Crandall United Methodist Church

Pastor Jim Wilkins

Worship Guide

October 6, 2024

Twentieth 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:  “Cornerstone” Charles

Centering Words:

“What are humans that you are mindful of them or mortals that you care for them?” Not angels, to be sure. Just people, the beloved children of God.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:    Your steadfast love is before our eyes, O God.

People:   Help us move in faithfulness.

Leader:    When tests and trials come– when evil itself appears– we place our trust in you, O Knower of joy and suffering.

People:   Help us move with integrity.

Leader:    Place us on level ground, O Redeemer.

People:   Move us to sing songs of thanksgiving and to proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: Gracious God, through whom all things exist, we are mindful this day of siblings in faith around the world. We rejoice in our oneness with them. We are mindful, too, of those near at hand and those far away– those who suffer from ills and calamities, from wars and disasters. Be present with them and us, we pray– even as you fix our hearts on you and how we might, in faith, respond to the needs of neighbors around the world. Amen.

Hymn: “My Hope Is Built”  

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean in Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,

I rest on his unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

my anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, his covenant, his blood,

support me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way,

he then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

When he shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh may I then in him be found.

Dressed in his righteousness alone,

faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

The psalmist says God made humanity but a little lower than the angels. We are, God knows, something not even close to angels at all.

Yet, God crowns us with glory and honor. In the name of that Jesus, the perfecter of our salvation, know that you are loved and forgiven.

Amen.

*New Testament Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. ³ He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

2 ⁵ Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. ⁶ But someone has testified somewhere,

“What are human beings that you are mindful of them,

or mortals, that you care for them?

⁷     You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned them with glory and honor,

⁸     subjecting all things under their feet.”

Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, ⁹ but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, ¹² saying,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”

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: “Joy”

Hymn: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly,

while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.

Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;

safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on thee;

leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.

All my trust on thee is stayed, all my help from thee I bring;

cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in thee I find;

raise the fallen, cheer the faint,

heal the sick, and lead the blind.

Just and holy is thy name, I am all unrighteousness;

false and full of sin I am; thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;

let the healing streams abound;

make and keep me pure within.

Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of thee;

spring thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Sermon: “Such as These” Mark 10:2-16

² Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” ³ He answered them, “What did   Moses command you?” ⁴ They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” ⁵ But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ⁷ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰ Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

¹³ People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

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,

Father Almighty, creator of

heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image and

breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed,

your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity,

made covenant to be our sovereign God,

and spoke to us through your prophets.

And so, with your people 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 blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people.

He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

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."

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 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 be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.   Amen

And now with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever.

Amen

Sharing of the Cup and Loaf

Moment of Prayer and Meditation

Prayer of Thanks

Eternal God, we give you thanks

for this holy mystery

in which you have given yourself to us. 

Grant that we may go into the world

in the strength of your Spirit,

to give ourselves to others,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen

SENDING FORTH

Hymn: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”      

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;

things I would ask him to tell me if He were here;

scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,

stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,

and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;

words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,

all in the love light of Jesus’ face.

Into the city I’d follow the children’s band,

waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand.

one of his heralds, yes, I would sing

loudest hosannas, “Jesus is King!"

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.