Celebration Worship Service 9-10-2023
Prelude
Gathering Music: Sunshine Gospel Singers: Without Him
Welcome
†Congregational Hymns
They’ll Know we are Christians (Faith We Sing Hymnal #2223 Verses 1 & 2)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (United Methodist Hymnal #384 Verses 1 & 3)
My Jesus, I Love Thee (Cokesbury Hymnal #252 Verses 1)
I Love You Lord (Faith We Sing Hymnal #2068)
Thanksgiving Prayer
Offertory Celebration Choir
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.
Call to Prayer Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (UM Hymnal #349)
Silent Prayer Over Names
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, forever. Amen.
Prayer Response He Is Lord (United Methodist Hymnal #177)
†Prayer of Illumination
Loving God, by your Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to know your scripture as holy ground in our lives. In our Christ, we pray. Amen.
Scripture
Romans 14:1-12
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while others eat only vegetables.
Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.
Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.
Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also, those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Bible Presentation
Bibles Generously Given
In Memory of Chuck Childress
Who was a Long-Time Teacher of the Adult Bible Class
Congregational Response
We rejoice in this step in your journey with God. We pray God will guide you, your family, and us as you use this Holy Bible in your home, in your Small Group, and in our Worship. We will learn together and grow in our love for God’s Word.
Invitation to Christ and the Church
Invitational Hymn The B-I-B-L-E & Jesus Loves Me
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 Jesus Loves Me (United Methodist Hymnal #191 Chorus)
Postlude