Some thoughts: The following worship program is formatted for a legal size bulletin. Hymns and songs were chosen from the three hymnals currently used by The UMC: the 1989 hymnal, Faith We Sing, and Worship & Song. In the notes at the end of the worship program are tune names. The Biblical text for the day in its entirety follows the worship program. If you are unfamiliar with Tongsung Kido, refer to no. 446 in The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992, or google it. The Great Thanksgiving in its entirety follows the worship program. Included in the body of the worship program are lead-ins. The idea behind praying together different versions of The Lord s Prayer was to have a sense of many people praying together throughout the world. Of course, if there are persons in your congregation who speak other languages, that would be the best way. Worship liturgy is generally created for an specific event in a specific time and place. It is not a one-size fits all. It is the hope of those involved in the North Eastern Jurisdiction Great Event that sharing this is one way in which our United Methodist Churches in the Jurisdiction can connect more closely on this day when the Church is called to be the universal, inclusive Church. (quote from UMC Book of Worship) Please feel free to use all or any part of the worship liturgy as you wish. Worship resources are listed following the liturgy. All has been created to the glory of God!
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY OCTOBER 4, 2015 *INDICATES STANDING AS ABLE LEADER: UNBOLDED PEOPLE: BOLDED GATHERING INTROIT *CALL TO CELEBRATE+ The world belongs to God, the earth and all its people. Today and every day, Christians in many places and in many languages are praying and lifting songs of praise to God. Let us join our hearts and voices with theirs. *HYMN From All that Dwell Below the Skies From all that dwell below the skies, let the Creator s praise arise; let the Redeemer s name be sung, through every land by every tongue. Your lofty themes, ye mortals, bring, in songs of praise divinely sing; the great salvation loud proclaim, and shout for joy the Savior s name. In every land begin the song; to every land the strains belong; in cheerful sounds all voices raise, and fill the world with loudest praise.
*PRAYER++ Living God, today as we come to the table of the Lord with Christians from around the world, we are visited by recollections of the many tables where we have felt welcomed, seen, known, and loved; where we savored every bite and lingered with the others gathered there. From the business of our lives we come to this gathering. Be with us, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen. O Living God O living God, I long to see you lifted up in all your glory; to see you there in holy beauty. O Lord, almighty God, living Christ, I love you. *ACT OF PRAISE O living God, I soon will see you face to face, in all your glory. I ll worship you in endless wonder. O Lord, almighty God, living Christ, I love you. PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION With minds and hearts open through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that, as the scriptures are shared and the Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what God is saying to us today, you are invited to rest to sit silently and rest in God s love. After resting, pray together: Silence in us any voice but your own, Great God. As these ancient words of scripture are shared, open not only our hearts, open our minds, open our imaginations. Amen. SACRED READING FROM 1 ST JOHN AND THE GOSPEL OF JOHN Following the reading: This is a witness to the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM MESSAGE
*HYMN Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Amazing grace! how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear; and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. Refrain My chains are gone, I ve been set free. My God, my Savior, has ransomed me. And like a flood his mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace. The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Refrain. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine. But God who called me here below, will be forever mine, will be forever mine. You are forever mine. *PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE TONGSUNG KIDO You are invited to pray aloud at the same time. As you do, concentrate on your own earnest prayers, longing for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This Is My Song This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth s kingdoms: Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done. Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him, and hearts united learn to live as one. O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations; myself I give thee; let thy will be done. *SUNG RESPONSE INVITATION TO THE TABLE, CONFESSION, AND WORD OF GRACE++ To your table, Christ, you bid us come make your silent confession. Pray silently. You have set the places And so we come. Here 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. Sing: SEE your people, KNOW their hearts, LOVE them for who they are. SEE God s people, KNOW their lives, LOVE them as Christ loves. HYMN As those who have received the good news of God s amazing love, please stand and exchange signs and words of God s peace.. Passing the peace. Hungering for your bread O God of wisdom, we come. As We Gather At Your Table As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word, help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love s victory known. *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 pure delight to be to you our unending song of praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
