Sunday Worship
June 28, 2020
Welcome and News in the life of the church
Hello! Everyone!
Welcome to online worship at Contoocook United Methodist Church. Although we can't get together to worship at church, we never stop worshipping our Lord, God no matter where we are.
I hope and pray that we can keep worshipping our Almighty God with all our hearts, mind, and souls.
Centering Words
Abraham was called by God to sacrifice his one and only son. Abraham showed great faith even when crushed by grief, and God spared Isaac, providing a ram for sacrifice. Centuries later God carried out the same sacrifice demanded of Abraham. The unfathomable reason was God’s love for humankind and all of creation. Jesus died for you, for me, for the sin of all. What wondrous love is this? How do we give our thanks?
Introit / UMH #328 Surely The Presence of the Lord
Silent Prayer
: Invite the Holy Spirit to come in the midst of our hearts.
Prayer Response / FWS #2193
: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
Call to Worship
(inspired by Genesis 22: 1-14; Micah 6:8; Deuteronomy 6:5)
L: What does the Lord require of you?
P: To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
L: What does God command of us?
P: To love God with all our heart, and all our soul, and all our mind, and all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
L: God does not call us to ease or to comfort.
P: But to presence, and abundance, and grace in our struggle.
L: Let us worship the God who believes in us, and trusts in us, and abides with us.
ALL: Let us worship the God who will ask much of us, but will be beside us every step of the way.
Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy, Pastor at First Church Congregational, Rochester, NH. She blogs at http://sermonizing.wordpress.com/
Opening Prayer
(based on Romans 6:12-23)
God of grace,
You have brought us from slavery to freedom,
from despair to hope,
from death to life!
Holy is Your name!
We gather together in Your presence with gratitude and praise
for all that You have done for us.
May the presence of Your Holy Spirit inspire our worship.
May our words and music,
our thoughts and prayers,
even our very lives,
bring honor and glory to You.
This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
whose death and resurrection have brought us everlasting life.
Amen.
Source: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/06/opening-prayer-romans-6.html
Ministry of Music: “Blessed Assurance”
Today's Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42
40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Semon: “The Rewards of Welcome”
Offertory Invitation
If you are able to send your weekly pledge by mail, would you do so, please? Our church address is Contoocook United Methodist Church PO Box 356, Contoocook, NH 03229.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Blessings of the Offering
Gracious God, your hospitality has surrounded us and welcomed us, even when we only grudgingly extended hospitality to sisters and brothers who are also your children. May we grow each day in our willingness to be welcoming disciples, not just to those who look like us, talk like us, or think like us. May our offering this morning be received not just in gratitude for your hospitality, but as our way to extend comfort and welcome to those for whom your love is a mystery. We pray in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
Closing Hymn / “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place”
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen