September 6, 2020 Service

 

 

            UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF PETALUMA

                    ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE

                      September 6^th, 2020

             The 14^th Sunday after Pentecost

                       The Order of Service

 

 

PRELUDE:  “Blessed Are The Peacemakers” (Organist, Marilyn Lee)

 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: (Rob Bickmore)

 

GREETING ONE ANOTHER: (Rob Bickmore)   

 

Yes, we are gathered in this moment from many places, unable to see one another but still held in the warm embrace of Christian community.   In this moment, please think of one member of this community who you have not spoken with recently, and commit to giving them a call this afternoon.  Your love made visible will matter a great deal.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP: (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)

 

St. Clement of Alexandria, living in the 3d century in Africa, said that the most fervent of prayers we can offer to God is our very lives.  We gather now in solemn joy to offer our lives to God in Christian worship. Come, let us open our hearts to the God of love!  Come, let us worship!

 

OPENING HYMN:  “They Will Know We Are Christians by  Our Love”  (FWS 2223)(Organist, Marilyn Lee)

 

We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity

May one day be restored.

 

REFRAIN:

And they’ll know we are Christians

By our love, by our love

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians

By our love.

 

We will walk with each other

We will walk hand and hand

We will walk with each other

We will walk hand in hand

And together we will spread the news

That God is in our land (REFRAIN)

 

 We will work with each other

We will work side by side

We will work with each other

We will work side by side

And we’ll guard each man’s dignity

And save each man’s pride (REFRAIN)

 

All praise to the Father

From whom all things come

And all praise to Christ Jesus his only son

And all praise to the Spirit

Who makes us one (REFRAIN)

 

THE WESLEYAN COVENANT PRAYER:  UMH 607 (led by Charlotte Peterson)

 

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am thine.  So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

 

CALL TO CONFESSION: (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)

 

Come, let us lay down our burdens before God as we name the brokenness that lives in our livers and our hearts as we enter into Silent Prayers of Confession.  Come, let us pray.

 

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION:

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION: (Charlotte Peterson)

 

Loving God, we hear much in our world about the law and how we must follow it,

For us, though, the law is fulfilled in followed by how we love.

The Truth is this Lord.

We have not followed your royal rule of love.

We have not forgiven as you have forgiven us.

We have not heard the cries of the poor.

We have not reached out to liberate the oppressed.

Forgive us God.   Have mercy on us and empower us, we pray,

to be your church now and always, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)

 

Forgiveness comes to us even when we do not know or sense it.   For God has gone the distance, giving even God’s self in Christ Jesus so that we might be forgiven. This beautiful reality both humbles and calls us forward!  In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 149 (Rob Bickmore)

 

SPECIAL MUSIC: “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” (Performed by Schuyler Rhodes and Jack Kane)

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 13:8-14 (Rob Bickmore)

 

SERMON: "Jesus and the Law” (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)

 

PASTORAL PRAYER: (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

                                          Fijian led by  Vakatawa Sekuri Yadraka

                                          English led by  Elizabeth Truesdell

 

RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION: Led by Pastor Schuyler Rhodes

 

CELEBRATING OUR OFFERINGS AND TITHES:  

 

Prayer of Dedication (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)

Offertory: “Sacrament”(Organist, Marilyn Lee)

 

CLOSING HYMN:  “Just As I Am” (UMH 357) (Organist Marylin Lee)

 

1 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2 Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

        3 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

 

THE BENEDICTION: (Pastor Schuyler Rhodes)  

 

Now may the God whose name, whose very substance is love, call us in this moment to a deep and abiding love. Love of one another, love of strangers, even love of our enemies, in the name of the Creator, Word and Holy Spirit!

 

POSTLUDE: “Majestic March” (Organist, Marilyn Lee)