No one is holy but you, O Lord as we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Holy Spirit, make holy almighty God, now and forever. Amen. *THE LORD S PRAYER Participants will pray the version of The Lord s Prayer which is on their table. All versions will be prayed simultaneously even as it is being prayed in other languages. 1. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in haven. 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. 2. Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. 3. 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. BREAKING THE BREAD GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP
PRAYER AFTER THE MEAL Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Let us truly be your people who see, know, and love, as we go out into the world empowered by your Spirit to give ourselves for others, in Christ s name. Amen. *HYMN We All Are One in Mission Tune: AURELIA We all are one in mission, we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. A single, great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ s love. We all are called for service to witness in God s name. Our ministries ae different, our purpose is the same: To touch the lives of others by God s surprising grace, so ev ry folk and nation may feel God s warm embrace. We all behold one vision, a stark reality, the author of salvation was nailed upon a tree. Yet resurrected Justice gives rise that we may share free reconciliation and hope amid despair. Now let us be united and let our song be heard. Now let us be a vessel for God s redeeming Word. We all are one in mission, we all our one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. *DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING We Will Follow (SOMLANDELA) We will follow, we will follow Jesus. Som-lan-de-la, some-lan-del u-je-su. We will follow, we will follow him. Som-lan-de-la, yon-ke in-da-wo. We will follow, we will follow Jesus. Som-lan-de-la, som-lan-del u-je-su. Wherever he leads us we will follow. La-pho e-ya-kho-na som-lan-de-la. *GOING FORTH
*VOLUNTARY WORSHIP RESOURCES: + adapted from online resources by John D. Witvliet ++ unbolded parts adapted from Table Blessing by Jan Richardson +++ written by the Reverend Michael Johnson and adapted for event HYMN WORDS AND TUNES: From All that Dwell Below the Skies Words: St. 1, Isaac Watts; sts. 3-4, anon. Music: DUKE STREET John Hatton O Living God Words: Ken Bible Music: SHENANDOAH arr. Ken Bible Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Words: John Newton(sts.), refrain by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio Music: MY CHAINS ARE GONE refrain and arr. by Chris Tomlin and Louis Giglio This Is My Song Words: Georgia Harkness Music: FINLANDIA Jean Sibelius; arr. from The Hymnal, 1933 As We Gather At Your Table Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. Music: RAQUEL Skinner Chavez-Melo We All Are One in Mission Words: Rusty Edwards Music: AURELIA We Will Follow (SOMLANDELA) Words: Traditional Zulu Music: SOMLANDELA Traditional Zulu; arr. Dean McIntyre
*THE GREAT THANKSGIVING+ Written by the Reverend Michael Johnson and adapted gently for the Great Event. 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 pure delight to be in your presence. It is amazing to think of joining with Christians all over the world to celebrate the new life we all enjoy in Christ Jesus our Lord. You have made us one family. You have united Christians from the United States with Christians from Costa Rica, Korea, Africa, Palestinian Christians and Chinese Christians, Zimbabwean Christians and Jamaican Christians all into one family. You have given us brothers and sisters who live on every continent; who speak every language imaginable and then some. You have given us brothers and sisters who think like us and get along with us, and even some who get on our nerves every single day. And you love us all as your family and expect us to love one another as family.
And so, as your family on earth, together with the members of your family in heaven, we join together and give to you our unending song of praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. No one is holy but you, O Lord. And no one is as faithful as your Son Jesus Christ who taught us the transforming experience that is ours when we see, know, and love. On that last night, Jesus surrounded himself with those whom he knew would betray, deny, and desert him; yet, he washed their feet and enjoyed an evening of feasting with them. Taking bread, he gave thanks to you. broke the bread, and gave a portion to everyone present saying: This is my body broken for you. Whenever you eat this bread, remember me. At the end of the meal, taking the cup, Jesus gave thanks to you, and said:
This is my blood shed to ratify God s covenant of grace with you and with many for the forgiveness of sin. Whenever you drink of this, remember me. 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. Holy Spirit, make holy these gifts of bread and cup; and each person here, all who are seeking to live a life that can only be found in relationship with Christ. Pour out your Spirit on those worshiping here, in the churches throughout the Northeastern Jurisdiction, across the nation, and around the globe. May your Spirit inspire and empower your whole church apostolic and universal. 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 your 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 forever. Amen.