(View this service: YouTube)
Call to Worship
L: Open the gates of righteousness, the gate of the Lord.
All: So that we may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
L: This is the day that the Lord has made,
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
L: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
All: The Lord is God and has given us his light.
L: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
All: And his steadfast love endures forever.
Song – How Firm a Foundation – UMH 529
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no, never forsake.
Prayer:
(All) God of wisdom and groundedness, you have encouraged us to live our lives grounded in faith, patience, and love. Help us to love others without judgment, but with a solid foundation of acceptance, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen
Scripture Reading – Matthew 7:7:1-5, 12-14, 21-29
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy [ that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. “Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes.
L: For the Word of God in scripture; for the Word of God within us and for the Word of God among us we say:
All: Thanks be to God.
Anthem – Choir
Our Offering to God
Doxology – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow – UMH 95
Offering Prayer
Message – Pastor Gayle
Pastoral Prayer
Prayer of Confession – UMH 8
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
P: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you
are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen
Passing the Peace
The Great Thanksgiving – UMH 9
P: 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: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join 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: 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.
The Lord’s Prayer – UMH 895
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. Amen
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Song – Come to the Table of Grace – WAS 3168
Barbara Hamm 7034746
Come to the table of grace. Come to the table of grace.
This is God’s table, it’s not yours or mine.
Come to the table of grace.
Come to the table of love. Come to the table of love.
This is God’s table, it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of love.
Come to the table of peace. Come to the table of peace.
This is God’s table, it’s not yours or mine.
Come to the table of peace.
Come to the table of joy. Come to the table of joy.
This is God’s table, it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of joy.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Announcements
Song – They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love – TFWS 2223
Peter Scholtes 26997
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
and we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Refrain:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,
by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
we will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
and together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.
Refrain
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
we will work with each other, we will work side by side,
and we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride.
Refrain
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
and all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,
and all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.
Refrain
Benediction
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Please keep in prayer: Bridget, Sandy, Johnnie Kennedy, Susan L., Lydia, Tina, Blanche and family, Charles Crist, Kyle Keen and family, Kaye, Charline, Marion Gherke, Valerie Hoyt, Millie, Mary Baker, Roshier Bailey, Drema, Mary Jane Fizer, John Kelly, Louise and Mark Young, Jane Foster, Claire Such-Hutton, Marian, Ellen and Carlos Kuvaszko, Al Firth, Margaret Franklin, Hallman family, Debbie, Lilli, Ollie, Linda, Chrissie, Toye, Wenona, people living with cancer, battling addictions, struggling with life changes, seeking the Lord. The ministry of Cokesbury. Streetlight, Featherstone School students, teachers, staff, parents.
The Way of Discipleship
Growing in Grace through study: Sundays following worship. The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas.
Growing in Grace through fellowship and more:
Welcome Table every Second Sunday 11:30 am. Come and share a meal and conversation. February meal is soup and salad.
Friday with Friends every Third Friday 11am in Narthex. Bring bag lunch.
Growing in Grace through intercessory prayer:
Prayer group meets Mondays at 5:30pm on Zoom. All are welcome to join in prayer. Please send or share prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle.
Prayer Shawls: You may have noticed the throws on the chairs in the narthex. These were made by our own Prayer Shawl ministry. These
“shawls” represent prayer and hugs for people in need. If this describes you or yours, please take one.
Growing in Grace through service:
A.C.T.S Food Pantry: Canned vegetables 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, dog food.
Featherstone School: personal hygiene products: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, brushes and combs. Small and medium size sweatpants in blue, gray or black
Hilda Barg Shelter Next date: March 3rd.
Growing in Grace through worship.
Weekly service Sundays at 10am.
Choir practice on Saturdays. Children and youth at 2pm. Adults and youth at 3pm.
Sign ups for Liturgists, Ushers, Greeters, Altar Care, Communion Steward, Worship banners.
February 25th Discovering the Possibilities workshop 8:30am-3pm.
Gifts Survey: What talents, abilities, skills, training do you have?
Discernment: 859 Prayer
Please pray about Community garden, English language classes, Flea Market
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