PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
*OPENING SONG
"The Church’s One Foundation" UMH 546
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: We come to worship, remembering God’s goodness that has carried us and sustained us to this present moment.
People: We remember the days when God covered us in love and filled us with joy.
Liturgist: We come to worship, weary from stress, heavy with grief, and wondering when relief will come.
People: We long for the days God covered us in love and filled us with joy.
Liturgist: We come to worship to remember and remind one another that God’s love has never left us, and God’s joy cannot be extinguished.
People: God, restore us that we know your love and your joy once again.
Liturgist: We come to worship to remember and become the Body of Christ, a community called to restore the world around us.
ALL: God, empower us to be your restoration people who fill the world with love, laughter, and abundant life. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024.
OPENING PRAYER
Come to this sanctuary, this house, this home, Holy Christ, and let us receive you with lavish welcome. You are the Restorer of our fortunes, the Promise of new life – we pour out our praise to you. Fill this room with your Spirit: the sound of wind, the warmth of flame, the scent of perfume and fill our hearts with your compassion. Not just in this time and place, but in all times and in all places, so that as we celebrate the great things you have done for us, we may also embody the love you give to all. Amen. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways Archive, http://www.ucc.org/.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
JOYS AND CONCERNS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
*FIRST SCRIPTURE 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
SECOND SCRIPTURE Psalm 123
MESSAGE “I’m Gonna Pray”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“I’m Goin’a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing” UMH 333
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
HOLY COMMUNION
GREAT THANKSGIVING UMH 15 THE LORD’S PRAYER
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
Standing on the Promises “ UMH 374
BENEDICTION
*PEACE
"God Be with You till We Meet Again” UMH 672
Verse 1