This Week's

Order of Service

June 8th, 2008
4th Sunday after Pentecost Celebrating ANW Conference
Anniversary and Communion

GATHERING TO WORSHIP GOD
Musical Prelude:

Welcome & Announcements:

Lighting of the Candles:

Call to Worship:
One: What marks holy ground?
All: A fiery bush that does not burn.
One: This morning we have turned aside for an hour.
All: We wait for a bush that calls our name.
One: We listen for a voice that tells us our story.
All: We open our minds and hearts to God. Let us worship God.

Hymn of Praise: #562 VU Jesus calls us o'er the tumult

Prayer of Approach:
O God, you call to us from every bush and rock, every lake and river, and every part of creation. It is all afire with the life of your Spirit. Help us hear you in this time of worship. Help us trust your promise to be with us in the liberation of your beloved children, in the journey through desert to freedom and life, in the name of Jesus, your anointed One. Amen.

Gaetz Golden Ringers: I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing – arr. Valerie W. Stephenson

Hymn for All Ages: #94 MV Love knocks and waits

Time for All Ages: -with Karen & Susan Conference Days: Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!

Anthem: Holy, holy, holy - arr. by Robert Sterling

Communion:
Invitation: All are welcome at the table of Jesus Christ. All are chosen and claimed by our loving God.
Response: At this holy meal, God is guest and host, judge and forgiver, friend and Mystery. At this table, we are united, loved and changed. Come all, and remember. Thanks be to God.
Consecration:
One: On the last night of his life, Jesus gathered with his friends for the evening meal. He took bread, gave thanks to God, and broke it for sharing.
All: "Take and eat," he told them. "Whenever you do this, remember me. "
One: At the end of the meal, he raised the cup of wine, gave thanks to God, and shared it.
All: "Take and drink," he told them. "This is the new covenant made in my blood. Whenever you do this, remember me. "
Prayer:
Gracious God, send your Spirit upon these elements of bread and wine, and fill us with your breath of life so that we may become burning bushes of invitation, and embodied expressions of your justice and peace. Help us remember that love is stronger than fear, and even death has been transformed to life in Jesus Christ, your Beloved, who has taught us to pray:
Prayer of Jesus: (sung) # 960 VU
Distribution of the Elements:
Hymn: # 460 All who hunger (to be sung during distribution)
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
God of the heavens and the earth, of generations before us and still to come, we thank you for the splendor of creation, the beauty of the world, the wonder of life and the mystery of love. We thank you for calling us to the work and service of your people, and being with us in all of life's journey. You are our breath, our life, our food and drink, our purpose and the ground of our being. For the sacrament by which you unite us with you and with each other, we thank you. For Jesus,
the Lord to whom we give allegiance, we thank you. For your Spirit, speaking from every aspect of your creation, we thank you. Let the sharing of loaf and cup become in us the energy for the unflagging love that brings peace through justice and generosity, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Reading from the Scriptures:
Exodus 3: 1-12 The call of Moses
Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus calls Matthew

Reflections on Conference: Bailey and Ryan

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
Presentation and Dedication of Offering:
Offertory Music:
Dedication: # 218 VU verse 1
We praise you, 0 God, our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name; glad praises we bring.

Prayers of the People:

Hymn: #112 VU 0 God, how we have wandered

Commissioning:

Benediction: #156 MV
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin',
walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin'
Listen to the Spirit to show you the way.

Choral Amen: # 974 VU
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen. X2

Extinguishing of the Candles: The Light is in the world.

Postlude: