August 25, 2024 – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Communion Sunday Order of Worship – Grace United Church 

   Worship led by the Grace Choir  and Garnet Weaver

WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD                        

CANDLE LIGHTING                          “Quiet Stillness of Home” x 2                               

Words and Music: Gladys Jack

CENTERING PRAYER 

HYMN                               “Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary”                                   MV # 18

Words: John W. Thompson and Randy Scruggs

CHILDREN’S TIME                      

SONG                                 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”                                     VU # 333

PRAYER OF HEALING                 

Patient Lord, we are a culture that want the quick and easy  answers to all of life’s problems.

We want to be able to open the bible and place our fingers on the passage that will answer all our questions and heal our hearts.

Spirit Lord it is even more difficult for us to deal with the knowledge that discipleship requires patience, work and perseverance.

The Words of Jesus take time for us to comprehend when we just want to move forward and get on with it.

Jesus own disciples struggled with true understanding of what Jesus was saying and how they were to respond. Creator help us understand the commitment we make in discipleship. Push us further into our ministry of help and compassion to do more to help others. Give us all that extra measure of faith that we may truly serve you by serving others.

 (Silent prayer/reflection)

WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT                                                              

Creator of us in the beauty of this place we come fully committed to praising your words needing to feel the calm presence of your love. Calm and soothe our souls . Cause us to rejoice in songs and words that you have provided so we all hear your voice this morning. Amen

HYMN                                     “I Heard a Voice of Jesus Say”                                      VU # 626                     

THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US

John: 6: 56-69

   In this is God’s Holy Word.   Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE                                                                                                                Colleen Groenen          

GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND

OFFERING INVITATION                                                                                                         

 SUNG RESPONSE                                   “Grateful”                                                             

Words and music: Tom Tomaszek; arr. Sarah Hart and T. Tomaszek, 2003

 OFFERING PRAYER        

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

SPECIAL MUSIC                          “Lords Prayer”                                                        Stephanie

HYMN                                    “Take Up His Song” (Verse 1)                                            MV #213

                                                        Words: Laura A. Herman, 2005.

WE GO OUT IN FAITH                  

ANNOUNCEMENTS – LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH                                

BLESSING   

Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission.  One License #A-7252