June 4, 2023 Celebration Worship Service

Prelude (Philip) & Light Brought into Worship

Gathering Music:

Combined Choir- Go Ye All into the World

Welcome & Communion Offering for Metrocrest (Rhonda Ross)

†Congregational Hymns

Pass It On (United Methodist Hymnal #572 Verses 1,2 & 3)

Go Make of All Disciples (United Methodist Hymnal #571 Verse 1)

Lead On, O King Eternal (United Methodist Hymnal #580 Verses 1 & 2)

Go Make of All Disciples (United Methodist Hymnal #571 Verses 2 & 4)

Here I Am, Lord (United Methodist Hymnal #593 Chorus)

Thanksgiving

Doxology 94

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!

Call to Prayer -Surely the Presence (United Methodist Hymnal #328)

Silent Prayer Over Names

Prayer of Confession

We confess to you, all-knowing God, who we are. You know us as we are, and yet you love us. Help us not to shrink from self-knowledge. Teach us to respect ourselves and others for your sake. Give us the courage to put our trust in your guiding power. Raise us out of the paralysis of guilt into the freedom and energy of forgiven people. And for those who through long habit find forgiveness hard to accept, we ask you to break their bondage and set them free, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Response - I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (The Faith We Sing #2129 Verse 1)

†Prayer of Illumination (Nathan Howard)

O God, Three in One, you draw us into your community of love with those across the ages and around the world. By the same Spirit that binds us together, open our hearts and minds to your word that you may empower us to trust and follow you, through Christ our Savior. Amen.

Scripture (Nathan Howard)

Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God!

Sermon

Celebration of Holy Communion

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.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Bind us together, Lord, Bind us together

with cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord, Bind us together, Lord

Bind us together with love.

(Bind Us Together Faith We Sing #2226)

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.

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.

Serving of the Elements Hymn

Freely, Freely (United Methodist Hymnal #389)

Invitation to Christ and the Church

Invitation Hymn -Freely, Freely (United Methodist Hymnal #389 Chorus)

Receiving of New Members

(Congregational Response)

We give thanks for all that God has already given you

and we welcome you in Christian love.

As members together with you at Christ United Methodist Church,

we renew our covenant faithfully to participate

in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence,

our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything

God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Benediction (Scott) (The Light of Christ Taken into the World)

Benediction Response

Sweet, Sweet Spirit (United Methodist Hymnal #310 Chorus)

Postlude (Philip)