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 24, 2006                               Education & Youth Covenant Sunday                                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:        I WILL CELEBRATE  (by Rita Baloche)

Chorus: I will celebrate, sing unto the Lord; sing to the Lord a new song. 

I will celebrate, sing unto the Lord; sing to the Lord a new song. 

With my heart rejoicing within, with my mind focused on Him;

with my hands raised to the heavens, all I am worshiping Him.  (1990 Maranatha! Music)

 

I SING PRAISES (by Terry MacAlmon)

I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, praises to Your name, O Lord,

for Your name is great and greatly to be praised.  I sing praises to Your name, O Lord,

praises to Your name, O Lord, for Your name is great and greatly to be praised.

 

I give glory to Your name, O Lord, glory to Your name, O Lord,

for Your name is great and greatly to be praised.  I give glory to Your name, O Lord,

glory to Your name, O Lord, for Your name is great and greatly to be praised.   (1989 Integrity’s Hosanna!)

 

BLESS THE LORD (by Jeff Deyo)

For Your beauty, for Your goodness, and Your wisdom, awesome God,

praise the Lord, oh my soul, praise the Lord! 

 

For Your power, for Your honor, and Your spendor, mighty God, praise the Lord, oh my soul, praise the Lord! And I will worship You; I will bless Your name forever.  I will worship You. 

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord.

 

For Your kindness, for your favor, for Your mercy, gracious One, thank the Lord, oh my soul, thank the Lord.  Thank the Lord, oh my soul, thank the Lord. 

 

For Your fire, for Your testing, and Your Spirit, Holy One, thank the Lord, oh my soul, thank the Lord. 

And I will worship You; I will bless Your name forever.  I will worship You. 

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord.

 

For Your suff’ring, for Your anguish, and Your sorrow, humble King, bless the Lord,

oh my soul, bless the Lord!  Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord!

 

For Your vict’ry, for Your triumph, and You’ll soon come and  reign over us. 

And I will worship You; I will bless Your name forever.  I will worship You. 

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul, bless the Lord. (2004 Emack Music)

 

INVOCATION

Dear Lord, we thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ, who showed us, by his own life, how to live for you. We pray that this congregation may be a place of support and encouragement as together we do our best to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. In our worship, study, fellowship, and service, may we hear your voice and know that you are with us. Please help us to learn to love you more, to serve the people of the world, and to care for ourselves. In the name of Jesus, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

 

IN CHRIST ALONE (by Stuart Townend)

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.  What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!  My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!  This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied –

for every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious Day

up from the grave He rose again!  And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

for I am His and He is mine - brought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me; from life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.  No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand;

till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand! (2001 Kingsway Music)

 

HERE I AM TO WORSHIP (by Tim Hughes)

Light of the World, You stepped down into darkness, opened my eyes, let me see. 

Beauty that made this heart adore You, hope of a life spent with You.

So, here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that You’re my God. 

And You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.

 

King of all days, oh so highly exalted, glorious in heaven above. 

Humbly You came to the Earth You created, all for love’s sake became poor.

So, here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that You’re my God. 

And You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.

And I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. (Repeat)

So, here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that You’re my God. 

And You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.  (2000 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music)

 

HE KNOWS MY NAME (by Tommy Walker)

I have a Maker, He formed my heart; before even time began, my life was in His hands.

Chorus:  He knows my name, He knows my ev’ry thought; He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call.

 

I have a Father, He calls me His own; He’ll never leave me, no matter where I go.  (chorus)

 

And He knows your name; He knows your ev’ry thought; He sees those tears that fall,

and hears you when you call.   (1996 Doulos Publishing)

 

BRINGING OUR NEEDS TO GOD (Prayers of the People)

PRAYER RESPONSE:  LEAD ME, LORD   Psalm 5:8, 4:8

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; make thy way plain before my face.

For it is thou, Lord, thou Lord only, that makest me dwell in safety.   (Public Domain)

WORSHIP IN GIVING: Offering 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                                  Wow! It’s a Great Day!                                                     Carlson

                                                                               Junior and Wesley Choirs

SHARING THE WORD:  Scripture:                            Mark 9:30-37

                                                  Message:          “Connected and Connecting”                              Karen Murray, DCE                                                                                                                                                      Pastor Steve

A Covenant for Church Educators 

PASTOR: Loving God, we thank you for the people who have lovingly presented themselves

for the work of Christian education and formation.

PEOPLE: Gracious God, thank you for this opportunity for growth and service.

We come first as disciples, seeking wisdom and knowledge from you. Teach us so that we can teach others.

PASTOR: We covenant to pray for our teachers and leaders and for all the children, youth, and adults who will attend classes this year. Lord, enable all of us to grow spiritually and study diligently. May this year of learning enlighten and transform us.

PEOPLE: Amazing God, grant each of us fresh vision of faith and a new understanding of your grace.

PASTOR: We pray for those, dear God, being drawn by your love, who will venture into our classrooms

for the first time. We pray especially for those who will come searching for God and for a Christian family.

PEOPLE: Accepting God, show us how to welcome the stranger. Use our classrooms and small groups

as loving examples of Christian community for persons of all ages.

PASTOR: Help us, loving God, to encourage all in our care to love you with all our hearts, our minds, our souls,

and our strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

ALL: Empowering God, help us all to believe what we teach and to practice what we preach! Amen.

PRESENTATION OF BIBLES: THIRD GRADERS RECEIVING BIBLES

Max Bixby                             Caleb Fritz                             Ceili O’Donnell                     Benjamin Ulrich

Megan Croly                         Caroline Haller                      Matthew Phillips                  Sebastian Weigand

Russell Drzik                         Jessica Kaminski                  Declan Sirak                          Maxwell Young

Melanie Ebert                       Maggie Mlynek                    Julia Suta                               Olivia Zapfe

Corinne Finkbinder

CLOSING SONG

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. 

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK:    Worship: 528   ACOLYTE:  Rebekah Bryan

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

 

THE CHANCEL BOUQUET HAS BEEN GIVEN BY: Fred & Betsy DeWitt, to the glory of God and in memory of loved ones.

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, Jean Janssen (sister of Sue Adams), Edna Hofmann (Carla McIlmail’s mother).

SERVING IN IRAQ:  Mark Dougherty, Jr., grandson of Marilyn McClendon, David Wichmann, friend of Rick & Linda Young, Scott Berner, grandson of Ray & Jean Berner.

 

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

                            David Ingalls, Dir. Youth & Outreach

                           

Church Office Contacts

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

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

(CCLI License No. 782839)