PRELUDE/ENTRANCE/LIFE OF THE CHURCH
*OPENING SONG
"O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" UMH 57
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Like Abram and Sarai, God calls us to go into the unknown, trusting that God’s promises are true. People: Whether we are certain or full of doubts, God blesses us that we may be a blessing.
Liturgist: God sends us into the world to journey by faith, believing that God’s blessings are greater than anything we can imagine. People: Whether the path is straight or winding, God blesses us that we may be a blessing.
Liturgist: God gathers us today with trusted companions, those who also follow God’s call, even when it does not make sense to the world around us. People: Whether we journey with friends or feel all alone, God blesses us that we may be a blessing.
Liturgist: As we gather to worship, may we remember that we are God’s people, blessed by God to be a blessing to our world that is hurting and desperately in need of good news. ALL: God, form us today as a family of faith, that your blessings might flow out of us and into our world, drawing all people into your promise of abundant life and flourishing. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, December 2025.
*Opening Prayer
O God, our Guide and Guardian, you have led us apart from the busy world into the quiet of your house. Grant us grace to worship you in Spirit and in truth, to the comfort of our souls and the up building of every good purpose and holy desire. Enable us to do more perfectly the work to which you have called us, that we may not fear the coming of night, when we shall resign into your hands the tasks which you have committed to us. So may we worship you not with our lips at this hour, but in word and deed all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. (THE BOOK OF WORSHIP 1965, ALT.)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
GOD SIGHTINGS AND INTERCESSIONS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
EPISTLE LESSON Romans 4:13-25
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
MESSAGE Jane O’Connell
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
SONG OF RESPONSE
“Trust and Obey" UMH 467
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*THE NICENE CREED UMH 880
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
” I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” TFWS 2129
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE
“God Be with You till We Meet Again” UMH 672
Verse 1