ORDER of WORSHIP
August 16, 2020
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.”
Psalm 29:2
Greeting and Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: Sing and shout with joy
All: for the God of hope is with us now.
Leader: Give thanks and praise to God,
All: for the God of hope is with us always.
Leader: Come and see God’s deeds,
All: and discover the miraculous power of unending hope.
Opening Prayer
All: God of all hopefulness, bring hope to our weary world and to our troubled hearts;
ignite hope within our worship this day. Strengthen our faith as children of hope, that we may partner with you and share the good news of your steadfast faithfulness with the world. Amen.
Hymn of Praise “This Is My Fathers World” UMH #144. Text: Maltbie D. Babcock
Music: Trad. English melody; adapt. by Franklin L. Sheppard
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved.
- This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought. - This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere. - This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Scripture Readings Psalm 133 and Matthew 15 21-28
Sermon “Living Together in Unity (Why is this so Hard?)” Val Sribar
Prayers of the People / Lord’s Prayer
Hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee” UMH #528 Text: Sarah F. Adams, 1805-1848
Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved
- Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! - Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! - There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! - Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! - Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Benediction
Leader: With the hope of all hopefulness, the steadfast faith of the hopeful, and the faithful assurance of the healed, go now to bring hope and healing to the world. Amen.
