Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church

11:00 AM Worship               Third Sunday after the Epiphany                     22 January 2012

 

GATHERING

   O God Thou Faithful God                                                                                    J.G. Walther

 

GREETING AND WELCOME                                                                                                

 

INTROIT                                                                                                                                    

   With Grateful Heart, I Thank You, Lord                                                               M.K. Beall

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP

   Time and again God said,

   “Strength and love are mine to give.”

   People, give your hearts to God,

   trust always!  God is our haven.

   My soul waits, silent for God,

   for God alone, my salvation,

   alone my rock, my safety,

   my refuge: I stand secure.

 

*HYMN  UMH 344

   Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore                                                Pescador de Hombres

 

*PRAYER  in unison

   Loving God,

   through your Son you have called us to repent of our sin,

   to believe the good news,

   and to celebrate the coming of your kingdom.

   Like Christ’s first apostles,

   may we hear his call to discipleship,

   and, forsaking old ways,

   proclaim the gospel of new life to a broken world;

   through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

   who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

   one God, now and forever.  Amen.

    

ANTHEM

   O Lord, Most Holy                                                                                          Franck/Hopson

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

FIRST READING

   Jonah 3:1-5, 10

  

SECOND READING

   Mark 1:14-20

 

   The Word of the Lord.

   Thanks be to God.

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

   Following the message, children from K-3 are invited to attend the Junior Church program.

 

SERMON

   I Would Rather Die

 

*HYMN  UMH 121

   There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy                                                                           Wellesley

 

BLESSING AND RECOGNITION OF CHURCH LEADERS

   Response:

   Here I am, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?

   I have heard you calling in the night.

   I will go, Lord, if you lead me.

   I will hold your people in my heart.

 

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

   Meditation                                                                                                                F. Peeters

 

*DOXOLOGY  UMH 95

 

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

 

*HYMN  FWS 2129

   I Have Decided to Follow Jesus                                                                                     Assam

 

*BENEDICTION

  

*GOING FORTH

   Postlude in G Minor                                                                                                    G. Blake

 

*Those who are able are invited to stand.