Crandall United Methodist Church

Worship Guide

July 14, 2024

Eighth 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:  “Not Guilty” Stefanie

Centering Words:

Dance before the Lord with instruments of praise. Know that you are adopted into the family of God.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:    All are welcome in the house of the Lord.

People:   Find here the hospitality of radical fellowship.

Leader:    Worship with clean hands and pure hearts.

People:   We are lifted up by the King of Glory.

Leader:    We are adopted into the family of Christ.

People:   We will leap with joy before our God!

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: Holy One, we enter this time of worship with minds filled with the business of life. Help us shed the dust of our toils, relaxing in the knowledge that you claim us just as you promised. Amen

Hymn: “Come Thou Almighty King”

Come, thou almighty King,

help us thy name to sing, help us to praise!

Father all glorious, o'er all victorious,

come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!

Come, thou incarnate Word,

gird on thy mighty sword, our prayer attend!

Come, and thy people bless, and give thy Word success,

Spirit of holiness, on us descend!

Come, holy Comforter,

thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour.

Thou who almighty art, now rule in every heart,

and ne’er from us depart, Spirit of power!

To thee, great One in Three,

eternal praises be, hence, evermore.

thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see,

and to eternity love and adore!

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

Know that you are cherished by the good pleasure of God’s love. You are chosen by God and given the inheritance of Christ.

Live in truth and peace, and be strong in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

*Gospel Reading: Mark 6:14-29

¹⁴ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent men who    arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. ²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. ²² When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” ²³ And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” ²⁵ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

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: “Worship”

Hymn: “Holy Ground”

We are standing on holy ground,

and I know that there are angels all around;

let us praise Jesus now;

we are standing in his presence on holy ground.

We are standing on holy ground,

and I know that there are angels all around;

let us praise Jesus now;

we are standing in his presence on holy ground.

We are standing on holy ground,

and I know that there are angels all around;

let us praise Jesus now;

we are standing in his presence on holy ground.

We are standing on holy ground,

and I know that there are angels all around;

let us praise Jesus now;

we are standing in his presence on holy ground.

Sermon: “Gathering for Worship”  2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12-19

¹ David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. ² David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. ³ They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart ⁴ with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. ⁵ David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

¹² So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; ¹³ and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. ¹⁴ David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

¹⁷ They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. ¹⁸ When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, ¹⁹ and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.

 RESPONSE TO THE WORD  

Hymn: “Change My Heart, O God”

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.

Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.

You are the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.

Change my heart, O God, May I be like you.

You are the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.

Change my heart, O God, May I be like you.

Change my heart, O God, May I be like you.

Psalter: Affirmation From 1 Timothy

There is one God

and there is one mediator, Christ Jesus,

who came as a ransom for all,

to whom we testify.

This saying is sure

and worthy of full acceptance:

That Jesus Christ came into the world

to save sinners,

and was manifested in the flesh,

vindicated in the Spirit,

seen by angels,

proclaimed among the nations,

believed in throughout the world,

taken up in glory.

Great indeed is the mystery of the gospel.  Amen

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Amen.

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer

SENDING FORTH

Hymn: “This is My Father’s World”

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!

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.