Sunday, September 6, 2020
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH GATHERED FOR WORSHIP
September 6, 2020
Centering Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14
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MINISTRY OF LIGHT
*CALL TO WORSHIP
The dark night is gone forever, the new day blooms all around us.
Sing to our God a new song, let the assembly of believers sing praises.
Throw away all that belongs to darkness, clothe yourself with garments of light.
Rejoice in the Creator who shaped you, celebrate the King whose realm is light and love.
Wrap yourselves in the mind of Christ, for his love fulfills the law of God.
The Lord enjoys the fellowship of his people, and beautifies the meek with salvation.
HYMN OF PRAISE “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light,” No. 206
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PSALTER Psalm 148
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MORNING PRAYER
Holy Jesus, Brother and Savior, please draw us closer to one another that we may be closer to you, and closer to you that we may be closer to each other. Then may the fellowship of worship embolden us, the awe of worship ennoble us, and the joy of worship enable us. To the praise of all that is most sacred and to the glory of the One who is forever Most Holy. Amen!
PASTORAL PRAYER
CHILDREN’S MOMENTS
Last week we learned what Paul wrote to Christ’s church in Rome about what Jesus’ people were to do as they lived their daily lives. Today we learn three more orders: Love and Be light. Put on Christ. The next time you put on your shirt, think about putting on Christ along with it. How can you love and be light?
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS may be mailed to the church with thanks to you and our Lord. As you do so, pray, “Bless Thou the gifts our hands have brought. Bless thou the work our hearts have planned. Ours is the faith, the will, the thought; the rest, O God, is in thy hand .”
EPISTLE LESSON Romans 13:8-14
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SERMON Rev. David Harper
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HYMN OF PREPARATION “One Bread, One Body,” No. 620
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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.
It is right, a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven
and earth. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
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.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 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 the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 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.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
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.
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
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.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of new life, with joy we have received this sacrament of bread and wine, giving you thanks for Jesus Christ, our peace and our hope. Unite your church throughout the world in continuing Christ’s ministry of love and servanthood, that your name may be praised in all the earth. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN “Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love,” No. 566
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*BENEDICTION
May you who are strong go out into the world with gentleness, and you who are weak go on your way with new strength.
May you who are confident by nature walk now with humility, and you who are anxious step out with more certainty.
Get on with life, knowing that you are the sisters and brothers of Jesus, and the children of the Most High God.
The love of Christ Jesus redeem you from all evil, the love of God hold your fast when all else fails,
the friendship of the Spirit keep you in perfect peace, now and evermore. Amen!