Worship Service for May 17, 2020

Worship Service (at home)

May 17, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA


May 17, 2020 Order of Worship
(Prepare  for your time of worship today.  Take a moment of silence before you begin and center yourself on God.  Bring a bible to follow along in the reading of the scripture. Also, bring an egg.)

PRELUDE  “Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord”  (Psalm 95) – Lau   


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CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Live in God’s love!
P: Let that love be poured out for all God’s people!
L: Bring hope and peace to all whom you meet.
P: We are called to be God’s witnesses.
L: Celebrate and rejoice.
P: Praise be to God who has called, healed, and given us a ministry of peace. Amen.

OPENING PRAYER
Lord of wondrous light and power, we come to you this day to learn of your will for our lives. Heal our wounds; lift our spirits; give us courage and confidence to boldly serve you in all that we do. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord of mercy, there are so many times in our lives when we feel alone. We wonder where you are. We cry out to you in our confusion, pain, and hurt. And when you do not immediately grant the prayers of our cries, we begin to doubt that you even care or exist. Stop us from going down this path of self-destruction. Help us look around and find the many ways in which you have blessed our lives. Forgive us when we are so quick to doubt and so arrogant in our demands of your responses. Give us a spirit of patience and willingness to be ready to hear your voice. Strengthen us for the ministries of love and hope that you have placed before us; for we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Even in the midst of doubt and darkness, the light of God is shining in you, on you, and through you. Out of God’s great love, you have been redeemed and made whole. Rejoice, beloved of God! Amen.

MEDITATION “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” – Gabriel/Bennett         


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PASTORAL PRAYER  (lift up any people, joys or concerns you wish to pray for today at this time.)Lord of love, you have asked us to keep your commandments. In your life you demonstrated the power of love to affect healing, redemption, and hope in the lives of all your people. Yet we are so unsure of the gifts that you have given us for ministry that we wonder if we can really do what you want us to do. We are a strange mixture, lord. We are arrogant in our demands of your mercy and timid in our awareness of the blessings and gifts you have given to us. That’s why we’re worshipping you today. We really want to sense your presence and receive courage truly to be your people in this world that you have loaned to us. Remind us when we bring names and circumstances before your throne of grace that we also bring our own needs and concerns. Lay your healing hand upon our hearts and spirits. We place our lives and our trust in you, o lord. We lift up our world, our nation and our community to you during this time of the pandemic.  Lead us through the time.  Guide us all in our decisions that healing and wholeness may be our goal.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE John 14:15-21          


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MESSAGE  WDJD Part 3 – Jesus Provides


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TITHES AND OFFERINGS
(Your gifts may be sent to the church office or you may set up electronic giving through different options).

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Lord, we thank you for your blessings.  Use our gifts of service, money, and witness to heal our world and show people how to live lives of love. Amen.  

BENEDICTION
Being washed in the love of Christ, now live your life in our  world this week with the healing love of God to be given generously in peace and hope. God’s peace be with you.  Amen.

POSTLUDE  “God Will Take Care of You” – Martin/Bennett   


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You are invited to stand up, if able and to dance to the music!

Rev Susan Halverstadt, Pastor
David Koskey, Director of Music

Faxon-Kenmar UMC is using CCLI Streaming License 3356248 Exp. 3.31.21.

Worship Service for May 10, 2020

Worship Service (at home)

May 10, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA


May 10, 2020 Order of Worship

(Welcome to worship today. Light a candle or bring a flower in from outside to place at your table to worship. Bring your bible to follow along as the scripture is read. Please watch for our ministry announcements on email or by checking in with someone this week.)

PRELUDE   “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness” – Page


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CALL TO WORSHIP
L: The Lord is our refuge.
P: We can find peace in God’s abiding love.
L: When troubles assail us, we call upon the Lord.
P: When joys abound, we call upon the Lord.
L: Welcome this day to God’s house, one of many dwellings of the Almighty One.
P: We thank you and praise God for his refuge and sanctuary. AMEN.

