that the “same mind” you call us to have is not ours, but the mind of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia.

Words of Assurance 4

ONE: This is the time of God's favor, God's grace continues to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind, Good News to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.

ALL: We live as loved, forgiven and free people through the grace of God! Hallelujah! Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 5:5-10

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Blessed Be     George Lynch

Sermon     We Know The Way          Dr. Jennifer Bower Dawson

Hymn 337    I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

Invitation to the Offering  5,6

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation. God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    Psalm 150     Nathan Jensen

Prayer of Dedication 6

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 700    I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude         Blessed Be Your Name     Matt Redman

1,2 Caldwell United Methodist Church http://www.beliefnet.com/ilovejesus/features/10-great-prayers-from-ephesians.aspx?p=2#2Fx15YHzCLC4gS4l.99

3 Stephen Fearing Wild and Precious Life

4 Rev Gord Worship Offerings

5 Peace and Global Witness PC(USA)

6 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

7 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark

Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Lord, in you we are transformed and transformed still again. When the discouraged cry for hope, make us hope. When the hungry cry for bread, make us bread. When the thirsty cry for water, make us water. When the suffering cry for help, make us help. When the sick cry for healing, make us healing. When the bound cry for freedom, make us freedom. When the outcasts cry for love, make us love. Lord who is hope, who is bread and water, who is help and healing, who is freedom, and who is love, transform us anew, and so keep us close to you, as you transform the world. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Beyond our busyness, above the cold winter floor there is a glory rising born of heaven and reaching out to each one of us.

ALL: There is a light that shines through the clouds as an invitation seeking all of who we are that transfigures the world.

ONE: There is a light that transforms darkness into hope, that brings life from a cross where old life ends and new life is born.

ALL: In glory Jesus meets us here raising us from depths of valley to the height of the mountain carrying the weight of our humanity to the heights of heavens glory. Let us worship from the mountain and hear again “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Hymn 662      Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Prayer of Confession 3

ONE: God, our Light and Salvation,

ALL: forgive us for those moments when we have walked in darkness, stumbling in the wilderness of quarrels, division, and bickering. You have called us to follow you and to fish for people but too often we think that our way is the only way to do your will. Forgive us, Lord, for the brokenness that we bring upon ourselves.

ONE: God, the Stronghold of our Life

ALL: hear our cry as we come to you for unity. Send your Spirit to gather us as you desire us. Remind us that unity does not mean uniformity. Teach us that the “same mind” you call us to have is not ours, but the mind of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Response Hymn 175

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness,

And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, Allelluia.

Words of Assurance 4

ONE: This is the time of God's favor, God's grace continues to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind, Good News to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.

ALL: We live as loved, forgiven and free people through the grace of God! Hallelujah! Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart.

Scripture: Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    I Can Only Imagine     Bart Millard

Sermon     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 193    Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain

Invitation to the Offering  5,6

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation. God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory    

Prayer of Dedication 7

God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in our world and ourselves. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 189    O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude         I See The Lord     Chris Falson

1 Catholic Relief Services http://www.beliefnet.com/ilovejesus/features/10-great-prayers-from-ephesians.aspx?p=2#2Fx15YHzCLC4gS4l.99

2 Rev. Rob Smith, Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church, Apple Valley, MN

3 Stephen Fearing Wild and Precious Life

4 Rev Gord Worship Offerings

5 Peace and Global Witness PC(USA)

6 Touch of Holiness, Ruth Duck and Maren Tirabassi

7 Words for Worship, Arlene Mark