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 16, 2007                  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:  LOOK AND SEE THE GLORY OF THE KING (by Martin Ball)

Chorus:  Look, and see the glory of the King, sense the presence of the Lord amongst His people;

 feel Him fill the temple of our lives as He sits upon the throne of our praise.

 

We are His church, we are all God’s own people; we all proclaim that He is King, He is King.  (chorus)

 

At God’s right hand, Jesus Christ is exalted; His rule is now and shall be forever more.  (chorus)  

(1982 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

 

O HOW I LOVE JESUS (by Frederick Whitfield)

There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth:

it sounds like music in my ear, the sweetest name on earth. 

Refrain: O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me!

 

It tells me of a Savior’s love, who died to set me free;

it tells me of his precious blood, the sinner’s prefect plea.  (Refrain)

 

It tells of one whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe;

who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below.  (Refrain)   (Public Domain)

 

LORD, I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH (By Rick Founds)

Lord, I lift your name on high, Lord, I love to sing Your praises;

I'm so glad You're in my life, I'm so glad You came to save us.

Chorus:  You came from heaven to earth to show the way,

from the earth to the cross my debt to pay; From the cross to the grave,

from the grave to the sky, Lord, I lift Your name on high.   (1989 Marantha! Music)

 

INVOCATION

Amazing God, thank you for breaking into our world and living among us.  Thank you for showing yourself to us in both subtle and boisterous ways through your word and through your son.  Help us to look for you, to keep watch for you, to wait on you and to know that you are always working in our lives.  You are amazing and we worship you.  Be glorified by our worship, by the lives we lead and the way we serve others.  As we do all this for you through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

O LORD, MY ROCK (by John S. Miller)

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight.  (Repeat)

Oh Lord, my rock, You are my Redeemer. (1997 John S. Miller Pub.)

 

LIKE A SHEPHERD (by Dan Moen & Deborah Simpson)

Like a father feeds his children, like a shepherd leads his flock,

the Lord will always guide us and show us where to walk;

And in times when we have plenty, in times when we have not, He is our Provider and His mercy never stops.

Chorus:  Like a shepherd He leads us, like a father He feeds us from the morning to the evening,

till the sunrise again; Like a shepherd He leads us, like a father He feeds us, He is the great I Am.

 

As we come into His presence confessing Him as Lord, His Holy Spirit leads us, He feeds us by His Word;

We're seated at His table, partaking of His love, children of His kingdom, purchased by His blood. (chorus)

(1986 Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

 

WONDERFUL, MERCIFUL SAVIOR (by D. Rodgers, Eric Wyse)

Wonderful, merciful Savior, precious Redeemer and Friend;

Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men?  Oh, You rescue the souls of men.

 

You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore,

You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for; Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

 

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper; Spirit we long to embrace;

You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost the way, Oh, we hopelessly lost the way.  (chorus)

 

Almighty, infinite Father; faithfully loving Your own; Here in our weakness You find us

falling before Your throne, Oh, we’re falling before Your throne.  (Chorus)    (WorshipTogether.com)

 

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 

 

SHARING THE WORD       Scripture:                 2 Timothy 3:14-17

                                                  Message:                    “Read to Know”                                            Karen Murray, DCE

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

Alexandra Bewley                Ericka Kaminski                    Nicole Marquez                    Conall Roberts

Phoebe Charernsook           Brianna Kelly                        Matthew McGough             Rebecca Rovins

Shannon Croly                     Charlotte Lewis                    Sarah McGough                   Sarah Rovins

Dominique Damerjian          Kaitlin Madara                      Justin Nachsin                      Kenneth Strother

Emily Hagmaier                     Kaitlyn Maines                     Dara Napier                           Julianne Ulrich

Emma Haluska                      Morgan Maines                   Nicky Ramey                         Matt Viskovich

Nicholas Jackson

 

CLOSING HYMN 600        WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE (by Philip Bliss)

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;

let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life; words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty. 

(Refrain) Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life. 

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

 

Christ, the blessed one, gives to all wonderful words of life;

sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life; all so freely given, wooing us to heaven.  (Refrain)

 

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;

offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life; Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.  (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:  544   Sunday School: 238   ACOLYTE:  Michelle Machamer

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

 

THE CHANCEL BOUQUET HAS BEEN GIVEN BY:  Edith Johnson, to the Glory of God and in memory of husband, Fred Johnson.

*PRAYER CONCERNS:  Steve Greer, Mary Louise Shingleton, Anne Chandler (friend of Doug & Amy Hamilton), Janet Coshland (daughter of Alan Coshland), Stanton Webb (husband of Barbara Webb), Charlie Stocksdale, Nan Scheyhing, Matt & Kelly Petroski (friends of Rick & Linda Young),  Bob Arenge (friend of Joyce Scheyhing), Louise McMeans, Bobby Murray, Ruth Brown.

*At the beginning of each month, names printed in the above list will be reviewed for omission.  Names listed above will only be printed for one month.  If you desire a name to be listed longer, call Joan in the church office. Names may be added to the prayer chain or given to the Prayer Committee.  Thank you! 

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

Dennis Matulewicz (brother of Kelly Hudak), Josh Soper (son of Betsy Heinz’s cousin), Robert Woodard (grandson of Bill & Julia Wood), Joshua Moore (nephew of Carol Veldon).

 

Church Office Contacts

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

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

                                                                                                                                                         (CCLI License No. 782839)