Sunday, October 3, 2021
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” ~ Hebrews 11:1
PRELUDE
Mary Monroe, Piano (8:30am)
Patrick Langham Jazz Ensemble (11:00am)
WELCOME FROM THE PULPIT
CALL TO WORSHIP
Gloria Fearn (Liturgist 8:30am), Jennifer Alcover (Liturgist 11:00am)
Leader: We rejoice, O God, in the Spirit which worked through ancient people of faith to call them from a distant land to a land which they knew not.
People: We rejoice, O God, in knowing that the Spirit which led our ancestors through the wilderness is our possession today.
Leader We give you thanks Almighty God, for those who walked along the Way, for their faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ and their steadfast love for you.
All: We give you thanks, Almighty God, for those whose dedication to the Gospel caused them to express a vital faith and establish a tradition, of which we are grateful descendants.
HYMN
Just A Closer Walk with Thee TFWS #2158
[Rick Founds]
I am weak, but thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee: Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares? None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee. R
When my feeble life is o’er, time for me will be no more;
guide me gently, safely o’er to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore. R
CHILDREN’S TIME (11:00am)
ANTHEM (11:00am)
The Gospel of Grace by Mark Hayes
Chancel Choir, Mary Monroe, Patrick Langham Jazz Ensemble
PRAYER
Teach Me to Listen
Teach me to listen, O God, to those nearest me, my family, my friends, my co-workers. Help me to be aware that no matter what words I hear, the message is, “Accept the person I am. Listen to me.”
Teach me to listen, my caring God, to those far from me – the whisper of the hopeless, the plea of the forgotten, the cry of the anguished.
Teach me to listen, O God my Mother, to myself. Help me to be less afraid to trust the voice inside – in the deepest part of me.
Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice – in busyness and in boredom, in certainty and in doubt, in noise and in silence.
Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen. ~Adapted by John Veltri, SJ
LORD’S PRAYER
Our God 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 trepasses, 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.
PRAYER RESPONSE
Breathe on Me, Breath of God v. 1 UMH 420
Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
PSALTER Psalm 126 UMH 847
Response
Leader: When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, We were like those who dream.
People: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;
Leader: then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
People: The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. R
Leader: Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb!
People: May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy!
Leader: Those who go forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. R
SCRIPTURE READING Revelation 21:1-7
Gloria Fearn (Liturgist 8:30am), Jennifer Alcover (Liturgist 11:00am)
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
HYMN
This Is a Day of New Beginnings v. 1-5 UMH #383
[WORDS: Brian Wren MUSIC: Carlton R. Young]
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.
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.
Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring, step from the past and leave behind
our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find.
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.
In faith we’ll gather round the table to taste and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new.
SERMON
“Substance”
Pastor Mark Cordes
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP
Patrick Langham
OFFERTORY
Mary Monroe, Piano (8:30am)
Patrick Langham Jazz Ensemble (11:00am)
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!
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
COMMUNION UMH 13-14
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right and a good and joyful thing…And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
People: 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.
Leader: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ…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.
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here…Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever.
All: Amen.
COMMUNION HYMNS
One Bread, One Body UMH #620
In Remembrance of Me TFWS #2254
As We Gather at Your Table TFWS #2268
COMMUNION REFLECTION
CLOSING HYMN
Marching to Zion UMH #733
[WORDS: Isaac Watts MUSIC: Robert Lowery]
Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known.
Join in a song with sweet accord, join in a song with sweet accord,
and thus surround the throne, and thus surround the throne.
Refrain:
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion.
We’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.
The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets,
before we reach the heav’nly fields, before we reach the heav’nly fields,
or walk the golden streets, or walk the golden streets. R
Then let our songs abound, and ev’ry tear be dry.
We’re marching thro’ Immanuel’s ground, we’re marching thro’ Immanuel’s ground,
to fairer worlds on high, to fairer worlds on high. R
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Mary Monroe, Piano (8:30am)
Patrick Langham Jazz Ensemble (11:00am)
FLOWERS
The flowers on the altar are given by Ned Leiba in honor of Carol Sims’s birthday today.
THE PATRICK LANGHAM JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Patrick Langham (Saxophone)
Aaron Garner (Piano)
Gerry Pineda (Bass)
Brian Kendrick (Drums)
Joe Mazzaferro (Trumpet)
Jamie Dubberly (Trombone)