May 28, 2023
Pentecost
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
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness arr. David M. Cherwien
Words may be found in TFWS# 2120
Welcome and Announcements
Rev. Wiley Cooper, Pastor Emeritus
Call to Worship
One: Silently waiting, expectantly hoping.
Many: Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
One: Persistently watching, continually praying.
Many: Come, Holy Spirit. Come!
One: Gathered in one place, hearts open, spirits ready.
Many: Come, Holy Spirit. Come!
One: Dove light and flame bright.
Many: Come, Holy Spirit. Come!
One: Singing and dancing, preaching and praying.
Many: Come, Holy Spirit. Come!
Anthem
Come, Holy Spirit Jon D. Vieker
Please join the choir in singing the antiphon printed on the insert.
Children’s Message
Joys and Concerns and Prayers with The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer UMH# 895
A Reading from the Gospel
Anthem
Glory to God Richard Hillert
Please join the choir in singing the refrain printed on the insert.
The Birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ
Sermon
Despair to Dancing; Impotence to Power; Chaos to God’s Shalom Rev. Wiley Cooper, Pastor Emeritus
Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith
Leader: On behalf of the whole Church of Jesus Christ, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
Response: I do.
Leader: Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
Response: I do.
Leader: Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to ALL?
Response: I do.
Leader: Empowered by the Spirit, will you surround one another and live together for the world, a community of love and forgiveness that we may walk together in the Way that leads to life?
Response: We will.Many: Lord, we confess to you.
One: Lord, we confess that we often fail to love with all we have and are, often because we do not fully understand what loving means, often because we are afraid of risking ourselves.
Many: Lord, we confess to you.
One: Lord, we cut ourselves off from each other and we erect barriers of division.
Many: Lord, we confess to you.
One: Lord, we confess that by silence and ill-considered word
Many: we have built up walls of prejudice.
One: Lord, we confess that by selfishness and lack of sympathy
Many: we have stifled generosity and left little time for others.
One: Holy Spirit, speak to us. Help us listen to your word of forgiveness, for we are hard of hearing.
Come, fill this moment and free us from sin.
Many: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God.
Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings
Make a Gift of a Tithe or Offering
Doxology | UMH# 94
Dismissal with Blessing
Recessional Hymn
Lord of the Dance UMH# 261
Postlude
Breathe on Me, Breath of God arr. Mark Hayes
Today’s worship participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Preaching: Rev. Wiley Cooper, Pastor Emeritus
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins
Music Intern: Nick Skaggs
Make a Gift | Your Tithes & Offerings
Thank you for your continued financial support.
Mail Your Gift
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Mars Hill United Methodist Church
PO Box 427
Mars Hill, NC 28754
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