FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Pleasant Valley and Camden Avenues

Moorestown, New Jersey

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               11:00 A.M. Service

LARGE PRINT BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX

HEARING DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM USHERS

Numbers in the bulletin refer to pages in the United Methodist Hymn book located in the pews

 

 

   PRELUDE                                                    Adagio                                                         Liszt

  GREETING

   INTROIT                                                         

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN 61           Come, Thou Almighty King

  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.

   RESPONSIVE READING 738                       Psalm 1                                               Response 2

  AFFIRMATION OF FAITH 881           The Apostles’ Creed

*GLORIA PATRI 70

     Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

     As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

 

  CALL TO PRAYER 473                          Lead Me, Lord

  PASTORAL 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 trespasses, as we      forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from e         evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

  CHORAL AMEN

 

  WE CELEBRATE OUR LIFE IN CHRIST

We welcome all who are worshiping with us this morning.  Please fill out the blue-colored card that you will find in the bulletin.  Write any special prayer requests on the back, and pass them face down to the center aisle.

 

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

 

  PRESENTATION OF OUR GIFTS AND TITHES

 

  MINISTRY OF MUSIC                           Amazing Grace                            arranged by Wertsch

                                                                   Adult Choir                                                            

* DOXOLOGY 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia, Alleluia!

Praise God the source of all our Gifts!  Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN OF PREPARATION 395          Take Time to be Holy

  SCRIPTURE READING                            Mark 9:30-37                                                          

  SERMON                                          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.

                                                                                                                             

*CLOSING HYMN 660                                God Is Here

*BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE

*While the congregation stands, those who would find this uncomfortable may remain seated.

 

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 2 years old in the Education Building during Sunday school and worship hours. 

 

GREETERS: Pleasant Valley:  Larry and Helga Shay

                       Camden Avenue:  Ron and Carol Griffith

USHERS: Howard Catlett, Richard Loring, Charles Rudolph, Jack Schweitzer, Ed Smith

ACOLYTES: Josh Haegele, Jesse Hamilton

ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK:  Worship: 470

 

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, Dir. Christian Ed.             Curt Diehl, Property Maintenance Coordinator

                            David Ingalls, Dir. of 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)