Gathering as the Body of Christ
Welcome and Sharing of Announcements
Call to Worship
Liturgist: All things bright and beautiful,
People: God created for our enjoyment.
Liturgist: All things wrenching and hard,
People: God holds with tender care.
Liturgist: You and I, neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies,
People: God loves without condition.
Liturgist: So let us worship God.
Hold Fast to What is Good by Beth Merrill Neel
Opening Prayer
Holy God, hear our prayer. Sometimes our lives are a mess, because of choices we have made or because of choices others have made. Sometimes our lives are great, and we’re kind and generous. Sometimes our lives are great and we forget to be to grateful and humble. We trust that in the jumble of all of this, you are present. We trust that you are with us, walking with us when we stray, nudging us back to the right path, slowing us down when we get ahead of you, and waiting for us when we lag behind. So we thank you, and ask for your forgiveness, and pray that you will stay with us throughout the journey. In the powerful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Hold Fast to What is Good by Beth Merrill Neel
Opening Hymn
“The Gift of Love”
UMH #408
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Response
“Live in Charity (Ubi Caritas)”
FWS # 2179
sung two times
Live in charity and steadfast love;
Live in charity, God will dwell with you.
Scripture Readings
Acts 2:42-45
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
I Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
John 15:9-13
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Liturgist The word of God for the people of God.
People Thanks be to God.
Message
"Goal for 2021: Sharing the Love of Christ with All (III)"
Pastor Seok-Hwan
Message in Music
“I Love to Tell the Story”
arr. by Gary Lanier
Joanna Nees, flutist, and Matt Cron, pianist
Offertory Prayer
God of Amazing Love, may these gifts we have given be used to bring renewed life in our world: Hope to the despairing; joy to the depressed; peace to the dismayed; love to all of your children, everywhere. We give this offering to you in the name of your Son, the Resurrected One, Jesus. Amen.
Closing Hymn
“Freely, Freely”
UMH #389
The Blessing and Sending Forth
As we have gathered together as the family of God, so now we go forth to be family for the world. God to love, go to include, go to embrace. Go to be generous friends and loving family. Go to share the presence of God’s Spirit in the ever-widening family of God. Amen.
Online Servers
Liturgist: Jodie Kruger
Video: Mark Beatty
