Category: Past News

Worship Service (at home)

June 14, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA

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June 14, 2020 Order of Worship

Our June Worship theme is Marching Orders of a Disciple — Following the Call of Jesus
Questions can be asked: How do we do church in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic? Does our ministry look differently as we hear thousands across our country and world seek peace and justice in face of racist actions and practices? How can the Holy Spirit fill us with courage and conviction as we follow the call of Jesus? Does my voice make a difference in our big world? Our time of worship during June will offer us challenges and questions to help guide us in our path as we follow Jesus.

(Prepare for worship. We welcome you as you join our congregation in a time of praising God today, of hearing God’s Word, and reflecting on God’s call on our lives. Bring your bible to be able to follow along as scripture is read. Please contact our church office at 570-323-7272, to take an active part in our ministry or if you have a special need.)

PRELUDE “Fairest Lord Jesus” – Smith

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CALL TO WORSHIP
L: The Lord bore you on eagles’ wings to enter into a covenant with you. Now therefore, if you will obey the Lord and keep the covenant, you shall be the Lord’s own possession among all peoples.
P: We will obey the Lord’s voice and keep the covenant.
L: The Lord bore you on eagles’ wings to establish a colony of heaven on earth. Now therefore, if you will obey the Lord and keep the covenant, you shall be the Lord’s ambassadors to all peoples.
P: We will obey the Lord’s voice and keep the covenant.
A: All that the Lord has spoken we will do.

SPECIAL MUSIC “We Have Wandered Away from the Cross” – Schell (Performed by Scott Schell)

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PRAYER FOR ONE VOICE
O God of grace abounding and love unlimited, we thank you for your infinite mercy. It has been the source of our life and faith through all our days, and before that, through the days of our ancestors. When the whip of Pharaoh held Israel in bondage, you broke the yoke of the tyrant, and the prisoners escaped. When the exiles in Babylon trembled before their captors, you raised up a deliverer, and the refugees returned. And when their descendants believed their sin had doomed them to life without hope, you sent your Son, and the hopeless rejoiced. Not only did you redeem them from their sin, but you reconciled them in the midst of their sin. We thank you, dear Lord, that where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.

You call us to be a priestly people and a holy nation, but we, like lost sheep, go astray. We know that peace comes through openness to our neighbors, but we make little effort to crash the walls between us. We know that the soft answer turns away wrath, but we greet our enemies with hard words and even harder looks. We know that self-giving breeds self-givers, but we refuse others the grace with which you treat us. We criticize fellow believers for not patterning their lives after Jesus, yet we do not mirror his life. Forgive us, O God, for our betrayal of your call. Let us take our place at the foot of the mountain of revelation. Open our ears that we might hear your commandments and transform our hearts that we might keep your covenant. Let us now, as when we first believed, exclaim, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

As we think of your other sheep who have gone astray, we think of ourselves as your instruments for bringing them home. If they tarry for a sympathizing tear, let us shed it without shame. If they wait for a soothing word, let us speak it without hesitation. If they desire a cup of water, let us offer it without delay. If they hunger for a decent meal, let us provide it without suspicion. Remembering that you are not impressed by gracious words unaccompanied by generous deeds, make us the instruments of your grace in speech and in action.

We are your people, O God; grant us the wisdom to affirm your claim upon us. We await your revealing word; grant us the sensitivity to hear your demands in clear and compelling language. We long to do your will on earth as in heaven, our Heavenly Father; grant us the courage to fail neither you nor your children.

SCRIPTURE Matthew 9:35-10:8 (Please use your Bible to read the passage.)

MESSAGE How to Proclaim God’s Word

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TITHES AND OFFERING (What is it you give? How do you decide? At this time commit to God your tithes/offering. Please send your envelope to the church office at 1301 Clayton Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701)

PRAYER Holy God, we give you thanks for life itself and the way you bless us in our life of faith. Bless now these gifts to you that they may make a difference in our world, touching lives-healing lives, and that each one may be transformed for you. Amen.

MEDITATION “Jesus Loves Even Me” – Bliss/Hayes

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BENEDICTION
The fields of peace and justice and love are not ripe unto harvest. They have been plowed and planted, but they have yet to be cultivated with care and diligence. Send us forth into those fields, O God, as laborers in your service. Let them be made ready for the harvest. Let us and our neighbors around the globe live in love and peace, with justice for all.

POSTLUDE “Recessional on To God Be the Glory” – Doane/Wagner

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Rev Susan Halverstadt, Pastor
David Koskey, Director of Music
Scott Schell, Special Music

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

Worship Service (at home)

June 7, 2020 (during the season of COVID-19 Virus Quarantine)

Faxon-Kenmar United Methodist Church, Williamsport, PA

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June 7, 2020 Order of Worship

Peace with Justice Sunday             Trinity Sunday

Our June sermon series is Marching Orders of a Disciple/Follow the Call of Jesus.  Today is
“Sending Out-Making Disciples”.

(Prepare for our worship time today by collecting your bible and food/drink for Holy Communion. Please use bread or cracker and juice or water sharing in the Lord’s Supper. Pastor Susan will invite you to Communion at the end of the Message and you may share in it during the Meditation music.)

PRELUDE  “Communion Aria” – Ritter

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CALL TO WORSHIP
Reader 1:  Our world is overwhelmed with suffering and despair;
Reader 2:  Loving God, focus our minds and hearts on Your Spirit of Compassion.
Reader 1:  Our world is filled with violence and hatred:
Reader 2:  Loving God, focus our hearts and minds on Your Spirit of Peace!
Reader 1:  Our world is one of rife with greed and exploitation:
Reader 2:  Loving God, focus our hearts and minds on Your Spirit of Justice!
Reader 1:  Lord, as we gather together this day, we proclaim Your power and love as the  center of our being.
Together:  And in worship and praise, we embrace Your vision of Peace-Shalom, for us and  for all Creation!

HYMN   “Nearer My God to Thee”  (Bill Fulton-trumpet)              

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1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee;
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

PRAYER  (Lift up and name  people, joys and concerns for your time of prayer-in our community, nation and world)

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.

SCRIPTURE  Matthew 28:16-20                                    

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MESSAGE                  “Making Disciples for the Real World”             

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HOLY COMMUNION

MEDITATION  “With This Bread and Wine” – Taylor              

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OFFERING (You may send your envelopes to the church or call to arrange electronic giving)

OFFERING PRAYER
Generous God, we thank you for the wonderful bounty you’ve bestowed upon humanity. Your gifts nourish our tired bodies, give comfort to our troubled minds and replenish our weary souls. Accept this offering not only as a token of our appreciation for all that we have, but also as a commitment to the ministries of the Church which work to bring economic justice to all Your children!  Amen!

FRANCISCAN PRAYER OF BLESSING:
Reader 1:  
May God bless you with discomfort …
at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
Reader 2:
May God bless you with anger …
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
Reader 1:
May God bless you with tears …
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
and to turn their pain into joy.
Together:
And may God bless you with enough Holy foolishness …
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done!  Amen!

POSTLUDE  “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” – Granahan/Hayes               

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Rev Susan Halverstadt, Pastor
David Koskey, Director of Music
Bill Fulton, Special Music

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