Order of Worship

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Prelude

 "Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee"

UMH #399

Welcome

A Time to Make Connections

Meditation Time

Introit

"Come, Christians, Join to Sing"

Bell Choir

Arr. Dan Edwards   

Call to Worship

Liturgist: We are chosen children of God, bound together by the Holy Spirit.

People: Grounded in love, we belong to God, and through God, we belong to one another.

Liturgist: The Spirit empowers us to live as imitators of Christ in love of God, neighbor, self, and all creation.

People: Grounded in love, we belong to God, and through God, we learn to love one another.

Liturgist: The Spirit inspires us to receive God’s Word with joy in a world that rejects the good news.   

People: Grounded in love, we belong to God, and through God, we live in joy with one another.       

Liturgist: Come, let us worship in the assurance of God’s love that chooses us, empowers us, and inspires us to live as the family of Christ.

People: We come to worship God in the assurance that we belong to God, and through God, we belong to one another. Amen.

-         Discipleship Ministries, July 2026.

Opening Prayer

Loving, living God, be among us now. Show us your ways. Guide our steps. Live in us, that we may be people of steadfast hope and powerful giving. Help us hear your words, challenging us to give you all the things that are yours. Help us remember that all we are and all we have are gifts from you, gifts to be shared in service and love. Holy One among us, help us be a holy people who receive your word with joy and live your message with love. Amen.

-        the Ministry Matters website, http://www.ministrymatters.com

Opening Hymn

   “Sanctuary” 

       TFWS #2164

  Bible Presentation

 UMCW Lay Leadership Celebration 

Joys and Concers

Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer

Prayer Response

"To Know You More"

TFWS #2161 (verse 3)

based on Philippians 3:10

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD

Scripture Readings:     Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,^{[k] 15} from whom every family^[l] in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶ I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. ¹⁸ I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and^[m] in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (NRSV)



Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.  

Message

“Crafting a Vision for Cur church” 

Bill Kruger and Linda Keefer, Lay Leaders

We Respond

Offertory

  “Into My Heart” 

    TFWS #216

Doxology

 UMH #94

*Offertory Prayer

Loving God, we thank you for the love that grounds us, the grace that sustains us, and the gifts you have placed in each of us. All that we are and all that we have come from you. As we offer our gifts today, help us offer not only what we have, but also who we are. Use our gifts, our time, and our abilities to share the love of Christ with our neighbors and our community. Bless the ministries of our church, and help each of us find ways to serve faithfully, knowing that we belong to you and to one another. May all that we give and all that we do bring glory to you. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

 "I am Thine, O Lord"

  UMH #419 (verses 1 & 2)

The Blessing and Sending Forth 



Pastor: Go forth, rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. May that love strengthen you and guide you in your ministry.

People: We go in Christ’s love, ready to share God’s love with others.

Pastor: God has given each of us gifts to serve. Go and use your gifts for the good of others and the glory of God.

People: We will serve our neighbors, care for one another, and welcome all in Christ’s love.

Pastor: Now may the God who is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine strengthen you through the Holy Spirit, and may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith. Go in peace, rooted and grounded in love.

People: Thanks be to God. Amen.     

Postlude

    "Come, Christians, Join to Sing"

Arr. H. Robert James