Crandall United Methodist Church

Special Music: “On Day at a Time” Meagan

 

Centering Words:

 

Blessing, honor, and glory to the Lord, our God. Praise the ancient of days.

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:    Bless the Lord at all times.

People:   Praise God’s holy name.

Leader:    Magnify the Lord with hearts full of devotion.

People:   Sing of God’s glory with tongues full of song.

Leader:    Seek the Lord of love.

People:   We will worship the living God.

Leader:    Let us pray.

 

ALL: Loving God, be with us in our time of worship. Bless every enterprise of our lives, that we might be a blessing to others. Shower us with grace and mercy, that we might bring grace and mercy to a world in pain and want. Give us pure hearts and humble spirits, that we might show Christ’s example in all that we say and do. Grant us hope and perseverance, that we might live as saints, as our foremothers and forefathers before us. In faithful reverence, we pray. Amen.

 

Hymn: “Shall We Gather at the River”

 

Shall we gather at the river,

where bright angel feet have trod,

with its crystal tide forever

flowing by the throne of God?

 

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

the beautiful, the beautiful river;

gather with the saints at the river

that flows by the throne of God.

 

On the margin of the river,

washing up its silver spray,

we will talk and worship ever,

all the happy golden day.

 

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

the beautiful, the beautiful river;

gather with the saints at the river

that flows by the throne of God.

 

Ere we reach the shining river,

lay we every burden down;

grace our spirits will deliver,

and provide a robe and crown.

 

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

the beautiful, the beautiful river;

gather with the saints at the river

that flows by the throne of God.

 

Soon we’ll reach the silver river,

soon our pilgrimage will cease;

soon our happy hearts will quiver

with the melody of peace.

 

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

the beautiful, the beautiful river;

gather with the saints at the river

that flows by the throne of God.

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

Beloved children of God, even when we fail, God’s love never fails.

What we will be has not yet been revealed, but we know that we will be like Christ one day.

Until that day, trust that we are surrounded by the love and tender mercies of our God.

Praises be to our God. Amen

 

*New Testament Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

 

⁹ After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their aces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; ¹⁷for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”

 

Children’s Message: “Be”

 

Hymn: “It Is Well with My Soul”

 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control,

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

even so, it is well with my soul.

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

Sermon: “From Every Tribe” Matthew 5:1-12

 

¹ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

 RESPONSE TO THE WORD  

 

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer     

 

THE SACRAMENTS OF HOLY COMMUNION

 

Invitation, Prayer of Confession and Pardon:

 

Christ our Lord invites to his table

       all who love him,

who earnestly repent of their sin

and seek to live in peace with one another.

Therefore, let us confess our sin before God

and one another.

 

Merciful God,

we confess that we have not loved you

with our whole hearts.

We have failed to be an obedient church.

We have not done your will,

we have broken your law,

we have rebelled against your love,

we have not loved our neighbors,

and we have not heard the

cry of the needy.

Forgive us, we pray.

Free us for joyful obedience,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Hear the good news:

Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;

that proves God's love toward us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

 

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

Glory to God. Amen

 

 The Great Thanksgiving  

 

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending of all creation.

In the days of Isaiah, you promised to lead all the nations to your holy mountain, and swallow up death forever. You have revealed the coming of a new heaven and new earth, in which every tear will be wiped from our eyes, and all will feast at your heavenly banquet.

And so, with your saints now on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes

in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy are you, and holy is your Son Jesus Christ.

When he raised Lazarus from the grave, he showed us all your glory, giving thanks only to you and praising your name.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

 

"Take, eat; this my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

 

This day we gather around the table with a great cloud of the saints, those who have gone before us, those that we share in communion with today and those who are yet to come, to once again remember His body that was given for us.

 

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

 

"Drink from this all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it

in remembrance of me."

 

And so,

in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves along with all the saints of your church in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith

 

Christ has died;

Christ is risen;

Christ will come again.

 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may become one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until all things are made new.

As we share in the body of Christ and the cup of salvation, let us also share in the legacy and memory of those saints who lives are a part of the Kingdom of God, both here and in heaven.

 

Roll Call of the Saints