Bulletin for September 20

“All the nations that You’ve made will come and bow down before You, Lord; they will glorify Your name!”  – Psalm 68:35 (CEB)

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship (United Church of Christ)

Come into the sanctuary and look around. Behold the beauty and splendor of God’s people. All of us – rich and poor, employed and unemployed, tired and refreshed. Behold the beauty and splendor of God’s people. We believe God’s steadfast love is better than life, so let our lips praise God as long as we live. We also often doubt God’s love. We often doubt that God will really provide when it matters. But this is what matters today: God said, “Come all who are thirsty, come to the water, and you that have no money, come, buy and eat.” All of us – rich and poor, employed and unemployed and desperately hanging on. So, with faith – both bold and timid – let us worship God!

*Hymn: “Morning Has Broken,” #145

Prayer: (written by John van de Laar)                               

Though You are God, with all the influence and status that the name implies, You refused to pull rank and parade Your power among us. Instead, You chose to step down into our experience, living among us, as one of us, with all the struggle and suffering that goes with being human. More than that, You adopted the role of a servant, washing feet, serving people of no reputation or social standing and giving of Yourself completely. As incredible as it sounds, You are the God who serves, and we can respond in no other way than to give ourselves to You in praise. Amen.     

*Gloria Patri #70   

*Passing the Peace of Christ

Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’sPrayer                                                 

Invitation to the Offering

*Doxology: #95

*Offertory Prayer

First Lesson: Psalm 105:1-6, 37-43

Hymn: “O Jesus, I Have Promised,” #396

Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:21-30

Sermon: “The attitude of Christ”

*Hymn: “Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing,” #671

*Benediction

*Choral Amen

Postlude Music

“The worship is ended; let the service begin.”

*Please rise in body or in spirit.

Wednesday with the Wesleys

 

Weary souls that wander wide

From the central point of bliss,

Turn to Jesus crucified,

Fly to those dear wounds of His:

Sink into the purple flood;

Rise into the life of God!

Find in Christ the way of peace,

Peace unspeakable, unknown;

By His pain He gives you ease,

Life by His expiring groan;

Rise exalted by His fall,

Find in Christ your all in all.

- Charles Wesley

Scripture lessons for September 20

Our lessons for next Sunday are from Psalm 105:1-6, 37-43 and Philippians 1:21-30.

Today at Glenville UMC

Bob Sharp's Birthday is This Week!

(Click on picture to see video of him being sung "Happy Birthday!")

Ad Board Meeting Today

Joys

+ Thanks be to God for the gift of Bob S. whose birthday will be observed this week.

+ Thanks be to God for the joy of cooler weather.

+ Thankful for the wonderful Farming of Yesteryear event in Kiester yesterday. It was a fun time for people of all ages. Young people received encouragement and praise as they operated farm equipment.

+ Praying for students, administration, and staff during this new school year.

+ The twenty-fifth anniversary of 9-11 last Friday caused us to appreciate and be grateful for all firefighters, police, rapid responders, medical staff, and trained service dogs (too) who stand ready to help us when we need help. Thanks be to God for them and their willingness to serve.

+ Praise God for the faithful service of our beloved pianist, Renae H., and for Mike and Cheryl R. who served as ushers today.

Concerns

+ Praying for traveling mercies for those apart from us.

+ Praying for Dale S. who is settling into life in Owatonna.

+ Praying for Korla S.’ friend who is going into rehab to fight addiction.

+ Praying for the family and friends of Shelley’s friend Scott who died last week.

+ Praying for the family and friends of Bruce Merris who died yesterday.

+ Praying for the family and friends of RaNae Ellen Steene who funeral is tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Glenville.

+ Praying for all who are dealing with medical challenges, specifically, Karnella S., Craig R., Shelley G.’s brother-in-law Craig, Bob S.’ friend Meryl B. and Nancy B.’s son-in-law Chris and neighbor Jerry who are dealing with health issues.

+ Praying that God gives the strength and courage caregivers need while caring for their loved ones.

+ Praying for all impacted by extreme weather conditions.

+ Praying for all who are impacted directly and indirectly by conflict in the world.

+ Praying for peace.

Bulletin for September 13

 “The Lord is my strength and power; God has become my salvation.” 

- Exodus 15:2 (CEB)

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship (B.J. Beu, Ministry Matters website)

Reconciling God, we would rather gossip about those who sin against us, than speak to them privately;

we would rather parade our wounds for all to see, than quietly work toward forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Help us choose the harder road, the road that opens possibilities for real healing, real forgiveness, and real growth in Your Spirit.

Help us place the best interests of our community of faith above our own need for public vindication. Amen.

*Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee," #89

*Prayer (from John Birch)

Whenever self-obscures the needs of others, forgive us. Whenever we forget who our neighbor is, forgive us. Whenever we pass by on the other side, forgive us. Whenever we forget to say, "Well done," forgive us. Whenever we forget to simply give thanks, forgive us. Whenever we forget the path that we tread, forgive us. For all those times we bring a tear to Your eye, bring us back into Your forgiving arms and teach us once again, Your way. Amen.

*Gloria Patri #70  

*Passing the Peace of Christ

Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer     

*Doxology #95  

*Offering Prayer

Epistle Lesson: Romans 14:1-12

This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Hymn: “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” #121

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 18:21-35

This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “Why should I forgive ____?”

*Hymn: "Freely, Freely," #389

*Benediction

*Choral Amen

Postlude Music

“The worship is ended; let the service begin.”

*Please rise in body or in spirit.

Wednesday with the Wesleys

As to the matter of seeking, I have always found private prayer the truest touchstone. I do not mean it was never well with me when prayer was difficult. No, that is not the mark. But when I labor most in prayer, I get best forward. When I am very conversant with the throne of grace, I soon discern there is a passage from that to the holy of holies, and a continual look brings a continual power. For while we abide in Jesus, he stands as walls and bulwarks of salvation round the believing soul. In that spot may you and I forever dwell!

- Mary Bosanquet Fletcher (letter to Mrs. Dalby, December 26, 1792)

A Blessing for Workers and All Seeking Work

Blessed are You, ever-creating God, in Your image, our lives are made; in Your glory, we offer all the work of our hearts and hands and minds. Blessed are You, O God, now and forever!

Blessed are you whose work is repaid, for by your work, and by the payment you receive your lives and the lives of others around you and around the world are blessed. We thank God for you day by day.

Blessed are you whose work is unpaid, who offer what you can to enrich the lives of others, through time, talents, skill, strength, and love. We praise God for your generous labor!

Blessed are you who seek work but have not found it, or whose work now is not yet what it may be yet still you seek, that your gifts may be shared more fully. We praise God for your diligent seeking and pray you may soon find! Yours is the glory in their labors.

Yours is the glory in all our lives, in Jesus' name. Amen.

UMC Communications, 2015