August 23, 2020

 

CENTERING

 

GATHERING WORDS

 

Pastor:       The Lord says: "Come, all you who labor and are overburdened." He doesn't say: "Come, all you Americans, or Methodists, or all you who look and act alike," but, "Come all!"

People:      Let us worship the God who welcomes us all, and may we find unity in our diversity.

 

 

OPENING HYMN:                  The Church’s One Foundation                #546

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHARING

 

PRAISING

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Pastor:       Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
People:     Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the

                  voice of my supplication!

Pastor:       I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
People:     and in his word I hope.
Pastor:       O Israel, hope in the Lord!
People:     For with the Lord there is steadfast love.

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

O God who shows your true self in Jesus of Nazareth: Grant us the courage to be who we truly are both as your image and as members of the Body of Christ; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

 

CHILDREN’S MOMENTS 

CONFESSING

 

CALL TO CONFESSION

 

Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our being conformed to this world instead of being transformed in the mind of Christ.

GENERAL CONFESSION

 

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have created us to reflect your glory and your love. You have given us your own Spirit to dwell within us. You have made us members of the very Body of Christ. And yet, we too often look and act no differently than those who do not acknowledge you as God. Instead of being transformed by your Spirit so that you can use us to transform the world, we allow the world to conform us to its standards. Instead of love and grace, we often speak in harsh words about revenge; instead of redemption, we speak of punishment; instead of the words of Jesus, we spew forth the words of this world. We have betrayed you and have failed to live out justice and mercy; we have failed to be your gracious people. Help us not to hide from our sin but to own it and move away from it. Send your Spirit upon us so that we might once again reflect your image in all we say or do. Amen.

 

SILENT CONFESSION

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

 

God's love and forgiveness is constant. God's love is infinite in the ways it appears to us. Let us take heart and resolve to be more like our God.

 

HEARING

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

O Lord, open our eyes, our ears, our minds, and our hearts;

That we might behold wondrous things out of your word.

 

 

First Lesson                                                                                    Psalm 133

The Blessedness of Unity

A Song of Ascents.

1 How very good and pleasant it is
    when kindred live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
    life forevermore.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks Be to God

 

 

GOSPEL LESSON

 

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

A reading from the Gospel of John

Glory to you O Lord.

 

THE GOSPEL IS READ                                                         John 17: 20-23

20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,[a] so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

 

 

PROCLAIMING

 

SERMON:                      “The Ecumenical Dance”              Rev. Dai Morgan

 

PRAYING

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

PASTORAL PRAYER

 

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, for ever and ever. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONDING

 

INVITATION TO OFFERING

 

Paul said to the people of Rome, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." May our morning offering be good and acceptable in the eyes of our God.

 

THE LORD’S OFFERING

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER

 

Merciful God, we thank you for your many gifts to us. May the money we have given today lift up the body of Christ in the world, so that the gift you gave humanity can be seen and felt by the homeless, the poverty stricken, the motherless, and all those in need of your love. Risen Christ, we thank you. Amen.

 

SENDING


BENEDICTION

 

Pastor:       Share the gifts that God has given you.

People:     May our lives be consecrated to you, O God.

Pastor:       Use your moments and your days to do God's work in the

                   world.

People:     Take our hands and let them do the work you would

                   have us do.

All:             May our lips be filled with messages from God.

Pastor:       In the name of God, our Creator, Christ our Redeemer, and

                   the Holy Spirit, our Sustainer. Amen.

 

Closing Hymn:                 He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands      

 

 

Pastor: Rev. Russel W. Shuluga

             Email: [email protected]

             Phone: 412-735-5072

 

Liturgist: Jean McQuade

 

                                                                                                                Zoom Worship

Every Sunday Morning at 11:15 AM

https://zoom.us/j/4127312511?pwd=M091MnJ6WjhmbDloTWcxbmFmTFFlQT09

 

 

Meeting ID: 412 731 2511

Password: 123456

From your phone (312) 626-6799

 

*Please note that the information above for ZOOM service is the same for every Sunday Zoom worship service.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                        August Mission Opportunity

“Home of Hope Outreach Program”

During the month of August, Mifflin Avenue, with our monetary donations, will sponsor two young girls, named Ivy Chimasa and Makamka Gosa in Zimbabwe.  Over one million or one out of every four children is an orphan in Zimbabwe.  Most live with extended family, a friend, or even as “child-led households.”  Education is not free, and without financial support most of these children will not remain in school.

The Home of Hope Outreach program keeps children in school by sponsors who pay $75.00/year to cover school fees and $25.00 to provide a filled backpack. If you would like to contribute to the education of Ivy and Makamka, make your check payable to MAUMC and write “Home of Hope” on the memo line. You may also use PayPal to donate.