Connecting Through Community
May 14, 2023
Connecting Through Community
Rev. David Petty
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden
Greeting
Rev. David Petty
*Call to Worship
Betsy Meikle
Leader: Come as you are, connecting with love, laughter, and learning. Let us worship together as one.
People: Many gifts. One spirit.
Leader: Let us celebrate the bonds that unite us. This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!
Gathering Song
Gather Us In
TFWS #2236
WORDS: Marty Haugen (Matt. 5:13)
MUSIC: Marty Haugen
© 1982 GIA Publications, Inc.
1. Here in this place
new light is streaming,
now is the darkness
vanished away,
see in this space
our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to You
in the light of this day.
Gather us in
the lost and forsaken,
gather us in
the blind and the lame;
call to us now,
and we shall awaken,
we shall arise
at the sound of our name.
2. We are the young
our lives are a myst’ry,
we are the old
who yearn for Your face,
we have been sung
throughout all of hist’ry,
called to be light
to the whole human race.
Gather us in
the rich and the haughty,
gather us in
the proud and the strong;
give us a heart
so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage
to enter the song.
3. Here we will take
the wine and the water,
here we will take
the bread of new birth,
here You shall call
Your sons and
Your daughters,
call us anew
to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink
the wine of compassion,
give us to eat
the bread that is You;
nourish us well,
and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy
and hearts that are true.
4. Not in the dark
of buildings confining,
not in some heaven,
light-years away,
but here in this place
the new light is shining,
now is the Kingdom,
now is the day.
Gather us in
and hold us forever,
gather us in
and make us Your own;
gather us in
all peoples together,
fire of love
in our flesh and our bone.
Worshiping Song
Blest Be the Tie That Bind
UMH #557
WORDS: John Fawcett, 1782
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.
3. We share
each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for
each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4. When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still
be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
Mystery Box
Prayer Song
Come and Find the Quiet Center
V1 TFWS #2128
WORDS: Shirley Erena Murray
MUSIC: Attr. to B. F. White
© 1992 Hope Publishing Co.
1. Come and find
the quiet center
in the crowded
life we lead,
find the room
for hope to enter,
find the frame
where we are freed:
Clear the chaos
and the clutter,
clear our eyes
that we can see.
all the things
that really matter,
be at peace,
and simply be.
Pastoral, Silent, and The Lord’s Prayer
Rev. David Petty
Our Father
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
Lead us not
into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom,
and the Power
and the Glory forever.
Amen
Prayer Song
Come and Find the Quiet Center
V2 TFWS #2128
2. Silence is a
friend who claims us,
cools the heat
and slows the pace,
God it is who
speaks and names us,
knows our being,
touches base,
making space
within our thinking,
lifting shades to
show the sun,
raising courage
when we’re shrinking,
finding scope
for faith begun.
Invitation to Offering
Betsy Meikle
Offertory
Be Thou My Vision
Arr. Mark Hayes
Stephanie Shorden, Piano
Cynthia Hibbetts, Organ
Prayer of Thanks and Dedication
Rev. David Petty
*Doxology
Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
UMH #94
Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures
here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source
of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ,
whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Scripture Reading
Betsy Meikle
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14
1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into
salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
John 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Special Music
Close Your Eyes and See
by Pepper Choppin
Exalt!
Stephanie Shorden, Piano
Prayer for Illumination
Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Message
Connecting Through Community
Rev. David Petty
*Affirmation of Faith
Betsy Meikle
We believe in God, the Source of love and life,
Creator of the universe and all that is within it,
who embraces us with grace and compassion.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the embodiment of divine love,
born of human flesh, and a living example of kindness and justice.
He suffered and died for the sake of our redemption,
and rose again to bring hope and new life to all.
Through his teachings and example,
we learn the way of forgiveness, love, and compassion.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the divine presence,
that guides, inspires, and empowers us daily.
The Spirit unites us as one, transcending boundaries,
and calls us to be bearers of hope, peace, and justice in the world.
We believe in the universal Church as a sacred community,
that nurtures our spiritual growth, supports us in our struggles,
and celebrates the diversity of God's creation.
We believe in the power of forgiveness, the promise of resurrection,
and the hope of eternal life,
where love and justice prevail, and all are welcomed into God's embrace.
We are the people of God.
We are St. Paul’s United Methodist Church,
Celebrating the love of God,
Following the teachings of Jesus,
and Living in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
*Sending Hymn
Bind Us Together
TFWS #2226
WORDS: Bob Gillman (Col. 3:14)
MUSIC: Bob Gillman
© 1977 Kingsway’s Thank You Music
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together
with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
There is only one God,
there is only one King;
There is only one body,
that is why we sing.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together
with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty
Postlude
Stephanie Shorden
Connecting Through Community
Rev. David Petty
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden
Greeting
Rev. David Petty
*Call to Worship
Betsy Meikle
Leader: Come as you are, connecting with love, laughter, and learning. Let us worship together as one.
