May 14, 2023
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Enhance your online worship experience
Whether you’re a first-time online visitor or a life-long member, we welcome and celebrate the ways you enrich our collective worship of a scattered yet gathered Children of God. As we begin our service, we invite you to light a candle, just as we do in the prelude during our in-person worship. Our two altar candles symbolize that Christ was both a human being and God. A light being carried into the world shows that Jesus Christ is for all people - everywhere. Just as a the acolyte carries the lighted candlelight into the congregation, the light symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ preceding us into the world where we as the church are to serve.
Gathering:
The chiming of the Trinity
Prelude
Standing on the Promises arr. James Koerts
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
Based on Psalm 66
One: Transforming God, you have taken the world’s darkness and re-created a world filled with the joy of light and hope.
Many: Come and hear the good news of God’s love for all creation.
One: Restoring God, you have turned defeat into sudden victory, and re-created a world filled with the joy of peace and shalom.
Many: Come and hear the good news of God’s awesome powers.
One: Renewing God, we respond to your mighty deeds with songs of praise, worship, and thankful prayers. You alone are God!
Many: Come and hear the good news of God’s blessings on us all. Glory and honour, power and dominion belong to God alone. Amen. +
Hymn
For the Beauty of the Earth UMH# 92
Children’s Message
Concerns and Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer
UMH# 895
A Reading from the New Testament
Duet
How Can I Keep from Singing Robert Lowry
Cindy Fulton and Chip Hayden
A Reading from the Gospels
Sermon
The Gift of the Advocate/Comforter/Helper | Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon
Run into the loving arms of your Mother God who loves you unconditionally. Trust in the strength of this love. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and made new. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and made new.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God
Affirmation of Faith
A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada UMH# 883
UMH #889
Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings
Make a Gift of a Tithe or Offering
Doxology | UMH# 94
Hymn
The Gift of Love UMH# 408
Postlude
Trust and Obey arr. Paul Hamm arr. James Koert
Today’s worship participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Preaching: Rev. Paula Dempsey
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins
Music Intern: Nick Skaggs
We pray for Lisa in the death of her uncle.
Make a Gift | Your Tithes & Offerings
Thank you for your continued financial support.
Mail Your Gift
The best way to contribute right now is by sending your offering through U.S. Mail to our Post Office Box.
Mars Hill United Methodist Church
PO Box 427
Mars Hill, NC 28754
Give Online
If you prefer to give online, Mars Hill United Methodist Church is pleased to offer the convenience and security of online giving through the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.