Crandall United Methodist Church

Worship Guide

September 22, 2024

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

Greetings:

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

Special Music: “Lead Me to the Cross” Stefanie

Centering Words:

Breathe in and invite the Spirit of Wisdom to fill your soul. Breathe out, recalling the Spirit of Love that connects you with all God’s children.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:    Happy are those who follow paths of righteousness.

People:   We take delight in the wisdom of God.

Leader:    Happy are those who reach out to those in need.

People:   We find delight in the love of God.

Leader:    Happy are those who set aside envy.

People:   We draw delight in the selflessness of God.

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: Holy Stream of Righteousness– as we embrace the dawn of this week and the reemergence of hope in our lives, we sing your praises. As we face the journey        before us, we seek your wisdom and your strength. Erase the envy from our minds and the biases from our hearts, as we enter this space. Fill our lives with the       refreshing brooks of your peace. Amen.

Hymn: “Blessed Assurance”

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior, all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

angels descending bring from above

echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior, all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior, all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,

praising my Savior, all the day long.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

The Grace of God can transform our hearts, even amidst a cacophony of noise.

The wisdom of God beckons to our souls, revealing our world in a different light.

In due season, we will yield the fruit of faith in our adventure with God.

Amen.

*Gospel Reading: Mark 9:30-37

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; ³¹ for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” ³² But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

³³ Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ³⁴ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. ³⁵ He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

WORD AND RESPONSE

Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”

Children’s Message: “Practical”

Hymn: “For One Great Peace”

This thread I weave, this step I dance,

this stone I carve, this ball I bounce,

this nail I drive, this pearl I string,

this flag I wave, this note I sing,

this pot I shape, this fire I light,

this fence I leap, this bone I knit,

this seed I nurse, this rift I mend,

this child I raise, this earth I tend,

this check I write, this march I join,

this faith I state, this truth I sign,

this is small part, in one small place,

of one heart's beat for one great Peace.

Sermon: “In Praise of Women Who Lead” Proverbs 31:10-31

¹⁰     A capable wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

¹¹     The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

¹²     She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³     She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

¹⁴     She is like the ships of the merchant,

she brings her food from far away.

¹⁵     She rises while it is still night

and provides food for her household

and tasks for her servant-girls.

¹⁶     She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷     She girds herself with strength,

and makes her arms strong.

¹⁸     She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹     She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰     She opens her hand to the poor,

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹     She is not afraid for her household when it snows,

for all her household are clothed in crimson.

²²     She makes herself coverings;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³     Her husband is known in the city gates,

taking his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴     She makes linen garments and sells them;

she supplies the merchant with sashes.

²⁵     Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

²⁶     She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷     She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸     Her children rise up and call her happy;

her husband too, and he praises her:

²⁹     “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

³⁰     Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹     Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the city gates.

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Hymn: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

I am weak, but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long

as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

daily walking close to Thee,

let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,

if I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

daily walking close to Thee,

let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

When my feeble life is o’er,

time for me will be no more;

guide me gently, safely o’er

to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

daily walking close to Thee,

let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Psalter: Psalm 1

 ¹ Blessed are those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked;

      or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers;

²    but their delight is in the law of the Lord,

         and on God's law they meditate day and night.

³    They are like trees planted by streams of water that yield their fruit in season, and their leaves do not wither.

      In all that they do, they prosper.

⁴    The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.

⁵    Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment; nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

⁶    for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

      but the way of the wicked will perish.

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns:

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer   

SENDING FORTH

Hymn: “Love the Lord Your God”

Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your soul.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your mind.

Love the Lord, your God, with all that you are.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your soul.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your mind.

Love the Lord, your God, with all that you are.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your soul.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your mind.

Love the Lord, your God, with all that you are.

Benediction

Hymn: “God Be with You till We Meet Again” 

God be with you till we meet again;

by his counsels guide, uphold you,

with his sheep securely fold you;

God be with you till we meet again.