August 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Communion Sunday

Marcia and Dave Green

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

(Link to today's worship service recording)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”      —John 6:35

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Marcia and Dave Green / “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” arranged by Bulla

*Call to Worship...Claudia Mills

Leader: In the midst of darkness and chaos...People: God imagined.

Leader: In the fury and darkness...People: God imagined a world filled with trees and blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

Leader: In the meadow, God stood...People: And imagined foxes, bluebirds, and slithering snakes.

Leader: In a world of rainstorms and wildlife, cattle and grasses blowing in the breeze...People: God imagined humanity. God imagined the continuum from person to person.

Leader: In a world teeming with billions of people...People: God imagined me. 

Leader: God imagined you, and God imagined me. We are created in the image of God. People: God imagined us all. God loves each of us. 

Leader: Let us worship with the same imagination as the creating One! People: Amen.

—by Tim Graves, posted on LiturgyBits

*Hymn...“Gather Us In” (TFWS #2236)

Litany of Confession (inspired by Habakkuk 2: 1-4)...Claudia Mills

For ignoring the vision breathed by the living Spirit churning deep

within our souls, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, have mercy upon us.

For refusing to look at the vision alive within those who look or act or sound different from us, Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy, have mercy upon us.

For choosing familiarity, ease, and comfort rather than risking the opportunities afforded in the vision, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, have mercy upon us.

—Katherine Hawker for the Evangelical United Church of Christ, Posted on Liturgy Outside

First Lesson: Philemon 1-7...Claudia Mills

Special Music...Marcia and Dave Green / “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” arranged by Green

Community prayer concerns and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Second Lesson: Philemon 8-18...Pastor Charles

Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Onesimus’ debt”

Communion / Lord's Prayer, p. 13

*Hymn ...“We Are God’s People” (TFWS #2220)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

*Response...“God Be With You Till We Meet Again” v. 1 and chorus (UMH #672)

Postlude...Marcia and Dave Green / “Wade in the Water,” arranged by Bulla