Order of Worship

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Pre-service music

  “The Beautiful River”

     By Sandra Eithun 

   Bell Choir

Prelude

 "Shall We Gather at the River" 

UMH #723

Welcome

A Time to Make Connections

Meditation Time

Introit

      “Toccata for a Joyous Day” 

     by Paul McKlveen

Bell Choir

Call to Worship

Liturgist:  Come, all who seek rest, renewal, and belonging.

People: We come seeking the presence of God.

Liturgist: Beneath the oaks of Mamre, Abraham welcomed strangers and discovered a holy encounter.

People: Open our eyes to God's presence among us today.

Liturgist: God creates space for welcome, grace, and new possibilities.

People: We come ready to receive and to extend that welcome to others.

Liturgist: Let us worship the God who gathers us together in love.

People: Let us worship with grateful and open hearts.

Opening Prayer

Welcoming God, You met Abraham beneath the shade of a tree and transformed an ordinary moment into a holy encounter. Gather us now into your presence. Quiet our fears, soften our hearts, and make room within us for your Spirit to work. Help us become a community where people are welcomed, valued, and loved. In a world often marked by division and loneliness, make this church a place of peace, friendship, healing, and hope. Through Christ, who welcomes us all to God's table. Amen.

Opening Hymn

      “I Come with Joy” 

     UMH #617 (verses 1 to 4)

based on 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Message in Music

      “Serenity” 

         by Kurt Meyer 

Holy Communion

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Today we remember Abraham's welcome beneath the oaks of Mamre. What seemed to be an ordinary meal became a holy encounter. Again and again throughout Scripture, God meets people around a table—in moments of hospitality, friendship, forgiveness, and grace.

Today Christ welcomes us to this table. Not because we have earned a place here, but because God's love has made room for us. Here there is bread for the hungry, grace for the weary, and a place for all who seek the presence of God.

Let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, Too often we have failed to welcome others as you have welcomed us. We have been quick to judge and slow to listen. We have built walls where you call us to build tables. We have missed opportunities to show kindness, extend mercy, and share your love. Forgive us, we pray. Open our hearts once again to your grace. Teach us to receive your welcome and to offer that same welcome to others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hear the good news: God's mercy is greater than our failures. God's grace is wider than our fears. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, loved, and welcomed home.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Glory to God. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God. You created us in love and formed us for relationship with you and with one another. Throughout the generations, you have invited your people into covenant and communion. Beneath the oaks of Mamre, you met Abraham through the gift of hospitality. Through prophets and teachers, you called your people to welcome the stranger, care for the vulnerable, and seek peace.

When we wandered from your ways, your love remained steadfast. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (UM Hymnal p. 17, Musical Setting A)

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. He welcomed those whom others rejected. He ate with sinners and saints, strangers and friends. He proclaimed good news to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, and grace for all people. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he opened wide the door of your kingdom and prepared a table where all may find mercy and new life.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

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:

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. (UM Hymnal 18)

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his love. Through this meal, make us a people of welcome. Teach us to make room for one another. Send us into the world as bearers of hope, builders of peace, and witnesses to your grace. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever.

Amen. (UM Hymnal 18)

The Lord's Prayer

And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray together:

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. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Giving the Bread and Cup

Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer After Communion

Gracious God, We thank you for this holy meal. In bread and cup, you have nourished us with your grace and reminded us that we belong to you and to one another. Send us now into the world to share the welcome we have received, to extend the hospitality of Christ, and to create spaces where others may encounter your love. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD

Scripture Readings: Genesis 18:1-15

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham[a] by the oaks[b] of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah and said, “Make ready quickly three measures[c] of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I be fruitful?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “Yes, you did laugh.” (NRSV)

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

People: Thanks be to God.  

Message

 “The Sacred Space Under the Oak Tree”

  Pastor Jinyong Choi

We Respond

Offertory

  “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart”

 UMH #500 (verses 1, 4, & 5)

based on Galatians 5:25     

Doxology

 UMH #94

*Offertory Prayer

Generous God, You have blessed us with more gifts than we can count. Receive these offerings, along with the gifts of our time, talents, and service, and use them for your purposes in the world. May what we give today help create places of welcome, compassion, and hope. Through these gifts, may those who are lonely find friendship, those who are hurting find care, and those who are searching find a place to belong. Help us become a community that reflects your gracious hospitality and shares your love with all who come through our doors. We offer these gifts with grateful hearts, trusting that you will multiply them for the work of your kingdom. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

     “I Come with Joy”   

   UMH #617 (verses 5)

The Blessing and Sending Forth 

Pastor:  Go now into the world as people who have been welcomed by God.

People:  We will share that welcome with others.

Pastor: Create spaces where people can breathe, belong, and be valued.

People:  We will practice hospitality, kindness, and mercy.

Pastor: Welcome the stranger, encourage the weary, and make room at the table.

People: We will seek to be a community of grace and peace.

Pastor: And may the God who meets you in unexpected places, the Christ who walks beside you in love, and the Holy Spirit who strengthens you for the journey bless you and keep you in peace, today and always.

People: Amen. Thanks be to God.       

Postlude

  "Toccata in Seven" 

 John Rutter