Sunday, June 7, 2020

CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
June 7, 2020


Centering Scripture: Psalm 8
Scripture is available by clicking here


PRELUDE


MINISTRY OF LIGHT


* CALL TO WORSHIP

Called by our Lord Jesus Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit, blessed by an incomparable Father,
we come to worship one, holy God.
O God, our own God, how wonderful is your name in all the earth.
Your majesty is the music of the starry skies, yet even children of dust can sing your praises.
In the name of the Healer, the Provider and the Enabler, let your gratitude and joy be made known.
O God, our own God, how wonderful is your name in all the earth!


* HYMN OF PRAISE “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”  No. 334
  Hymn is available by clicking here


* GOSPEL READING Matthew 28: 16-20
    Scripture is available by clicking here


PRAYER OF CONFESSION

No pretence or excuse is needed in the Presence of God; it is a relief to admit to God and to each other the part we play in either walking in evil ways or allowing it to spread without protest.
Let us pray.
Father of the lights of heaven, loving creator and sustainer of all things, if we take you for granted or turn our backs on you, please forgive us and save us;
and restore to us the joy of salvation.
Christ Jesus, Child of God and child of humanity, if we neglect you or follow you timidly from a long way behind, please forgive and save us;
and restore to us the joy of salvation.
Holy Spirit, Source of birth and rebirth, nurturer of the family of God, if we reject your friendship to curry favor with the gods of contemporary fashion, please forgive and save us;
and restore to us the joy of salvation.
Most loving God, origin and goal of communal love, please gather all your wandering children back to your side, restore to them their senses, and forgive their many sins. Reinforce within us the desire to do your will, and to participate in both your travail and joy as you bring nearer the fulfillment of your new creation. Through Christ Jesus our Savior.
Amen.


WORDS OF ASSURANCE
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I proclaim to you the forgiveness of sins and the life everlasting!
Thanks be to God!


PASTORAL PRAYER


CHILDREN’S MOMENTS


WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS may be mailed to the church with thanks to you and our Lord. As you do so, pray, “All things come of thee of God, and of thine own have we given thee.”


* EPISTLE LESSON 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13
Lesson is available by clicking here


SERMON Rev. David Harper
Message from Rev Harper is available by clicking here


GREAT THANKSGIVING

Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. At his baptism in the Jordan your Spirit descended upon him and declared him your beloved Son. With your Spirit upon him he turned away the temptations of sin. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and Spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, baptizing us with the Holy Spirit and with fire, as on the Day of Pentecost.


WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Click here for the Words of Institution

Pastor: By the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are revealed to us in a Trinity of ways that we might know you in every moment and event of our lives, but especially in this Holy Meal. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pastor: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
All: Amen.


THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.


BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND SHARING OF THE CUP

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.


GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.
The blood of Christ, given for you. Amen.


PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


CLOSING HYMN “Go Make of All Disciples” No. 571
Hymn is available by clicking here


BENEDICTION

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I bless you.
Amen!
That the rich provisions of the Creator may be gratefully accepted and shared, I bless you.
Amen!
That the uncalculated love of the Redeemer may be fully trusted and shared, I bless you.
Amen!
That the undiluted fellowship of the Counselor may be enjoyed and shared, I bless you.
Amen!
Go out from this church in peace and travel with humility and confidence.
Amen!


POSTLUDE


For further devotion and Bible study, the Hebrew Scripture Lesson for today: Genesis 1: 1-2:4a

Also: Echoing the fabled St. Patrick, I bind unto myself this day the strong name of the Trinity.

I bind unto myself this day
the strong name of the Trinity.
The Creator’s gifts of earth and sky,
the flowing creeks and fertile land,
the winter sun and summer moon,
the roaring sea and golden sand.

I bind unto myself this day
the Christ who wears our human clay.
The Baby sleeping in a stall,
the Healer touching our disease,
the Man of love upon the Cross,
the risen Friend who hears our pleas.

I bind unto myself this day
the Spirit who is here to stay.
The Breath that makes the broken whole,
the Truth that flows like liquid light,
the Wind that sweeps my dusty soul,
the Fire that warms the darkest night.

I bind unto myself this day
the Fellowship that’s our mainstay.
The Love that holds us all in thrall,
the Love than links us one and all,
the Peace that sweeps away our fears,
the Joy that wipes away all tears

From now unto infinity,
The strong name of the Trinity.

( B D Prewer. Inspired by St Patrick)