FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

A community of faith committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with a hurting world through words and actions

September 3, 2006                                       A Service of Holy Communion                                      9:30 A.M. Service

We welcome you to this service of praise and adoration.   Let God speak to you through the songs and the message, and enjoy the fellowship of those who are seeking the Lord and the spiritual help that we need for daily living.

WELCOME                                                                                                                         Worship Leader, Sue Harris

WORSHIP IN SONG:        COME LET US OFFER (by Marlene Bigley)

Come let us offer the sacrifice of praise, come let us offer the sacrifice of praise; the fruit of our lips giving thanks, the fruit of our lips giving thanks.  Come and offer sacrifices, come and offer praise unto the Lord. 

(1985 Sound III, Inc.)

 

KING OF KINGS  (by Naomi Batya & Sophie Conty)

King of kings and Lord of lords, glory, hallelujah!  King of kings and Lord of lords, glory, hallelujah!

Jesus, Prince of Peace, glory, hallelujah! Jesus, Prince of Peace, glory, hallelujah! (1980 Maranatha! Music)

 

JEHOVAH-JIREH (By Merla Watson)

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me;

Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me.

My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory; He will give His angels charge over me, Jehovah Jireh cares for me, for me, for me, Jehovah Jireh cares for me.  (1974 Catacombs Productions, Ltd.)

 

IN THE LORD ALONE  (by Walt Harrah)

In the Lord, the Lord alone are righteousness and strength; The height and breadth and length of love is found in Him.  In the Lord, the Lord alone are righteousness and strength; In the Lord, in the Lord alone.

 

In the Lord, the Lord alone are life and health and peace; His mercies and His loving kindness never cease.  In the Lord, the Lord alone are life and health and peace; In the Lord, in the Lord alone.

 

In the Lord, the Lord alone is ev'rything I need; The Son of Man now reigning high will intercede.  In the Lord, the Lord alone is ev'rything I need; In the Lord, in the Lord alone.  (1990 Maranatha! Music)

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION: 

O God:

      Take fire and burn our guilt and our lying hypocrisies.

      Take water and wash away our brother’s blood which we have caused to be shed.

      Take hot sunlight and dry the tears of those we have hurt, and heal the wounded souls, minds, and bodies.

      Take love and root it in our hearts, so that brotherhood may grow, transforming the dry desert of our

         prejudices and hatreds.

      Take our imperfect prayers and purify them, so that we mean what we pray and are prepared to give

         ourselves to you along with our words, through Jesus Christ, who did not disdain to take our humanness

         upon him and live among us, sharing our life, our joys, and our pains.   (Malcolm Boyd)

 

 

CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD   (by Eddie Espinosa)

Change my heart, Oh God,  make it ever true; Change my heart, Oh God,  may I be like You.

You are the Potter, I am the clay;  Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.  (1982 Mercy Publishing)

 

INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR PEACE (by Kirk & Deby Dearman)

Chorus:  Lord, make us instruments of your peace;  Where there is hatred let Your love increase.  Lord, make us instruments of your peace; Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease, when we are Your instruments of peace.

 

Where there is hatred, we will sow His love; Where there is injury, we will never judge.  Where there is striving, we will speak His peace; To the people crying for release, we will be His instruments of peace. (repeat chorus)

 

Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight; Where there is darkness, we will shine His light.  Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief;  To the millions crying for release, we will be His instruments of peace. (repeat chorus)  (1993 Expressions of Praise Music)

 

I WILL FOLLOW (John & Anne Barbour)

Father, always near, I wait for You here, resting in the love that vanquishes fear.  Waiting, not a care, silence ev'rywhere, yet here in my heart a still small voice bids me to come and I will follow.

 

Allow me to come, risen, wounded One, I've found shelter in Your fathering arms.  Allow me to hear Your voice in my ear, beckon me with words that draw me near, bid me to come and I will follow.  I will follow You where You want me to.  I will follow You.

 

May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done, Father in Heaven, lift my eyes to the sky.  One day I will see Heaven's Royalty, till the day the trumpet rings in my ear.  Bid me to come and I will follow.

(1993 Maranatha! Music) 

 

BRINGING OUR NEEDS TO GOD (Prayers of the People)

 

PRAYER RESPONSE:  CARES CHORUS  (by Kelly Willard)

I cast all my cares upon You. I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet;

And anytime that I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon You.   (1978 Maranatha! Music)

 

WORSHIP IN GIVING: Offering 

 

SHARING THE WORD:  Scripture:         Deuteronomy 4:102, 6-9; Psalm 15

                                                  Message:                        “Just Do It”                                                 Pastor Steve Donat

 

RESPONSE TO THE WORD:  The Sacrament of Communion

 

HOLY COMMUNION
The congregation is invited to receive Communion at the Communion rails.  Come forward when you are ready, and receive the Communion elements with joy.  These symbols represent the Body and Blood of Jesus offered for our forgiveness and new life.  The invitation to receive comes from Jesus himself, and is not based on membership in this or any other Church.  While you are waiting for your place at the Communion rail, take advantage of this quiet time to meditate, and offer your personal prayer and praise to God.

 

 

CLOSING SONG  TAKE MY LIFE (by Scott Underwood)

Holiness, holiness is what I long for.  Holiness is what I need.  Holiness, holiness is what You want from me.

Faithfulness, faithfulness is what I long for. Faithfulness is what I need.  Faithfulness, faithfulness is what You want from me.

So take my heart; conform it. Take my mind; transform it.  Take my will; conform it to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord.

Righteousness, righteousness is what I long for.  Righteousness is what I need.  Righteousness, righteousness is what You want from me. So take my heart; conform it. Take my mind; transform it.  Take my will; conform it to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord.

Oh, so take my heart; conform it.  Take my mind; transform it.  Take my will; conform it to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord, to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord.  Yes, take my heart; conform it.  Take my mind; transform it.  Take my will; conform it to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord, to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord, to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord, to Yours, to Yours, oh Lord.  (1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing)

 

GOING FORTH:  The Benediction                                        

 

A NOTE TO PARENTS:  We love children and your little ones are welcome in our worship service.  On those days when your child is fussy, the parlor located behind the sanctuary provides an excellent place to care for your child and still participate in the worship service.  Child care is provided for infants and children up to 4 years old in the Education Building during Sunday school and worship hours. 

 

NO SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES TODAY

Fall Sunday School session will begin next week, September 10th.

 

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK:    Worship: 488   

ACOLYTE:  Cole Mentzer

USHERS: Ed Florida, Ruth Florida, Joe Veldon, David Stepp, Robin Stepp

 

THE CHANCEL BOUQUET HAS BEEN GIVEN BY: Robert Kessler in memory of his wife, Sylvia.

PRAYER CONCERNS: Steve Greer, Faye Sienkiewicz,  Mary Louise Shingleton,  Barbara Lynn Pulcinella (friend of Sue & Ruth Oppelt), Kathleen Barnwell (mother of Leslie Proctor),  Janice Buford,  Betty Breish, Sandy Johnson, Eileen Carney, Tom Langshaw.

PRAYERS & SYMPATHY TO:  Jill Lee and family on the death of her sister-in-law, Dawn Fink.  Also to Pat Denzler and family on the death of her mother.

SERVING IN IRAQ:  Mark Dougherty, Jr., grandson of Marilyn McClendon.

 

The Staff of First United Methodist Church

                            Stephen Donat, Senior Pastor                              Joan Armstrong, Administrative Assistant

                            HeyYoung Horton, Associate Pastor                 Karen Halligan, Membership Secretary

                            Glenn Rodgers, Director of Music                      Sue Harris, Parish Nurse

                            Karen Murray, Director of Christian Ed.            Curt Diehl, Property Maintenance Coordinator

                                                                                                             

Church Office Contacts

                                  Phone: 856-235-0450                                        Fax: 856-235-2722

                                  E-mail: church@meetwithGod.com               Website: www.meetwithGod.com

(CCLI License No. 782839)