PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
*OPENING SONG
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" UMH 103
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Children of God, in Jesus, Love became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. People: We gather to worship Christ, the image of the invisible.
Liturgist: In Jesus, we meet the fullness of God with no barriers to access. People: We gather to worship Christ, the image of the invisible.
Liturgist: In Jesus, our separation from God, neighbor, self, and creation has been removed. We are free for divine and loving connection once again. People: We gather to worship Christ, the image of the invisible.
Liturgist: Children of God, come! Come; let us worship God, whose power makes Love visible to us so that we might reflect Love to the world. ALL: Come, let us worship Christ, Love who came to dwell among us and within us! Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, January 2025.
OPENING PRAYER
O Christ, your cross speaks both to us and to our world.
In your dying for us, you accepted the pain and hurt of the whole of creation. The arms of your cross stretch out across the broken world in reconciliation. You have made peace with us. Helps us to make peace with you by sharing in your reconciling work. May we recognize your spirit disturbing and challenging us to care for creation and for the poor who most feel the effects of its abuse. O Christ, the whole of creation groans. Set us free and make us whole. Amen.
From the Iona Community’s Iona Abbey Worship Book (Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community, 2001).
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
GOD SIGHTINGS
PRAYER FOR COMFORT AND HEALING
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
FIRST SCRIPTURE Colossians 1:15-28
*SECOND SCRIPTURE Luke 10:38-42
MESSAGE “The Better Part”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus” UMH 349
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*A Modern Affirmation” UMH 885
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“Take My Life, and Let It Be” UMH 399
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE
“God Be with You till We Meet Again “ UMH 672
Verse 1