Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
One: Come, beloved of God,
All: laying aside the hard and harsh ways of the world.
One: Come, beloved of God,
All: to practice the patient and kind ways of love.
One: Come, beloved of God,
All: to trust the love that holds fast in all things. Hearts soft and minds open, we come.
Opening Hymn
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling UMH 384
Prayer of Confession
Your love stands firm, no matter how hard we push, O God. We press for advantage, we weigh heavy on your creation, we try to skirt round the edges so we can claim faithfulness while getting what we want, and still your love stands firm.
Forgive our shallow hearts, O God. Remind us that when we do not practice love, all else we do is just that: performance, getting attention but leaving us only hollow nothingness.
Hear Now the Silent Confessions of Our Hearts [Pause for Silent Prayer...]
You have shown us the more excellent way, the way that leads to life deeper than the mask, the way that satisfies every longing. May your forgiveness draw us into practice, building up our capacity to love more and more, as you do. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Beloved of God, Christ our Lord showed his love to us through his dying so that we might live. His love knows no beginning, knows no end, and will not be severed from you. Having shed the weight of sin through your confession, may you experience his steadfast love anew because your sins are forgiven.
Praise be to God.
Passing of the Peace
First Reading:
Mark 12:28-31
Second Reading:
1 Cor. 13:1-13
Sermon:
Faith, Hope, and Love by Pastor Kevin Rutledge
Hymn of Response
Let Us Plead for Faith Alone UMH 385
The Great Thanksgiving
Communion
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory Response
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95
Offertory Prayer
God of joy, we offer our gifts this day, as we respond to the wisdom of your word. In our offerings and in our living, help us trust in Him through faith, hope, and love. Let that trust be expressed through acts of service, healing, and selfless generosity so that me may share your everlasting gift with others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer
Closing Hymn
My Hope is Built UMH 368
Announcements
Benediction
Said Each Week as A Communal Prayer:
Send to us all the people who feel unwanted and unloved in other places, and if they can't come to us, send us to them.
Postlude
This Week's Reading Plan
Day: |
Reading: |
Monday
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Building Up the Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33
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Tuesday
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Proclaiming Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
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Wednesday
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The Risen Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
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Thursday
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Christ the First Fruits: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
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Friday
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Heavenly Bodies and Earthly Bodies: 1 Corinthians 15:30-41
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Saturday
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Physical and Spiritual Bodies: 1 Corinthians 15:42-50
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Sunday
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