Crandall United Methodist Church

Worship Guide

September 8, 2024

Sixteenth 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: Stefanie

Centering Words:

Everyone matters or no one matters. Here, everyone matters, and all are welcomed by the love of God.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:    Place your trust in God.

People:   God’s faithfulness is unshakeable.

Leader:    May our worship this day strengthen our faith.

People:   May our faithfulness be unshakeable.

Leader:    May our words and actions be good and true.

People:   May we grow in godliness each and every day.

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: We place our trust in you, O God, for your love and faithfulness are steadfast and true. Breathe your Holy Spirit into our worship and your very presence into our lives, that our love and faithfulness may be steadfast and true.  Amen.

Hymn: “Trust and Obey”

When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,

what a glory he sheds on our way!

While we do his good will, he abides with us still,

and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus,

but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

but our toil he doth richly repay;

not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

but is blessed if we trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus,

but to trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of his love

until all on the altar we lay;

for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows,

are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus,

but to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,

or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

what he says we will do, where he sends we will go;

never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus,

but to trust and obey.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

God is good

all the time.

And all the time,

God is good.

In God’s goodness, we touch goodness.

In God’s love, we receive love.

In God’s grace and mercy,

We find fellowship with God’s people.

*Gospel Reading: James 2:1-10, 14-17

¹ My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? ² For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, ³ and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” ⁴ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? ⁷ Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

⁸ You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹ But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? ¹⁷ So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

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: “Prosper in Community”

Hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms he’ll take and shield thee;

thou wilt find a solace there.

Sermon: “Choosing How We Shall Live” Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

¹      A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

²      The rich and the poor have this in  common:

the Lord is the maker of them all.

⁸      Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of anger will fail.

⁹      Those who are generous are blessed,

for they share their bread with the poor.

²²     Do not rob the poor because they are poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate;

²³     for the Lord pleads their cause

and despoils of life those who despoil them.

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Hymn: “Wonderful Words of Life”

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;

let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;

words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Christ the blessed one gives to all, wonderful words of life;

sinner, listen to the loving call, wonderful words of life;

all so freely given, wooing us to heaven.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;

offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;

Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Psalter: The Apostles Creed   

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

   maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

       born of the virgin Mary,

       suffered under Pontius Pilate,

       was crucified, died, and was buried;

the third day he rose from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

       and sitteth at the right hand of God

       the Father Almighty.

From thence he shall come

       to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

   the holy catholic Church,

   the communion of saints,

   the forgiveness of sins,

   the resurrection of the body,

   and the life everlasting. 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: “Cares Chorus”      

I cast all my cares upon you,

I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,

and anytime that I don't know what to do,

I will cast all my cares upon you.

I cast all my cares upon you,

I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,

and anytime that I don't know what to do,

I will cast all my cares upon you.

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.