CALLS TO WORSHIP

Call to Worship #1:
L: The good news of God’s healing mercy is with us today.
P: We need to hear good news, for our world is inundated with fear.
L: Open your hearts and spirits, for God has spoken words of love.
P: Help us be ready to receive these healing words.
L: Today God’s love is lavished upon you.
P: Help us, Lord, be attentive to your word and your will. AMEN.

Call to Worship #2:
L: Praise the Lord!
P: How wonderful it is to sing praises to God!
L: Our spirits are lifted, our souls rejoice!
P: God is gracious and God’s healing mercy is with us!
L: Come, let us celebrate the power of God to heal and restore us!
P: Let us open our hearts and our lives to God today and always. AMEN.

Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE UNITED METHODIST HYMNAL, p. 333, “I’m Goin’ a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing.” offer the following call to worship as directed.]

L: Are you going to sing today?
P: We are going to sing with our whole hearts and voices!
L: Are you going to pray?
P: The air will be electric with our prayers!
L: Are you going to shout today?
P: We are going to make the rafters ring with our shouts of joy!
L: Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let’s sing and shout and pray to the Lord of hosts.

Congregation: singing p. 333, (verses, 1, 2, and 4 ) of “I’m Goin’ a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing”

Call to Worship #4:
L: It is time for God’s message of redeeming love to be spread through the land.
P: But who will spread this message?
L: You have been called and will be given the strength and courage for this joyful task.
P: Lord, be with us on our journey of faith.
L: Come, friends, let us tune our hearts and spirits to the Lord.
P: Let us receive God’s blessings and prepare to serve God by serving God’s people. AMEN.

PRAYERS, READING, BENEDICTION

Opening Prayer
Lord, we have come here this day, needing your healing power and your encouragement in our lives. Help us be open to your words of mercy and peace. Prepare us to serve you with our whole lives, for it is in Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession
Lord, you have called us here and you ask us to be ready to go on a journey with you. But our hearts are fearful and our spirits drag. We want to think we could do the work that you have placed before us, but we lack the enthusiasm and true belief in your guiding presence. So we just sit back and let the winter days roll by. Stir us up, Lord. Shake us up, Lord. Get us ready to joyfully serve you. Help us believe in your powerful presence and your guiding love. For we ask these things in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Words of Assurance
Do not fear. God is with you, healing and restoring you. Get ready to serve and witness to God’s love and mercy, for God has placed much trust in you. AMEN.

Pastoral Prayer
Lord of infinite patience and power, be with us today. Help us see the wonderful ways in which you have healed us. This is a time for us to be ready to serve. We can no longer wait and wonder what might happen if we should actually immerse ourselves in your service. This hungry, hurting world cries out for words and actions that show your love and peace. Let us be those who would bring peace, and let us be those who will support ministries of peace and justice for all this world. Open our hearts to serving you. Help us be in ministries of caring for this world, that we treat it tenderly and compassionately. For we ask these things in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Reading

soloist: singing Refrain of “There Is a Balm in Gilead” (UMHymnal, p. 375)

Reader 1:
It never seems to matter what I do. I can’t change anything. There’s still too much trouble in this old world. I don’t have the strength or the power. Why does God want me to even try? I’m just one person.

Reader 2:
I know what you mean. There’s too much to be done. And half the time people really don’t want our help. We keep trying, but it seems in vain. I feel just like giving up.

Soloist: singing verse 1 of “There Is a Balm in Gilead” (UMHymnal, p. 375)

Reader 1:
You know, the preacher continually tells us to trust Jesus. I really want to, but I fail miserably at this trust thing. I keep wanting to control everything instead of letting myself be guided by Jesus.

Reader 2:
Well, someone’s got to be in charge. I just wish Jesus would come right here and talk to us and tell us what to do, you know, give us some direction.

Soloist: singing refrain and verse 2 of “There Is a Balm in Gilead” (UMHymnal, p. 375)

Reader 1:
I’m no preacher. I don’t have the courage to get up in front of people and talk to them about God’s love, about the ministry of Jesus. I would stumble all over the place and forget what to say. I would make a fool of myself. I don’t have the education or the gift to be a preacher. I just can’t do it.

Reader 2:
My problem is prayer. I feel just like I’m casting words into the wind. I don’t know if God hears prayer. I don’t know if I am saying the right words or saying them in the right way. I’ve never had training in prayer and surely couldn’t lead people in prayer. I’m no use to God.

Soloist: singing refrain and verse 3 of “There Is a Balm in Gilead” (UMHymnal, p. 375)

Voice: Dear friends, you do not have to be a magnificent preacher or an astounding person of prayer; just tell about the ways that Jesus loves people. Remind people of the healings that Jesus offered and still offers to us today. Help them understand that all God’s people have been called to lives of hope and joy and peace to serve in ways of healing and compassion. That’s your job, and your joy. Do not be afraid. The spirit of Jesus is with you. Just share your love and the good news Jesus brings.

Soloist: singing the refrain of “There Is a Balm in Gilead” (UMHymnal, p. 375)

Benediction
God has called each of you to be bearers of the good news of God’s healing love through Jesus Christ. Go into this world in joy, proclaiming this love and peace that Jesus offers. Be at peace. AMEN.

ARTISTIC ELEMENTS

The traditional color for this Sunday is: GREEN

[Note: The theme for today is the hope, represented by the lights of the candles, placed among the rocks and wood, representing obstacles and fears.]

SURFACE:
Place a 6” riser at the back center of the worship table. Place two 3” risers on each side of the 6” riser.

FABRIC:
Cover the entire worship center with green cloth.

CANDLES:
Place two 8” white pillar candles on the 3” risers on either side of the 6” riser. Among the rocks on the center of the table, place four or five votive candles.

FLOWERS/FOLIAGE:
On either side of the candles, place green leafy plants such as ferns or ivy (the ivy can trail across and down the front of the worship center as you desire).

ROCKS/WOOD:
In the center of the worship table, place a small mounded collection of driftwood or sticks and a pile of rocks on which will be placed four or five votive candles.

OTHER:
Place a brass cross on the center riser on the worship table.