Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church

11:00 AM Worship                Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost                  25 September 2011

 

GATHERING

   Following Thee                                                                                                  J. Southbridge     

 

GREETING AND WELCOME                                                                                                

 

*INTROIT

   You Are My All in All                                                                                           D. Jernigan

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP

   Sing aloud to God our strength;

      shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

   I hear a voice I had not known:

      “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;

      your hands were freed from the basket.

   In distress you called, and I rescued you;

      I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

      I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

   Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;

      O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

   I am the Lord your God,

      who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

      Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

   I would feed you with the finest of wheat,

      and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

  

*HYMN  UMH 87

   What Gift Can We Bring                                                                            Anniversary Song

 

PRAYER  in unison

   O gracious and holy God,

      give us diligence to seek you,

      wisdom to perceive you,

      and patience to wait for you.

   Grant us, O God,

      a mind to meditate on you,

      eyes to behold you,

      ears to listen for your Word,

      a heart to love you,

      and a life to proclaim you,

      through the power of the spirit

      of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

   Amen.

    

ANTHEM

   There’s a Spirit of Love in This Place                                                                       M. Miller

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

FIRST READING

   Exodus 17:1-7

 

SECOND READING

   Matthew 21:23-32

 

   The Word of the Lord.

   Thanks be to God.

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

 

SERMON

   In the Wilderness: Suing God

 

HYMN  UMH 130

   God Will Take Care of You                                                                                           Martin

 

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

   Suite in D                                                                                                                  H. Purcell

 

*DOXOLOGY  UMH 95

 

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

 

*HYMN

   Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing                                                                  Regent Square

  

   Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing;

   fill our hearts with joy and peace;

   let us each, thy love possessing,

   triumph in redeeming grace.

   O refresh us, O refresh us,

   traveling through this wilderness.

 

   Thanks we give and adoration

   for thy gospel’s joyful sound.

   May the fruits of thy salvation

   in our hearts and lives abound;

   ever faithful, ever faithful

   to the truth may we be found.

 

*BENEDICTION                                                                                                                       

 

*GOING FORTH

   A Psalm of Trust                                                                                                      D. Paxton

 

*Those who are able are invited to stand.