FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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

JANUARY 7, 2007                                 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 IN SONG: BLESSED BE YOUR NAME (by Matt & Beth Redman)

Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful, where Your streams of abundance flow,

blessed be Your name.

 

Blessed be Your name when I’m found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness,

blessed be Your name.

 

Ev’ry blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise.  When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say,

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name.  Blessed be the name of the Lord,

blessed be Your glorious name.  

 

Blessed be Your name when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s all as it should be

blessed be Your name.

 

Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering, though there’s pain in the offering,

blessed be Your name.

 

Ev’ry blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise.  When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say,

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name, Blessed be the name of the Lord,

blessed be Your glorious name.  You give and take away, You give and take away  My heart will choose to say, Lord, Blessed be Your name. You give and take away, You give and take away  My heart will choose to say, Lord, Blessed be Your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name. 

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.  (2002Thanyou Music)

 

HEAR OUR PRAISES   (by Reuben Morgan)

May our homes be filled with dancing, may our streets be filled with joy;

May injustice bow to Jesus as the people turn to pray.

 

Chorus:  From the mountain to the valley, hear our praises rise to You;

From the heavens to the nations, hear our singing fill the air.

 

May a light shine in the darkness, as we walk before the cross; May Your glory fill the whole earth

as the water o’er the seas.  (Chorus )

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! (Repeat 2 x’s)  (Repeat Chorus) (1998 Integrity Hosanna Music)

 

REVIVAL (by Robin Mark)

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet, so you love this city and You love these streets ;

Ev’ry child out playing by their own front door, ev’ry baby laying on the bedroom floor ;

Ev’ry dreamer dreaming in their dead end job, Ev’ry driver driving through the rush hour mob.  

 

I feel it in my spirit feel it in my bones You’re going to send revival bring them all back home. 

For I can hear that thunder in the distance like a train on the edge of the town:

I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit, Lay your burdens down lay your burdens down.

 

From the preacher preaching when the well is dry, to the lost soul reaching for a higher high;

From the young man working through his hopes and fears, to the widow walking through the veil of tears.  Ev’ry man and woman, ev’ry old and young, Ev’ry father’s daughter ev’ry mother’s son. 

I feel it in my spirit feel it in my bones You’re going to send revival bring them all back home. 

For I can hear that thunder in the distance like a train on the edge of the town:

I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit, Lay your burdens down lay your burdens down.   

Revive us revive us revive us with Your fire.  (1998 Daybreak Music, Ltd.)

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:  Lord Jesus Christ, you are the way of peace.

Come into the brokenness of our lives and our land with your healing love.

Help us to be willing to bow before you in true repentance, and to bow to one another in real forgiveness.

By the fire of your Holy Spirit, melt our hard hearts and consume the pride and prejudice which separate us.

Fill us, O Lord, with your perfect love, which casts out our fear, and bind us together in that unity

which you share with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

(Cecil Kerr, Northern Ireland, 20th Century,  UM Book of Worship)

 

HIGHER GROUND (Johnson Oatman)

I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day; still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”  Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s table land,

a higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay; though some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim is higher ground. Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s table land,

a higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

I want to live above the world, though Satan’s darts at me are hurled; for faith has caught the joyful sound,

the song of saints on higher ground.  Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s table land,

a higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

I want to scale the utmost height, and catch a gleam of glory bright; but still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found, “Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”  Lord, lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s table land,

a higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.  Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

 

ABOVE ALL  (by Paul Baloche, Lenny LeBlanc)

Above all powers, above all kings, above all nature and all created things;

above all wisdom and all the ways of man, you were here before the world began. 

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones, above all wonders the world has ever known;

above all wealth and treasures of the earth, there’s no way to measure what You’re worth. 

Crucified, laid behind the stone; You lived to die, rejected and alone; Like a rose, trampled on the ground,

You took the fall, and thought of me above all.  (1999 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

 

BRINGING OUR NEEDS TO GOD (Prayers of the People)

PRAYER RESPONSE:  SEE HIS GLORY   (Words and music by Rich Cook)

See His glory, see His glory, See His glory come down;  Praise His name, heaven reigns,

See his glory come down, see His glory come down.                        (1985 Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

 

WORSHIP IN GIVING: Offering 

 

 

SHARING THE WORD:  Scripture:                   Matthew 2:1-12

                                                  Message: “Epiphany – Wise Men Still Seek Him”            Pastor HeyYoung Horton

 

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 HYMN 369   BLESSED ASSURANCE  (By  Fanny Crosby)

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!  O what a foretaste of glory divine! 

Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

 

Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.  (refrain)

 

Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest,

watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.  (refrain)    (Public Domain)

 

GOING FORTH:  The Benediction                                        

A NOTE TO PARENTS:  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:  533   Sunday School: 91

ACOLYTE: Jesse Hamilton

USHERS: Tom Kulp, Joe Veldon, Ed Henry, Valerie Henry, David Stepp

 

THE CHANCEL BOUQUET HAS BEEN GIVEN BY:  Carol & Lee Talbot, to the Glory of God and in memory of Susan & Art Talbot and Betty & Lester Haik.  December 31st bouquet was given by: Georgie Jenkins in memory of her husband Ray Jenkins.

PRAYER CONCERNS: Steve Greer, Faye Sienkiewicz, Mary Louise Shingleton, Kathleen Barnwell (mother of Leslie Proctor), Jean Janssen (sister of Sue Adams), Lidio Zezza (Lucy Vogt’s father), Gary Falis (Lucy Vogt’s brother-in-law), Christine Crane, Michael Zayas (friend of The Nachsin’s), Maryellen Martin (Debra & Ed Vernier’s sister-in-law), Pat & Gary Rutledge (niece & nephew of Hugh & Marion Hamilton), Sally Johnson, Virginia Sobolewski.

PRAYERS & SYMPATHY TO: Susan Rapp and family on the death of her mother, Margaret.

SERVING IN IRAQ:  Mark Dougherty, Jr., grandson of Marilyn McClendon, David Wichmann, friend of Rick & Linda Young, Scott Berner, grandson of Ray & Jean Berner, Michael Gala (cousin of Sue Lewis, nephew of Chris Fisher), Phillip Daniels (grandson of Harris Fister), Capt. Heather Schopf (friend of Ruth & Ed Florida).

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)