November 10, 2024 Who Is Our Leader? by Pastor Donnie Sturgill

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

November 10, 2024

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Moment for Missions
Rocky Mountain Kids

*Call to Worship
Lu Peterson

Leader: Christ Jesus, friend of the poor, the meek and the merciful, has been enthroned above all authority and power in this world and in the world that is to come.
         
People: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, serve the Lord with gladness come into his presence with singing.

Leader: God has placed everything under Christ’s wounded feet, appointed the one who wore a crown of thorns as the supreme head of the church, his body.
           
People: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, come into his courts with praise. Give thanks and praise his loving name!

*Opening Hymn
A Might Fortress Is Our God
UMH #110

1. A mighty fortress
is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and
power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own
strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man
on our side,
the man of God’s
own choosing.

Dost ask who
that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must
win the battle.

3. And though this world,
with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear,
for God hath willed
his truth to triumph
through us.

The Prince of
Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word
shall fell him.

4. That word above
all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and
the gifts are ours,
thru him who
with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

*Greeting Your Neighbors – Passing the Peace of Christ
 
Mystery Box

Scripture Reading
Isaiah 40:21-23
Lu Peterson

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain
    and spreads them like a tent to live in,
 who brings princes to naught
    and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.

Hymn
Crown Him with Many Crowns
UMH #327

1. Crown him with
many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly
anthem drowns
all music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as
thy matchless King
through all eternity.  

2. Crown him
the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious
in the strife
for those he came to save.

His glories now we sing,
who died, and rose on high,
who died, eternal
life to bring,
and lives that
death may die.

3. Crown him
the Lord of peace,
whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole,
that wars may cease,
and all be prayer and praise.

His reign shall
know no end,
and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of
paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.

4. Crown him
the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
those wounds,
yet visible above,
in beauty glorified.

All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast
died for me;
thy praise and glory
shall not fail
throughout eternity.

Scripture Reading
Colossians 1:15-20

 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.  He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

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

Sermon
Who Is Our Leader?
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Prayer Song
Seek Ye First    
UMH #405

1. Seek ye first
the kingdom of God
and his righteousness,
and all these things
shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!

2. Ask, and it shall
 be given unto you;
seek and ye shall find;
knock, and the door shall
be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!

Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

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

Introduction to the Offering
Lu Peterson

Offertory
Sanctuary Choir

Thanksgiving for Offering
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!

Sending Hymn  
This is the Day of New Beginnings    
Vs. 1-4 UMH #383

1. This is a day
of new beginnings,
time to remember
and move on,

time to believe
what love is bringing,
laying to rest
the pain that’s gone.

2. For by the life
and death of Jesus,
God’s mighty Spirit,
now as then,

can make for us
a world of difference,
as faith and hope
are born again.

3. Then let us,
with the Spirit daring,
step from the past
and leave behind

our disappointments,
guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths,
and sure to find.

4. Christ is alive,
and goes before us
to show and share
what love can do.

This is a day
of new beginnings;
our God is making
all things new.

Benediction
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts