May 9, 2021 Service

 

 

PETALUMA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 

A CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE!

May 9, 2021

The Order of Service

MOTHER’S DAY

https://petalumaumc.org

 

PRELUDE: “The King of Love, My Shepherd Is”  Marilyn Lee, Organist

 

GREETING: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

                                                             

CALL TO WORSHIP: Rob Bickmore                  

Now is the time to lay our burdens down and seek the wonderful power of God as we worship together.   Come, let us release our fears, our doubts and our woundedness and gather in the power of the Holy Spirit as God’s people.

 

OPENING HYMN: “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds”  UMH 557 played by Marilyn Lee

1) Blest be the tie that binds 
our hearts in Christian love; 
the fellowship of kindred minds 
is like to that above. 

2) Before our Father's throne 
we pour our ardent prayers; 
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, 
our comforts and our cares. 

CALL TO CONFESSION: Rob Bickmore

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Nora Tallent

Hear our Confession, we pray, Oh Lord.  We know, deep in our hearts that we are not the church you would have us be.  Forgive us, we pray.  Call us to a new faithfulness that goes deeper than we have gone before.  We know, deep in our hearts, that we too often ignore the plight of the poor and turn away from injustice.  Forgive us, we pray.  Walk with us into a spirit of courage so that we may be healers and bringers of justice.  And we know too, Lord, that we have often allowed our own selfish desires to rule our lives.  Forgive us, we pray. Teach us to put others first, and to live into the promise of self-giving love.   Hear this our confession and fill us with a new spirit of power and love.  In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.          

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Rob Bickmore 

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Psalm 98: read by Charlotte Peterson

John 15:9-17 read by Rob Bickmore

                                           

SERMON: “No Greater Love”  Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

PRAYERS OF COMMUNITY: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER:                                                      

Led in English by Elizabeth Truesdell

Led in Fijian by Vacatawa  Sekuri Yadraka

 

THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND TITHES: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

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OFFERTORY: “When Peace Like a River” played by Marilyn Lee

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

CLOSING HYMN: “Help Us Accept Each Other”  UMH 408 played by Marilyn Lee

Help us accept each other

as Christ accepted us;

teach us as sister, brother,

each person to embrace.

Be present, Lord, among us

and Bring us to believe:

we are ourselves accepted

and meant to love and live.

 

Teach us, O Lord, your lessons,

as in our daily life

we struggle to be human

and search for hope and faith.

Teach us to care for people,

for all - not just for some,

to love them as we find them

or as they may become.

 

THE BENEDICTION: Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

THE POSTLUDE:   “Go Joyfully” played by  Marilyn Lee