MEDITATION FOR PRAYER    “He is There” – Mary Kay Beall


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PRAYER
Gracious God, on this day of the festival of the Christian Home, the celebration of Mother’s Day, the witness to the eternal love of Christ, remind us that we are responsible for caring for each other. We name mothers and those who have served as mothers now. We ask for your blessing on those who have had difficult experiences with their mothers. Bless our family relationships today. We are called to lift up rather than tear down; to support rather than abandon, to reach out when others have turned away. Give us hearts of love that, in all places and times, we may be a witness to the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Especially this day we lift up people throughout our world that are suffering from the effects of COVID-19 virus and the pandemic in our communities. Guide the many decision-makers in our government, healthcare, business and industry as we move forward this week to keep people safe and healthy. Help us as your disciples to lead others in our community-with your hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN

HYMN “Blessed Assurance” – Crosby & Knapp


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  1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
    O what a foretaste of glory divine!
    Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
    born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
  2. Refrain:
    This is my story, this is my song,
    praising my Savior all the day long;
    this is my story, this is my song,
    praising my Savior all the day long.
  3. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
    visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
    angels descending bring from above
    echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
    (Refrain)
  4. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
    I in my Savior am happy and blest,
    watching and waiting, looking above,
    filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
    (Refrain)

 

SCRIPTURE     John 14:1-14


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MESSAGE    “Jesus SHOWS”


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OFFERING
(Tithes and offerings may be sent to the church. Options for electronic giving are available by calling the church office for details.)

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Lord, we thank you for the many gifts you have poured into our lives for those who love us and nurture us; for those who teach us to be loving people. Bless those people and bless these gifts that we may work for you, bringing healing and hope to our fractured world. AMEN.

BENEDICTION
Go forth in peace into this new week, dear ones. Bring hope to this world. Go forth in love; bring joy to this world. Go forth in the knowledge that goes with you, loving and guiding your steps. AMEN.

POSTLUDE    “Ceremonial” – Wilson


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Rev Susan Halverstadt, Pastor
David Koskey, Director of Music

Faxon-Kenmar UMC is using CCLI Streaming License 3356248 Exp. 3.31.21.

Worship Service for May 3, 2020

Worship Service (at home)

May 3, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA


May 3, 2020 Order of Worship
 
(Preparation for Worship.  Please gather at your worship center-around a table, at a location where your bible is located, or a candle.  Collect your bible, some food and drink elements for Communion-crackers, bread and water, juice, tea. Open your heart to God as you enter this time of worship through music)

Prelude – “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” – Beethoven/Beaney             


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Call to Worship
L: Welcome!
P: Thank you.
L: For some of you, it has been a good week and for others difficulties abound.
P: We need peace and healing for our souls.
L: Rest. Open your hearts and lives to the Good Shepherd.
P: Lord, pour your balm of healing rest over our lives. AMEN.

Opening Prayer
God of all the sheep, those who remain close to you and those who stray, those who are always faithful and those who are lost: be with us today! Help us take a look at our lives and our relationship to you. Bring us close, draw us in, for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession
Patient God, you know how easy it is for us to stray. We wander off so easily. Forgive us, we pray. Heal our brokenness and our fears. Remind us again that you lead us in gentle paths and by quiet waters – when the paths are stony and the waves tumultuous, help us to remember your protection and your care. Help us to extend that same love and care to others, for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Words of Assurance 
Just when we think we can go no further, Jesus the Good Shepherd calls to us, bringing us safely into the fold of Grace and Mercy. Rejoice! You are loved completely and forgiven!

Morning Prayer
Merciful and loving God, you call us your beloved ones and you seek to protect us, but we love to take risks, emotionally, spiritually, physically. Call to us again. Help us to hear your voice. Give us hearts of love and compassion for all our dear ones who suffer illness and any adversity. Be with those who travel, having no home to which to return, no land they can call theirs, no sense of ever being community again. They truly hunger and thirst in every way and you have called us to meet those needs – not to turn them away because they might be different. You always accepted us, so let us accept others, realizing that your sheep of your pasture are awash with diversity of spirit and origin. Let us celebrate those wonderful gifts and learn from them for we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture John: 10:1-10
Message    “What Does Jesus Do? – Jesus Welcomes – Part 1” and  
Holy Communion 


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Tithes and Offerings. 
This is the time we give to God our gifts of money.  You may mail your envelope to our church office or drop your envelope off at our mailbox at the Clayton Ave entrance. Or, you may call Sue in the office to set up electronic giving.  We continue to carry the message of hope through our generous giving.

Prayer of Dedication
Thanks, Lord, for all the wonderful gifts with which you have blessed our lives. Take these gifts, these tokens and use them to build your realm, to heal the broken hearted, bind up those who are wounded, welcome the stranger, become the gate of hope for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Sending Out
You have been given your rest, now go and proclaim with your lives the good news of Jesus Christ. In this time of uncertainty, be a Good Shepherd to someone today. AMEN.

Postlude – “Toccata” – Southbridge               


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Rev Susan Halverstadt, Pastor
David Koskey, Director of Music
Portions of the service come from Ministry Matters.  Nancy C. Townley

Faxon-Kenmar UMC is using CCLI Streaming License 3356248 Exp. 3.31.21.