AUGUST 4th, 2024 – 11th Sunday After Pentecost.

Order of Worship – Grace United Church 

Worship led by the Grace Choir, Rev. George Mafuleka,  Adreanne Christopherson,

Stephenie Hotchkiss and Garnet Weaver.

 GOD CALLS US TOGETHER                       

GATHERING                                                                

INTROIT                                                  Stephanie Hotchkiss & Adreane Christopherson

WELCOME

HYMN                                    “You Creator God Have Searched Me”                    MV #131

Words and Music: George Mulrain, 2007.

WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD

CANDLE LIGHTING                  “In the Quiet Stillness of Home Words and Music – Gladys Jack

CENTERING PRAYER

CHILDREN’S TIME:                                                                                 

SONG                                       “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”                     VU #271                    

Words and Music: Fredrick W. Faber & Jobam L. Steiner, 1854

PRAYER OF HEALING (Used with permission from Celebrating God’s presence 2000:34).

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry,

too real to hide, and too deep to undo.

Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear,

 and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment.

Set us free from a past that we cannot change;

open to us a future in which we can be changed;

and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image.

(Silent prayer-reflection or meditation)

WORDS OF COMFORT AND GRACE (Used with permission from Celebrating God’s presence 2000:43).

To all who turn from sin in sorrow, to all who turn to God in hope,

this is God’s word of grace: we are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

This gift we have from God.

Thanks be to God.

THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US                                                                                                      2 Samuel 11:26-12:13 – Nathan rebukes David.

This is God’s Holy Word.   Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE:                                                                                                   Rev. George Mafuleka

HYMN:                                                   “Just as I Am”                                                 VU #508          

Words and music: Fred P. Green & C.Hubert H. Parry, 1888  

GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND

OFFERING INVITATION

SUNG RESPONSE                                   “Grateful”                                                         MV #182

Words and Music: Tom Tomaszek, 2003.

OFFERING PRAYER

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – (Ending with the Lords Prayer)                    

WE GO OUT IN FAITH

HYMN                                       “Like a Healing Stream”                                                 MV #144

Words and music: Bruce Hardings, 2003.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS – LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

BLESSING

SUNG BENEDICTION              “Take Up His Song (1 verse of love)”               

Words and Music: Laura A. Herman, 2005.

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