THEME: He Said, "Follow Me" - And They Did!
NOTES:Today we install our active Deacons, Elders, Officers and Trustees for 2020 and ask God's guidance and blessing on the administrative work that keeps our ministries healthy and vital. We will lay hands on a newly called elder for an ordination to a lifelong role. As we do these things, we read and revisit Jesus' call of the first disciples. That spoken word, the phrase, "Follow me" lifted them out of a well established comfort zone in an ordered society and a familiar community. Life was not easy before or without its trials. But this word was a doorway to the unknown and the unexpected. From our vantage point, perhaps the most puzzling question is, "Why did they go? Why did they drop everything and go?" What did they hear in the words or see in the man or feel in the moment that overwhelmed caution, familiarity, comfort and predictability? What compelled them? Let us return to this story with our hearts and our minds to ultimately ask ourselves the same question - "Why do we follow?"
Scripture:
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 & Matthew 4:12-23
Psalm 27:1, 4-9
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
Matthew 4:12-23
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn "This Is My Commandment"
Call to Worship
Leader: To the fisherman Jesus said:
People: “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.
Leader: To the tax collector Jesus said:
People: “Follow me.”
Leader: To the rich young man Jesus said:
People: “Let your treasure be in heaven;
then come, follow me.”
Leader: At the last supper Jesus said:
People: “Follow me.”
Leader: To you and to me and to all of us Jesus says:
People: Follow me!
~ written by Rev. Kathleen Sheets, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jesup, IA.
Invocation
Great God of Heaven and Earth,
you call us to leave behind our preoccupations
and to follow you into the future.
Sometimes we find your call challenging.
We are comfortable, maybe even complacent, in our present.
May this act of giving be a gesture of our willingness
to follow where you lead.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
~ posted on the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan. http://www.umfmichigan.org/offerprayers.html
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture: Matthew 4:12-23
Meditation
Installation of Officers, Deacons, Elders and Trustees for 2020
Introduction - These friends have been called by God in accordance with the faith and order of this congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to serve among us as leaders. They have accepted the call and are before us in witness to their willingness to serve.
Covenant
Leader: Having prayerfully considered the duties and responsibility of your role, are you prepared to serve in Christ's name and to God's glory?
Individuals: With the help of God, I am.
Leader: Do you promise to exercise your service diligently and faithfully, showing forth the love of Christ?
Individuals: Relying on God's grace, I do.
Leader: As a congregation, let us support these individuals is their role as servant leaders in the life and ministry of this church with our prayers, our love, our encouragement and our presence.
People: In the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to you care and support.
Prayer of Blessing for New Elder
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn "Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary"
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Praying Together
"Abiding"
Holy God,
You are mystery
greater than our minds can comprehend.
And yet,
you have come to us in Jesus
and he invites us to stay with him;
to follow where he leads
so that we may find you
whom our hearts seek.
We come
but we bring with us
our doubts
our questions
our frailties
our inability to love one another well.
We come,
hesitant,
yet drawn by your haunting love.
Immerse us in the waters of your grace.
Pour your Holy Spirit upon us.
Teach us to love one another
with the love of Christ.
For we ask it in the many names of Jesus, our Lord,
the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
Son of God,
Teacher,
Savior
the One whose love surrounds us all our days. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Grace
In the waters of our baptism,
God bathes us with the Holy Spirit and declares
“You are my beloved child.”
Now we are community,
called to flood our world with the love we have received.
This week, whenever anyone or anything
makes you feel small or insignificant or alone,
remember your baptism
and live into your high and holy calling.
It is the gift of God’s grace for you.
~ posted on Christine Jerrett. https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com/
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn CH# 452 "Here I am, Lord" st. 1
Blessing
Postlude
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Leader: To the fisherman Jesus said:
People: “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.
Leader: To the tax collector Jesus said:
People: “Follow me.”
Leader: To the rich young man Jesus said:
People: “Let your treasure be in heaven;
then come, follow me.”
Leader: At the last supper Jesus said:
People: “Follow me.”
Leader: To you and to me and to all of us Jesus says:
People: Follow me!
~ written by Rev. Kathleen Sheets, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jesup, IA.
Praise Hymn "This Is My Commandment"
Invocation
Great God of Heaven and Earth,
you call us to leave behind our preoccupations
and to follow you into the future.
Sometimes we find your call challenging.
We are comfortable, maybe even complacent, in our present.
May this act of giving be a gesture of our willingness
to follow where you lead.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
~ posted on the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan. http://www.umfmichigan.org/offerprayers.html
Passing of the Peace
A Moment for Children
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture: Psalm 27:1, 4-9
Meditation
Installation of Officers, Deacons, Elders and Trustees for 2020
Introduction - These friends have been called by
God in accordance with the faith and order of this congregation of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to serve among us as leaders.
They have accepted the call and are before us in witness to their
willingness to serve.
Covenant
Leader:
Having prayerfully considered the duties and responsibility of your
role, are you prepared to serve in Christ's name and to God's glory?
Individuals: With the help of God, I am.
Leader: Do you promise to exercise your service diligently and faithfully, showing forth the love of Christ?
Individuals: Relying on God's grace, I do.
Leader:
As a congregation, let us support these individuals is their role as
servant leaders in the life and ministry of this church with our
prayers, our love, our encouragement and our presence.
People: In the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to you care and support.
Introduction of Candidate for Ordination
Laying on of Hands for Ordination of Elder
Leader: The laying on of hands is the symbolic act whereby the church in every age recognizes God's call to ministry in the lives of faithful women and men and asks for the Holy Spirit to confer upon them the gifts of ministry. We lay hands upon you, Dennis Blackburn, for the position of Elder.
Everyone moves into place for the laying on of hands.
Leader: May the Holy Spirit strengthen you in the ministry of Christ's church and equip you with everything good to do God's will. Receive authority to execute the office of Elder in the name of Christ.
People: Amen.
Ordination Prayer
Eternal God, you have called Dennis, our brother, to serve in this household of faith a Elder. Send your Holy Spirit on him, that he may serve among us with honor and faithfulness. Help him to be diligent in his duties as an Elder that your church may prosper in the mission you place before it. May his example prove worthy for all of us to follow, as we are united in Christ's ministry to the glory of your name.
Musical Reflection (Video) "Holy Spirit You are Welcome Here" Francesca Battistelli
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn "Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary"
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn
Praying Together
"Abiding"
Holy God,
You are mystery
greater than our minds can comprehend.
And yet,
you have come to us in Jesus
and he invites us to stay with him;
to follow where he leads
so that we may find you
whom our hearts seek.
We come
but we bring with us
our doubts
our questions
our frailties
our inability to love one another well.
We come,
hesitant,
yet drawn by your haunting love.
Immerse us in the waters of your grace.
Pour your Holy Spirit upon us.
Teach us to love one another
with the love of Christ.
For we ask it in the many names of Jesus, our Lord,
the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
Son of God,
Teacher,
Savior
the One whose love surrounds us all our days. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Grace
In the waters of our baptism,
God bathes us with the Holy Spirit and declares
“You are my beloved child.”
Now we are community,
called to flood our world with the love we have received.
This week, whenever anyone or anything
makes you feel small or insignificant or alone,
remember your baptism
and live into your high and holy calling.
It is the gift of God’s grace for you.
~ posted on Christine Jerrett. https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com/
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn CH#452 "Here I am, Lord" st. 1
Blessing
Postlude
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