Sunday Worship Service
December 5, 2021
We are RECEIVED as the Beloved of God
The actual worship service begins 15 minutes into the recordings.
WELCOME
OPENING SONG – The First Noel
CALL TO WORSHIP
OPENING PRAYER
SONG – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing UM Hymnal (blue book) # 240
CHILDREN’S TIME WITH MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES
ANTHEM – Jesus Set My Soul A-Singing
We are TRANSFORMED by the Word of God
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 6:6-7
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
Titus 3:3-7
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
GOOD NEWS – Being Freed
God wants us to be well. But, if not all, most of us are addicted to something that harms ourselves and the people around us. Richard Rohr claims, “We are all addicts, in one way or another.” How can we be freed from the addictions/brokenness/sins? This Sunday, we are going to listen to what the Bible has to say about this question.
SONG – Come, O Redeemer, Come Worship & Song (green book) # 3046
THE HOLY COMMUNION
RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE (OFFERING)
Pastor: God wants our love more than God wants our offerings; God cares about our hearts not the amounts of our offerings. (Hosea 6:6).
All: As we count all the blessings God has already given to us, we cheerfully give our offerings to God, the Provider, with grateful hearts. Amen! (2 Corinthians 9:7).
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER UM Hymnal (blue book) # 895
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
We are SENT in the Power of God
LIFE OF ST. MATTHEW’S COMMUNITY
BLESSING AND SENDING
CLOSING SONG – Wait for the Lord