Celebration Worship Service 8-6-2023
Prelude
Gathering Music: Sunshine Gospel Singers: The Heavenly Banquet Medley
Welcome & Communion Offering Speaker for Beas Kids/Make It Count
†Congregational Hymns
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Love Devine, All Loves Excelling
God Will Take Care of You
Spirit Song
Thanksgiving
Doxology 95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Celebration Choir
Call to Prayer Fill My Cup, Lord
Silent Prayer Over Names
Prayer of Confession
Prayer Response: Alleluia
†Prayer of Illumination
Loving God, we thank you for presence with us through scripture. By your Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to your words of transforming love. Amen.
Scripture
Matthew 14:13-21
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish."
And he said, "Bring them here to me."
Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Celebration of Holy Communion
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Bread of the world in mercy broken, wine of the soul in mercy shed,
by whom the words of life were spoken, and in whose death our sins are dead.
(Bread of the World UMH #624 Vs 1)
In remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
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, forever. Amen.
Serving of the Elements
Invitation to Christ and the Church
Invitational Hymn One Bread, One Body
Receiving of New Members
(Congregational Response)
We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you at Christ United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction (The Light of Christ Taken into the World)
Benediction Response: God Will Take Care of You
Postlude