People: Many gifts. One spirit.
Leader: Let us celebrate the bonds that unite us. This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!
Gathering Song
Gather Us In
TFWS #2236
WORDS: Marty Haugen (Matt. 5:13)
MUSIC: Marty Haugen
© 1982 GIA Publications, Inc.
1. Here in this place
new light is streaming,
now is the darkness
vanished away,
see in this space
our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to You
in the light of this day.
Gather us in
the lost and forsaken,
gather us in
the blind and the lame;
call to us now,
and we shall awaken,
we shall arise
at the sound of our name.
2. We are the young
our lives are a myst’ry,
we are the old
who yearn for Your face,
we have been sung
throughout all of hist’ry,
called to be light
to the whole human race.
Gather us in
the rich and the haughty,
gather us in
the proud and the strong;
give us a heart
so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage
to enter the song.
3. Here we will take
the wine and the water,
here we will take
the bread of new birth,
here You shall call
Your sons and
Your daughters,
call us anew
to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink
the wine of compassion,
give us to eat
the bread that is You;
nourish us well,
and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy
and hearts that are true.
4. Not in the dark
of buildings confining,
not in some heaven,
light-years away,
but here in this place
the new light is shining,
now is the Kingdom,
now is the day.
Gather us in
and hold us forever,
gather us in
and make us Your own;
gather us in
all peoples together,
fire of love
in our flesh and our bone.
Worshiping Song
Blest Be the Tie That Bind
UMH #557
WORDS: John Fawcett, 1782
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.
3. We share
each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for
each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4. When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still
be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
Mystery Box
Prayer Song
Come and Find the Quiet Center
V1 TFWS #2128
WORDS: Shirley Erena Murray
MUSIC: Attr. to B. F. White
© 1992 Hope Publishing Co.
1. Come and find
the quiet center
in the crowded
life we lead,
find the room
for hope to enter,
find the frame
where we are freed:
Clear the chaos
and the clutter,
clear our eyes
that we can see.
all the things
that really matter,
be at peace,
and simply be.
Pastoral, Silent, and The Lord’s Prayer
Rev. David Petty
Our Father
who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
Lead us not
into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom,
and the Power
and the Glory forever.
Amen
Prayer Song
Come and Find the Quiet Center
V2 TFWS #2128
2. Silence is a
friend who claims us,
cools the heat
and slows the pace,
God it is who
speaks and names us,
knows our being,
touches base,
making space
within our thinking,
lifting shades to
show the sun,
raising courage
when we’re shrinking,
finding scope
for faith begun.
Invitation to Offering
Betsy Meikle
Offertory
Be Thou My Vision
Arr. Mark Hayes
Stephanie Shorden, Piano
Cynthia Hibbetts, Organ
Prayer of Thanks and Dedication
Rev. David Petty
*Doxology
Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
UMH #94
Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures
here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source
of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ,
whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Scripture Reading
Betsy Meikle
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14
1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into
salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
John 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Special Music
Close Your Eyes and See
by Pepper Choppin
Exalt!
Stephanie Shorden, Piano
Prayer for Illumination
Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Message
Connecting Through Community
Rev. David Petty
*Affirmation of Faith
Betsy Meikle
We believe in God, the Source of love and life,
Creator of the universe and all that is within it,
who embraces us with grace and compassion.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the embodiment of divine love,
born of human flesh, and a living example of kindness and justice.
He suffered and died for the sake of our redemption,
and rose again to bring hope and new life to all.
Through his teachings and example,
we learn the way of forgiveness, love, and compassion.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the divine presence,
that guides, inspires, and empowers us daily.
The Spirit unites us as one, transcending boundaries,
and calls us to be bearers of hope, peace, and justice in the world.
We believe in the universal Church as a sacred community,
that nurtures our spiritual growth, supports us in our struggles,
and celebrates the diversity of God's creation.
We believe in the power of forgiveness, the promise of resurrection,
and the hope of eternal life,
where love and justice prevail, and all are welcomed into God's embrace.
We are the people of God.
We are St. Paul’s United Methodist Church,
Celebrating the love of God,
Following the teachings of Jesus,
and Living in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
*Sending Hymn
Bind Us Together
TFWS #2226
WORDS: Bob Gillman (Col. 3:14)
MUSIC: Bob Gillman
© 1977 Kingsway’s Thank You Music
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together
with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
There is only one God,
there is only one King;
There is only one body,
that is why we sing.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together
with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty
Postlude
Stephanie Shorden
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