Who We Are, Who We Serve, How We Serve

September 17, 2023
 
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Greeting
Rev. David Petty

*Call To Worship
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: Come, gather in from the cool air of an autumn morning
People: Each day, we are refreshed as we try to live a Christ-like life.
Leader: All who are here, let us draw near to the Lord, our God.
People: God is with us. Christ is with us. We do not bear life's burdens alone.
Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!

*Gathering Song
God is Here
UMH #660
WORDS: Fred Pratt Green, 1978
© 1979 Hope Publishing Co.
 
1. God is here!
As we your people
meet to offer
praise and prayer,
 
may we find
in fuller measure
what it is in
Christ we share.
 
Here, as in
the world around us,
all our varied skills and arts
wait the coming
of the Spirit
into open minds and hearts.
 
2. Here are symbols
to remind us
of our lifelong
need of grace;
 
here are table,
font, and pulpit;
here the cross
has central place.
 
Here in honesty
of preaching,
here in silence, as in speech,
here, in newness
and renewal,
God the Spirit comes to each.
 
3. Here our children
find a welcome
in the Shepherd’s
flock and fold;
 
here as bread
and wine are taken,
Christ sustains us,
as of old.
 
Here the servants
of the Servant
seek in worship to explore
what it means
in daily living
to believe and to adore.
 
4. Lord of all,
of church and kingdom,
in an age
of change and doubt
 
keep us faithful
to the gospel;
help us work
your purpose out.
 
Here, in this
day’s dedication,
all we have to give, receive;
we, who cannot
live without you,
we adore you! We believe!
 
Greeting Neighbor
 
Mystery Box

Prayer Song
Turn Your Eye Upon Jesus
UMH #349
WORDS: Helen H. Lemmel, 1922 
© 1922, renewed 1950 Singspiration Music

Turn your eyes
upon Jesus,
look full in His
wonderful face, (wonderful face,)
 
and the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of His
glory and grace.
 
Prayer, Silent Prayer and, The Lord’s Prayer
CLM Twinkle Gordon

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 Response
Turn Your Eye Upon Jesus
UMH #349
WORDS: Helen H. Lemmel, 1922 
© 1922, renewed 1950 Singspiration Music

Turn your eyes
upon Jesus,
look full in His
wonderful face, (wonderful face,)
 
and the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of His
glory and grace.

Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory
He Is Exalted
By Twila Paris
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanks and Dedication
Rev. David Petty

*Doxology
Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
 
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
Philippians 2:1-8
CLM Twinkle Gordon

If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Anthem
The Heavens are Telling
By Joseph Hayden
Sanctuary Choir
 
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
A Vision for St. Paul’s:
Who We Are, Who We Serve, How We Serve
Rev. David Petty

*Affirmation of Faith
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: As United Methodists, we don't require belief in a specific creed to belong to this church, but we say these affirmations to give words to our faith where words may even fall short. We say these affirmations to aspire to belief where we have doubts. We say these affirmations to give voice to our faith in a Mystery and to speak aspirations of hope about who we strive to be.
Today's affirmation of faith combines elements of the Apostles Creed, elements of our United Methodist Social Creed, our New Vision Statement, and a faith statement of who we are as a church.

All: We believe in God, the Creator Almighty,
Who made heaven and earth,
Calling us into a life of justice, love, and humility.
We commit to a world free from exploitation,
Where all have basic needs met,
And our world is a reflection of God's compassion and desire for equality.
We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day, He rose again,
And became the living embodiment of grace and redemption.
In the name of Jesus, we stand against systems that discriminate or degrade,
We Affirm the worth of all individuals,
And strive for their physical and spiritual well-being.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy universal Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
We advocate for justice in the face of injustice,
We promote the responsible stewardship of resources,
and fair wages and conditions for all those who labor.
We are called to be peacemakers,
To love the unlovable
to see the unseen.
to feed the hungry
to give drink to those who thirst.

To invite in the stranger,
to clothe the naked, look after the sick
and to visit those in prison.
We are called to be healers of a broken world
and menders of broken hearts.
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,
AS THIS CHURCH, it is our vision that
We will be a Christ-centered spiritual community
that connects with and serves people
from all walks of life.

We strive to be a beacon of hope
where love is generous,
and diversity is valued.

We will meet people where they are,
encourage their personal faith journey,
and share God’s love
throughout our wider community.
This is our share belief,
our communal hope,
and our congregational vision.
Amen.

*Hymn
Pass It On
UMH #572
WORDS: Kurt Kaiser, 1969 
© 1969 Communiqué Music, Inc.
 
1. It only takes a spark
to get a fire going,
and soon all those around
can warm up
in its glowing.
 
That’s how it is
with God’s love
once you’ve experienced it;
you spread His love
to everyone;
you want to pass it on.
 
2. What a wondrous
time is spring,
when all the trees are budding,
the birds begin to sing,
the flowers
start their blooming.
 
That’s how it is
with God’s love
once you’ve experienced it;
you want to sing,
it’s fresh like spring,
you want to pass it on.
 
3. I wish for you, my friend,
the happiness
that I’ve found;
you can depend on Him,
it matters not
where you’re bound.
 
I’ll shout it from
the mountaintop;
I want my world to know;
the Lord of love
has come to me,
I want to pass it on.
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Postlude
Stephanie Shorden