UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Rev. Steve Heath, Pastor June 29, 2014 HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES AVAILABLE- Please see a greeter or the sound technician. ~ Also, please take a moment to turn cellphones to ‘silent.’ ~ PARISH CONCERNS – ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE “You Are My All in All” by- Dennis L. Jernigan LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES AND RINGING OF THE BELLS CALL TO WORSHIP Pastor: We gather together to worship the living God. People: The God who welcomes our attention and allegiance. Pastor: The God who extends hospitality to us and invites us to extend hospitality to others. People: The God whom we serve and worship. Pastor: No matter who we are or where we are on life’s journey… People: We are welcome here! *HYMN “Enter, Rejoice, and Come In” CALL TO CONFESSION Pastor: How costly is our broken relationship with God! The price of sin is a spiritless life, which is no life at all. Where are joy, peace, or lasting love to be found, except in the One who creates peace and joy, who sent Jesus Christ, the beloved Son, to save us from our sin? Let us confess, repent, and trust God to forgive us. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of compassion and mercy. We come before you, aware of our humanity and our human limitations. We do, at times, give in to unholy desires. We do, at times, allow sin to reign. In the safety of this sanctuary, O God, we present ourselves to you, in honesty and humility. Forgive us, O Lord, and take away our shame. Lead us on the path to righteousness. Help us to obey you, from our heart. You have brought us from death to life. We choose life. We choose you. Forgive us, O God, and if we need to, help us to forgive ourselves. Amen. DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Pastor: In Romans, Paul writes, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. People: By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Rev. Steve Heath *PRAYER HYMN “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS / TIME OF PRAYER 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. PRAYER RESPONSE Hear our prayer, O Lord, Hear our prayer, O Lord; Incline Thine ear to us and grant us Thy peace. Amen. OFFERING INVITATION Pastor: Hospitality – a warm welcome – is a form of generosity. When we welcome each child of God into the life of this church, we extend God’s own generous hospitality. Our gifts help this graceful ministry to flourish and to grow and to give glory to God. Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude and praise. OFFERTORY “Give of Your Best to the Master” by- Howard B. Grose & Charlotte A. Barnard OFFERING OF GIFTS *DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise God all creatures here below Praise God above ye Heavenly host Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION All: Generous God, you invite us to be generous and to extend hospitality to others in the name of Jesus. Bless these gifts as they contribute to our ministry and to extending the good news of the gospel, in this community and around the world. Amen. SPECIAL MUSIC “Reach Out and Touch” by- Charles F. Brown Pianist/vocalist- Yvonne Harris SCRIPTURE Matthew 10:40-42 [Jesus said:] Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophets reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple — truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward. SERMON “Extravagant Welcome” Rev. Steve Heath *HYMN “Sent Forth With God’s Blessing” *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE (Hold the hand of someone near you as we sing together) Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, children all are we, Let me walk with my neighbor in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow; To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally! Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. POSTLUDE “Trust Him” by- Yvonne Harris *Please stand as you are able EXTINGUISHING OF THE CANDLES AND RINGING OF THE BELLS The Reverend Steve Heath Yvonne Harris, Music Director Allyson Simpson, Acolyte FLOWERS: The flowers on the Communion Table have been donated by Tom Schillings, in memory of his six siblings, “who have preceded me in death, leaving me wonderful memories.”
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:35:47 +0000
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