Sunday, October 10, 2021
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ~Acts 2:42-47
PRELUDE
Andrea Shakespeare, Piano
WELCOME FROM THE PULPIT
CALL TO WORSHIP
Nedy Tovera (Liturgist 11:00am)
Leader: Come take off your shoes
People: For where we stand is holy ground
Leader: Come love your neighbor and do good to all around you
People: For where we stand is holy ground
Leader: Come and respect the planet
People: For where we stand is holy ground
Leader: Love all that God gave us,
All: For we are all standing on holy ground, AMEN.
HYMN
His Eye Is on the Sparrow TFWS #2146
Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is he: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” his tender word I hear, and resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; though by the path he leadeth but one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. R
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, when song gives place to sighing, when hope within me dies; I draw the closer to him, from care he sets me free: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. R
CHILDREN’S TIME (11:00)
Jeni Bonilla
ANTHEM (11:00)
Fairest Lord Jesus By Schlesische Volkslieder
Chancel Choir
Andrea Shakespeare, Piano
HEBREW SCRIPTURE
Exodus 3:1-5
Nedy Tovera (Liturgist 11:00am)
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
HYMN
A Place at the Table W&S #3149
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star over head.
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice, and joy.
For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding to share, with wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that’s fair. R
For young and for old, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song, the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong. R
For just and unjust, a place at the table. abuser, abused, with need to forgive, in anger, in hurt, a mind-set of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live. R
For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be, to work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free. R
STEWARDSHIP MOMENT VIDEO
PRAYER
You will have to decide if you want this—
want the blessing that comes to you on an ordinary day when you are minding your own path, bent on the task before you that you have done a hundred times, a thousand.
You will have to choose for yourself whether you will attend to the signs, whether you will open your eyes to the searing light, the heat, whether you will open your ears, your heart to the voice that knows your name, that tells you this place where you stand— this ground so familiar and therefore unregarded— is, in fact, holy.
You will have to discern whether you have defenses enough to rebuff the call, excuses sufficient to withstand the pull of what blazes before you; whether you will hide your face, will turn away back toward— what, exactly?
No path from here could ever be ordinary again, could ever become unstrange to you whose seeing has been scorched beyond all salving. You will know your path not by how it shines before you but by how it burns within you, leaving you whole as you go from here blazing with your inarticulate, your inescapable yes. — By Jan Richardson
SILENT PRAYER
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
Here I am Lord (Refrain) UMH #593
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart.
HEBREW SCRIPTURE
Genesis 18:1-8
Nedy Tovera (Liturgist 11:00am)
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
PRAYER
SERMON
“Evidence of things”
Pastor Mark Cordes
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Andrea Shakespeare, Piano
OFFERTORY
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
HYMN
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing UMH #400
Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I’m come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Andrea Shakespeare, Piano
FLOWERS
The flowers on the altar are given by Cathy Ratto in memory of her mother, Shirley Dyer, who for years did flower for her church.
