Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church

11:00 AM Worship                Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost                        9 October 2011

 

GATHERING

   Morning Song                                                                                                      C. Nordman      D. Zipoli

 

GREETING AND WELCOME                                                                                                

 

*INTROIT

   God Leads Us Along                                                                                                 G. Young

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP

   As a shepherd seeks a lost sheep,

   so God seeks and saves the lost.

   Like a woman who searches for a lost coin until it is found,

   so God rejoices over one soul restored to wholeness.

   As a father receives a returning wayward son,

   so God welcomes us, and lets the past be the past.

   Therefore let us praise God in thanksgiving that we are received.

   Let us receive and welcome and rejoice over one another

   in the name of Jesus Christ.

  

*HYMN  UMH 66

   Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven                                                                  Lauda Anima

 

PRAYER  in unison

   God of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses,

   you stayed the hand of your wrath

   when we fell into idolatry and discord;

   and when we forgot our deliverance,

   your love for us remained unchanging.

   Transform us and our world

   into a place of justice, love, and peace.

   Welcome us to your wedding feast

   where all are invited to be gathered in.  Amen.

    

ANTHEM

   Come to Me All Ye That Labour                                                                                    J. Roff

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

FIRST READING

   Exodus 32:1-14

 

SECOND READING

   Matthew 22:1-14

 

   The Word of the Lord.

   Thanks be to God.

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

 

SERMON

   In the Wilderness: Changing and Unchanging

 

HYMN  UMH 121

   There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy                                                                           Wellesley

 

SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

PASTORAL PRAYER

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER  in unison

    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.

 

*THE PEACE

 

OFFERING

   Sarabande                                                                                                             G.F. Handel

 

*DOXOLOGY UMH 95

 

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

 

*HYMN UMH 606

   Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine                                                                         Kingsfold

 

*BENEDICTION                                                                                                                       

 

*GOING FORTH

   Fantasia on Kingsfold                                                                                              D. Paxton

 

*Those who are able are invited to stand.