FROM THE CORNER The news of our life, growth, and discipleship SEPTEMBER 4 SUNDAY Meditation and Mindfulness in the room outside the chapel (4:00pm) 4 SUNDAY Service of Healing and Blessing in the chapel (5:00pm) 5 MONDAY Church office will be closed. Happy Labor Day! 6 TUESDAY Tuesday Bible Study begins new study in hospitality room (10:00am) 6 TUESDAY SPRC meeting in the hospitality room (6:00pm) 7 WEDNESDAY Strategy meeting in the fellowship hall (6:00-8:30pm) 11 SUNDAY Atrium begins (9:15am) 11 SUNDAY Choir joins us in worship; rehearsals continue afterwards (10:50am) 14 WEDNESDAY Ministry teams meeting in the fellowship hall (6:00-8:00pm) 18 SUNDAY Sr. Maureen of The Dorothy Day House to speak (9:30am) 21 WEDNESDAY Parents Night Out in the fellowship hall (6:00-7:30pm) 24 SATURDAY Mid-South Pride Festival and Parade at Robert Church Park (10:00am-5:00pm) This Friday at 6:00pm John Kilzer leads us with Steve Selvidge, Dave Smith, and Steve Potts. ANNOUNCEMENTS... 1207 Peabody Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 (901) 726-4104 www.stjohnsmidtown.org St. John's United Methodist Church - Midtown Memphis Restore My Soul Meditation and Mindfulness meets today at 4:00pm in the room outside the chapel, followed by The Service of Healing and Blessing at 5:00pm in the chapel. New Bible Study The Tuesday Bible Study will begin a new study: God of the Bible: How God is Revealed in Scripture beginning Sept. 6. The bible study meets every Tuesday at 10:00am in the Hospitality Room. Join us! Dorothy Day House Dorothy Day House of Hospitality has successfully served homeless families in Memphis since its founding in 2006. Sr. Maureen from Dorothy Day House will join us on Sept. 18 at 9:30am in the fellowship hall to speak about plans to purchase and renovate four buildings in the Peabody/Bellevue/Vance area. These homes will serve as transitional housing for homeless families. Mid-South Pride Festival and Parade St. John s will once again show our pride and support by participating in the festival on Sept. 24 from 10:00am-5:00pm so save the date and stay tuned for more details! The Greatest Prayer Purchase John Dominic Crossan s book, the inspiration behind our sermon series from the church office for $9. St. John's welcomes everyone. Our hearts, minds, and doors are open to people of all ages, races, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, theological identities, economic status, disabilities, and sojourn on the way to recovery and wholeness. We are a diverse community whose discipleship to Jesus Christ is demonstrated through our deep commitment to servant ministry. Welcome Home! TODAY S USHERS: Lloyd Hearn, Mike Coop, Charles Garisson, Herb Levy TODAY S COUNTERS: Counters Needed + Please stand as you are able. St. John s United Methodist Church September 4, 2016 10:50 a.m. The Greatest Prayer Sermon Series Your Kingdom Come Words of Welcome Prelude + Call to Worship THE ENTRANCE Felix Mendelssohn Andante in D Major (1823) In the midst of a world where people hunger and thirst, Come worship a God who feeds the hungry. In the midst of a world where people are abused and oppressed, Come worship a God who calls for compassion and justice. In the midst of a world filled with wars and rumor of war, Come worship a God who desires nothing less than peace for the world. In the midst of a world where love is not freely shown and forgiveness is hard to find, Come worship a God whose grace and love know no end. + Processional Hymn TFWS 2238 NEW DIMENSIONS + Opening Prayer In the Midst of New Dimensions Eternal God, you bring light out of darkness and hope out of despair. Share your love with us this day that we may better love each other. Touch our hearts and help our love shine forth in a world hungry to know your love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
+ Prayer Response The Faith We Sing, No. 2034, 1991, GIA Publications, A-724667 Please be seated. PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Congregational Call to Prayer David Haas 1981, GIA Publications, A-724667 Rev d Johnny Jeffords Rev d Renee Dillard Rev d John Kilzer Matthew Bogart Zachary Ferguson Lyn Stewart Annie Hunter Bill Dozier Robert Phillips Rose Holmes Senior Minister Discipleship Ministries Recovery Ministries Music/Worship Ministries Children/Youth/Young Adult Ministries Church Administrator Communications/Volunteer Development Building & Maintenance Custodian Housekeeper
Together We Pray Linda Douty Mischke Dearly Beloved, Grace and Peace to you. When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the disabled, the afflicted, and the blind. You will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. Luke 14:13-14 God, I give you myself, without expecting return. It is not about me. Let my gifts and generosity, my love and service disappear into the world. I let go of them without demand of how they are spent. I give my humility and forgiveness without expectation of how they are received. I give my faith, I give my love without regard to what it gets me. I love your Beloved, even the needy or troubling, for their sake, not mine. There is no exchange. I give my life and come home empty handed, home to you.
+ Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:10 (KJV) Thy kingdom come, Time of Receiving Homily Invitation to the Table God Will: We Can Rev d Dr. John Kilzer Prayer After Receiving 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 for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SENDING FORTH The Faith We Sing, No. 2264, 1991 Word Music A-724667 Invitation to Journey + Hymn of Response UMH 400 NETTLETON Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing + Benediction + Postlude Felix Mendelssohn Allegro Moderato Maestoso (1845) Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sins and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sins before God and one another.
Mystery of Faith Prayer of Confession Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. 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. Assurance of Pardon...all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. The Great 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 Peace The peace of Christ Jesus be with you always. And also with you. Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love. 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, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Offering Please be seated. Felix Mendelssohn Confidence from Songs Without Words
+ Doxology UMH 94 Sanctus Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the source of all our gifts. Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts. Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Great Thanksgiving TFWS 2257a-d (Musical Setting) Communion Musical Setting by Mark A. Miller 1999, 2000 Abindgon Press, Copyright Co. Used by permission A-724667....we praise your name and join their unending hymn:...as we proclaim the mystery of faith.