May 26 Worship Service
Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio
Rick Birk, Pastor
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER: Amazing God, We pray that through the Holy Spirit Your preferred future for Groveport United Methodist Church will be made clear to us. Give us the courage we need to follow You wherever You may take us. We ask that You bind us together in love so that we can bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to our friends, families, and community. Open our eyes so that we may see the amazing things You are already doing among us. AMEN.
PRELUDE “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES
*OPENING HYMN “God of the Ages” #698
CALL TO WORSHIP:
L: God’s love is poured out on the world.
P: From the foundations of time, God’s love is woven into all things.
L: When we cry "Abba, Father!", God hears and lovingly responds to us.
P: Thanks be to God who forgives and lifts us up.
L: Now we are called to be born anew!
P: Open our hearts and our lives that we may truly be born with hearts aflame with God’s love. AMEN.
HYMN “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus ”
PRAYER FOR MEMORIAL DAY:
We hold up before you, our Creator, all of our loved ones who have passed from earth into eternity. Especially, we remember those who have laid down their lives that others might live. Keep them in our memories. Keep them in our hearts. And grant us the assurance that we shall be reunited around the Father's throne. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
We are so like Nicodemus, Lord. We come to you, hiding in the shadows of our own fears and terrors. We want you to give us peace and hope in our hearts. We want to know that everything will be all right; that the world will cease to be a place of terror and war.
We want to be born again in a spirit of hope. But when we come it is for our own sake, and not to learn what you would have us be and do in this world. Forgive our selfishness, Lord. Calm our fears and heal our spirits. Let us truly listen to you so that we may be witnesses to your peace and justice which you seek for the world.
Saturate us with your light and wisdom. Empower us to be those who bring peace, which is not only an absence of war, but peace which promotes an attitude of love. Clear away the clutter in our lives and place us on paths.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
OUR TIME OF PRAYER (During our time of prayer, the altar rail is open for all who wish to come forward.)
HYMN “Sanctuary”
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS “America the Beautiful”
*DOXOLOGY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CHILDREN’S MOMENTS (Children 1st-6th grades may attend Jr. Church at this time)
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: John 3:1-17
SERMON “How Can This Be?”
*CLOSING HYMN “America the Beautiful” #696
*BENEDICTION
*SENDING FORTH “Because He Lives” (chorus only)
POSTLUDE “Onward Christian Soldiers"
