REDEEMER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
August 7, 2022
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Processional
Invocation: Good morning and welcome!
Surprising God of mercy and love, thank you for calling to us this day. We praise you that you challenge us to show our faith in ministries of peace and justice, offering compassion to all in need. Open our hearts and minds today to hear your words of encouragement and challenge. We offer this prayer in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Call to Worship!
L: Get ready! The Lord needs you.
P: We are ready to serve God.
L: Be prepared to serve in ministries of justice and peace.
P: We are ready to serve God by helping others.
L: Open your hearts, your souls, your minds to God’s mercy and love.
P: Prepare us for service to you, O loving God. AMEN.
Words of Welcome and Parish News
*Gathering Hymn
Prayers of the people and a time for Silent Prayer
Prayer Focus: Embracing Jesus
Special Music
Scripture Reading
The New Testament Lesson:
Ephesians 3:14-21
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Music
The Message “Hold on to Faith” Rev. Marshall Murphy Jr.
We sometimes can experience burnout and struggle in connecting various ministries to the people of God. When you look at the ministry of Christ with the disciples, they continued to go to the people without many resources. However, their faith continued to grow in the midst of adversity. Sometimes doing the work of the church doesn’t add up or look like it’s effective based on the numbers. Doing ministries in the church requires to stretch our faith collectively. Often, we want things to fit so we don’t have to exercise faith. But can the church do things without faith? We should be the people to demonstrate what faith looks like. Furthermore, we should be able to talk about it.
What blessings has God given your personally that you relied on faith? There is a strong statement in the Scripture concerning faith:” … Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Together as the body of Christ we are a light for many who have lost faith in God. How do we nurture the spirit of faith in our daily walk. I applaud the stories locally, nationally, and globally on the celebrations that many congregations have accomplished in ministry work without having the tools or resources in sight. I remember how Cass Community Services started various ministries. Faith shouldn’t tell us to hold back ministries but move forward with faith. We must stand on faith!
Offertory Invitation:
God of love and grace, we bring our offerings this day and ask that they might be dedicated to strengthening your church for the making of disciples for Jesus Christ.
Offertory Music
Doxology: UMH 95
*Unison Prayer of Dedication:
Open our ears to hear what pleases you and open our eyes to see the opportunities all around us. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion (Symbolic Service) UMH 15
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. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
*Closing Hymn
Sending Forth:
People of God, made ready by God’s love and mercy: Go forth into God’s world to serve in ministries of justice, kindness and peace. Know always that God’s peace is with you. AMEN.
Recessional (Please remain seated to meditate and reflect on the music)