September 1, 2024

Each communion Sunday thereafter we will have a basket for those who feel called to give above and beyond their pledge. This "second-mile" giving will help fund the pastor's discretionary fund, which helps meet community needs as they arise, such as gas, lodging, clothing, etc. Feel free to bring your spare cash and change to help make a change in the lives of those in need.

Monday
6:30p Jubilee Bell Rehearsal
7:00p Vocal Fusion Rehearsal
7:30p Peak Experience Barbershop Chorus

September 1, 2024

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Call to Worship
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Leader: You have called us to this place, O Lord.
People: Each one of us is unique, with differing gifts and talents.
Leader: Yet each talent represented here is valuable in God’s realm.
People: Lord, help us find ways in which to use our talents for healing and hope.
Leader: Come, let us praise the Lord who has called us here.
People: Let us open our hearts and spirits to God’s word for us. AMEN.

*Opening Hymn
What Gift Can We Bring
UMH # 87
1. What gift can we bring,
what present, what token?
What words can convey it,
the joy of this day?
 
When grateful we come,
remembering, rejoicing,
what song can we offer
in honor and praise?
 
2. Give thanks for the past,
for those who had vision,
who planted and watered
so dreams could come true.
 
Give thanks for the now,
for study, for worship,
for mission that bids
us turn prayer into deed.
 
3. Give thanks for tomorrow,
full of surprises,
for knowing whatever
tomorrow may bring,
 
the Word is our promise
always, forever;
we rest in God’s keeping
and live in God’s love.
 
4. This gift we now bring,
this present, this token,
these words can convey it,
the joy of this day!
 
When grateful we come,
remembering, rejoicing,
this song we now offer
in honor and praise!
 
*Greeting Your Neighbors – Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Romans 12:1-8
CLM Twinkle Gordon

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

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
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
Pastoral Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory
 Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

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!

Communion
UMH #13
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
 
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
 
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
 
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
 
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.

All: Amen.

Communion Hymn
Let Us Break Bread Together
UMH #618
 
1. Let us break bread together
on our knees, (on our knees)
let us break bread together
on our knees, (on our knees)
 
When I fall on my knees
with my face
to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy
on me. (on me)
 
2. Let us drink wine together
on our knees, (on our knees)
let us drink wine together
on our knees. (on our knees)
 
When I fall on my knees
with my face
to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy
on me. (on me)
 
3. Let us praise God together
on our knees, (on our knees)
let us praise God together
on our knees. (on our knees)
 
When I fall on my knees
with my face
to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy
on me. (on me)
 
4. Let us praise God together
on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us praise God together
on our knees. (on our knees)
 
When I fall on my knees
with my face
to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy
if you please. (if you please)
 
Communion Hymn
One Bread, One Body
UMH #620
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
1. Gentile or Jew,
servant or free,
woman or man,
no more.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
2. Many the gifts,
many the works,
one in the Lord of all.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
3. Grain for the fields,
scattered and grown,
gathered to one, for all.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
*Closing Hymn
Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
v. 1, 3, 4 UMH #581
 
1. Lord, whose love
through humble service
bore the weight
of human need,
 
who upon the cross,
forsaken,
offered mercy’s
perfect deed:
 
we, your servants,
bring the worship
not of voice alone,
but heart,
 
consecrating
to your purpose
every gift
that you impart.
 
3. As we worship,
grant us vision,
till your love’s
revealing light
 
in its height
and depth and greatness
dawns upon
our quickened sight,
 
making known
the needs and burdens
your compassion
bids us bear,
 
stirring us to
tireless striving
your abundant
life to share.
 
4. Called by worship
to your service,
forth in your
dear name we go
 
to the child,
the youth, the aged,
love in living
deeds to show;
 
hope and health,
good will and comfort,
counsel, aid,
and peace we give,
 
that your servants,
Lord, in freedom
may your mercy
know, and live.
 
Benediction
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts