GIRDWOOD CHAPEL UMC
Love God, Love Others, Change the World!
 
 
September 24, 2023

Order of Sunday Worship

(bold text indicates congregational responses; * indicates please stand as able)

 

Welcome

 

*Call to Worship

Unsettled World, where people long to find their way,

To feel secure from lives of turbulence and rush

We come, to seek your peace, Our God,

Your word to hear,

Our faith to live.

Unsettled World, unsettled church,

Whose structures creak and doctrines swirl

By faith and in the strength of Christ,

We strive, in true community,

Your word to hear,

Our faith to live.

 

*Hymn: Be Thou My Vision, UMC Hymnal #451

Music and lyrics are on the screen

 

Communal Prayer

Creator God, You are here within us, among us, around us.

We come to this time of sharing with joy and hope.

Open our ears to hear your word.

Open our hearts as we seek to be a community of believers.

Help us feel your presence always.

In the name of Jesus, the true vine.

Amen.

 

Scripture Reading: John 15:1-12
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.
9 “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you.
 

Response: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God around us, for the Word of God within us, we say: Thanks be to God.

 

Sermon: “Produce More Fruit” (Betty Hertz, from St. John UMC)

*Hymn: “Sois la Semilla” / “You Are the Seed” (UMC Hymnal #583)

Music and lyrics are also on the screen

 

Weekly Connection Points

  • Thursdays: Walk, Talk, Pray, 10am (starting in our parking lot)
  • Our Food Pantry days and times: First Sundays 2-4pm; 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 4-6pm
  • 10/10 Turnagain Community Service Board/Volunteer interest meeting, 7pm
  • 10/13-14 (Friday-Saturday) Chapel painting party. 
  • 10/21 mini Leadership retreat 11-2. All are invited.
  • Pastor Nico at AKUMC leaders retreat through today (Sunday), followed by Reijns family vacation Sep. 26 – Oct. 6
 

Invitation to Generosity 

To give go to www.girdwoodchapel.com/give

Mail your offering to PO Box 1068

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

 

Community Prayers 

Leader: God in your mercy

People: Hear our prayer
 

Personal Prayer / Candle Lighting

Music: “Who You Say You Are” (Common Hymnal ©2018)
 

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And 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.

 

Hymn: “Pass It On,” UMC Hymnal #572

 

*Benediction

 

*“On Eagles Wings”

And God will raise us up

On eagles’ wings

Bear us on the breath of dawn

Make us to shine like the sun

And hold us, in the palm, of God’s hand

Communion Liturgy for Communion Sunday

Holy Communion — pp. 15-16 in the Hymnal 

You are invited and welcome to participate in communion with us. We believe that this is God’s table and is open to all.
 

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,

[…]

And so,

With all 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 the one who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 

[…]

 

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 food and drink,

May they be for us the tangible reminders of your ever-present grace

That we may be for the world, the body of Christ, redeemed in his love.

 

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 God, 

now and for ever.


Amen.