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Greeting – Greet each other in the name of the Lord. Buenes Dias. Bienvenidos. Como estes?
Call to worship:
L: Hear my voice when I call, Lord.
All: Be merciful to me and answer me.
L: My heart says of you, “Seek the Lord’s face.”
All: Your face, Lord, I will seek!
L: Do not hide your face from me
All: Do not turn away from me in anger.
L: You have been my helper.
All: Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.
L: Though father and mother forsake me.
All: The Lord will receive me.
(Psalm 27)
Song – Higher Ground
I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day.
Still praying as I onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand by faith on heaven’s tableland.
A higher plane than I am have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay.
Though some my dwell where these abound my prayer, my aim is higher ground.
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand by faith on heaven’s tableland.
A higher plane than I am have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height and catch a gleam of glory bright.
But still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found. “Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand by faith on heaven’s tableland.
A higher plane than I am have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Charles H. Gabriel and Johnson Oatman, Jr. CCLI# 21844
Prayer:
O gracious and holy God, give us diligence to seek you, wisdom to perceive you, and patience to wait for you. Grant us, O God, a mind to meditate on you, ears to listen for your Word, a heart to love you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture – Luke 17:11-32:
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with [b] the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [c] 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father [d] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
L: The word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon – Rev. Gayle Porias
Offering and signs of reconciliation and love: Our tithes, time, talent, prayer and witness
Song – Softly and Tenderly – UMH 348:
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;
see on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.
Come home, (come home), come home(come home); you who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!
O for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me.
Come home, (come home), come home(come home); you who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!
Will L. Thompson CCLI# 28380
Prayer of dedication:
Loving God, faithful and gracious forever, you love us more than we love ourselves. You believe in us more than we believe in ourselves. You call us to walk with Christ, and be more than we ever thought possible. Take our gifts. Receive our thanks. Accept our praise; through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
The Lord’s Supper:
All are welcome at the Lord’s Table by the invitation of Jesus Christ.
The Great Thanksgiving
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts
All: We lift them up to the Lord
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join in their unending hymn:
All: 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.
P: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death and resurrection you have birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. At his ascension you exalted him to sit and reign with you at your right hand.
Words of Institution:
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took break, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples and said: Take, eat, this is my body which is give 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:
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them to 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 God, now and forever. Amen.
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, forever. Amen.
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Communion Song – Eat This Bread:
Eat this bread, drink this cup, come to him and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup, trust in him and you will not thirst.
Jesus Christ, bread of life, those who come to you will not hunger.
Jesus Christ, Risen Lord, those who trust in you will not thirst.
Taize Song
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Almighty God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. May our spirits be renewed and our lives transformed in obedience to you and in your Son Jesus Christ, who showed us the way and by the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us. Amen
Benediction:
May the love of God carry you through each day. May the light of Christ keep you on the path of grace. May the engaging and enduring power of the Holy Spirit be your strengthener and comforter. Each day, every day, each going out and each returning, may the Lord bless you and keep you.
Song – The Jesus in Me Worship and Song 3151
The Jesus in me, loves the Jesus in you. The Jesus in me, loves the Jesus in you.
So easy. So easy. So easy to love. Anonymous
Announcements:
2021 Charge Conference has been set for Sunday, October 24 following worship.
The Finance Committee will be providing a monthly Cokesbury Financial Health report.
For 2021 to date:
Actual Expenditures: $82,564 (church operations and ministries- COM)
Tithes and Offerings received: $68,215
Shortfall: $14,349
The Cokesbury UMC Prayer Group meets weekly at the church on Mondays at 5:30pm in the church Fellowship Hall – 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.
Messy Church: Information meeting today following worship. Introducing new people to Jesus through hospitality, friendship, story and creativity. Includes a meal, Bible story, arts and crafts, activities, celebration.
“Questions God Asks Us” by Trevor Hudson- a small group discussion begins Wednesday September 29th at 7pm. You can participate in-person (masks and social distancing) or by Zoom.
Sermon Series: based on Dr. Amy Oden’s book God’s Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel-Hungry World.
A.C.T.S is in need of the following items:
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.
Cokesbury Worship Update:
The Cokesbury Healthy Church Team met Tuesday evening, 8/31, to review the current plans for upcoming church worship services. Due to a variety of conditions, and through lots of prayer, it was determined that we should continue with Outdoor Worship through September, and hold off moving back to Sanctuary Worship until we can safely do so. The Team will meet again toward the end of September to review conditions and provide the next update to the congregation.
While many of us are anxious to return to Sanctuary Worship and all its inherent benefits, it was discerned that we can not now safely do so due to the continuing risks and conditions created by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Some of the risks and conditions considered, and how they may affect our unique congregation, were: the entire Commonwealth of Virginia is currently in the “High” COVID-19 infection risk level; all surrounding states are also at the “High” level with the exception of two counties in Maryland that are at the “Substantial” risk level; the daily new case infection rate for COVID-19, driven by the Delta Variant, continues its upward trend and now stands well above last summer’s peak rates; only 57% of Virginia’s population has been fully vaccinated and only 64% has received one dose; while the majority of new infection cases of COVID-19 Delta Variant are in unvaccinated individuals, vaccinated people are being infected as well, though with generally less severe symptoms; and church building preparations required including deep cleaning and air conditioning systems. The Healthy Church Team monitors local, state, national conditions for trend changes in the Pandemic with an eye toward safely returning to Sanctuary Worship. Until that becomes possible, we will continue with Outdoor Worship and work to enhance the Worship experience as best we can. If you have recommendations or comments toward that end, please let church leaders know.