PRELUDE/ENTRANCE/LIFE OF THE CHURCH
*OPENING SONG
“Jesus Loves Me" UMH 191
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Followers of Christ, we live in a world where we hurt one another, where sin divides us one from another and makes us enemies instead of neighbors. People: Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us.
Liturgist: The divisions in our world seem like too much to overcome, and we wonder if this forgiveness thing really works anymore. Maybe it worked for Jesus, but not for us. People: Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us.
Liturgist: We find ourselves tempted by easy answers and quick solutions, reticent to do the slow and difficult work of reconciliation. People: Yet we are a people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us.
Liturgist: In this place, may we encounter Christ who meets us in the places where we want to give up, where we despair that life-giving change is even possible, with abundant grace to sustain us on the journey. ALL: God, form us today as people of grace, called by Christ to forgive and repair the rifts between us. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2026.
Opening Prayer
O God, you so loved the world as to give your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Grant to us the precious gift of faith, that we may know that the Son of God is come and may have power to overcome the world and gain a blessed immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
*FIRST LESSON Romans 14:1-12
*GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 18:21-35
MESSAGE
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
SONG OF RESPONSE
“Freely, Freely" UMH 389
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
THE APOSTLES’ CREED UMH 881
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“Lord, I Want to be A Christian” UMH 402
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE
“God Be with You till We Meet Again” UMH 672
Verse 1
*Please stand as you are able