Call to Worship:
L: Jesus calls us to be his servants and humbly follow him.
All: We want lives filled with only success, abundance, and good things.
L: Jesus calls us to greatness by a different road – success through humble service, abundance by emptying ourselves for God’s glory.
All: Jesus, help us want what you want for us. Give us abundant grace to follow you through selfless service all for your glory
Song Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand
Jennie Wilson and P.F. Eiland CCLI#107548
Time is filled with swift transition, naught of earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Refrain:
Hold to God’s unchanging hand! Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Trust in him who will not leave you, whatsoever years may bring.
If by earthly friends forsaken, still more closely to him cling!
Refrain
Covet not this world’s vain riches, that so rapidly decay.
Seek to gain the heavenly treasures, they will never pass away.
Refrain
Prayer:
(All) Spirit of the Living God, may we feel your presence in our lives today and every day. Transform our hearts into servants’ hearts to live and to serve others from a genuine place of love and generosity. We pray that your grace continues to fill our lives so that we can be your ambassadors to the world. Amen.
Scripture Matthew 20:20-28
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” [a] They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
L: The word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Song: The Servant Song
Richard Gillard CCLI# 72673
Friend, let me be your servant. Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are siblings on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you in the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping. When you laugh I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony;
born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Sermon – The Cup of Discipleship – Pastor Gayle
Prayer of Confession:
Lord, you invite those who want to become your followers, to deny themselves and take up our cross and follow you. If we are honest with ourselves, we do not like to deny ourselves anything, instead fulfilling our own wants and the desires of our flesh. We value security, power and position more than anything and it is hard for us to give these up. Forgive us, holy One. Pour out your cleansing power upon us. By your Spirit, help us to honor our commitment to you and serve as you have served-putting our self aside and giving our time, energy, talents and resources for people in need. So that we may be a source of healing and hope in our community and our world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
Song Blest Be the Tie That Binds UMH 557
John Fawcett and Johan G. Nageli CCLI# 25369
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love,
the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
Bind Us Together TFWS 2226
Bob Gillman CCLI# 1228
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.
Cokesbury CCLI License #2851555
Please keep in prayer: Donna and Roshier Bailey, Tom Fabricus, Mary Jane Fizer, Deirdre and John, Louise and Mark Young, Marian Benson, Ellen Kuvasko, Margaret Franklin, Benny Willis, Bagby family, Debbie, Lilli, Ollie, Linda, Chrissie, Toye, Wenona, people living with cancer, battling addictions, struggling with life
changes, seeking the Lord. The ministry and vision of Cokesbury.
Learn
Bible Study Wednesday at 7pm on Zoom and in-person. “Holy Spirit: Here and Now” by Trevor Hudson.
Contact Pastor Gayle for Zoom link.
Virginia Roots, Race and Reconciliation– a video and discussion series designed to engage clergy and laity in authentic conversations about race and reconciliation, will begin in-person and Zoom following worship April 3rd at 11:30am. A brown bag lunch will be provided.
Devotion
The Cokesbury UMC Prayer Group meets weekly Mondays at 6pm on Zoom – all are invited to join and participate! Please send or share all prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle so we may give each concern prayerful attention.
https://zoom.us/j/98610851248?pwd=MVZkSHlPeGdyLzhZT2o5WVh2NGpuUT09
Meeting ID: 986 1085 1248 Passcode: 940573
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,98610851248#,,,,*940573# US (Washington DC)
Prayer for Discernment following worship First Sundays of month.
Serve
Welcome Table (Messy Church) April 10th at 11:30am. See sign-up for food.
A.C.T.S Food Pantry:
Canned Vegetables, especially peas, 15 oz size, Low sodium canned vegetables, Snack items, individually packed, Pop-top canned prepared meals suitable for our homeless clients, Single serve prepared food suitable for our homeless clients, Laundry Detergent, Dish Detergent, Cleaning Supplies in general, Toiletries and Personal Hygiene Items, Size 4T pull-ups, Size 6 diapers.
Easter Meal– For ACTS Food Pantry. Take a bag and purchase items on list. Return by Sunday April 10th
Griefshare is a biblical, Christ-centered grief support group ministry. Griefshare helps group members apply biblical principles to the healing process after the death of a loved one. Through videos and workbooks participants see how the gospel brings hope and restoration. Plans are being made to form a group here at Cokesbury. If you are interested in participating or facilitating a group, please contact Pastor Gayle at cokesburyumc@gmail.com.
Mission Report:
– 213 lbs. of food and household products donated in February to ACTS.
– Teachers and Staff at Featherstone Elementary School received hand written notes and several bags of hard candy. Principal Groover shares their appreciation and thanks to Cokesbury.
– Beef stew meal for 16 persons at Hilda Barg Shelter.
Ushers for Sunday worship. Please call Gordon Freeman at 703-680-4629 for information and to volunteer.
Feb Income $7354.55
Feb Expenses $8354.15
Shortfall $999.60
You shop, AmazonSmile donates. Shop at smile.amazon.com to generate donations for Cokesbury UMC at no extra cost.