EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

4901 Woodbine Road

Sykesville, Maryland 21784

October 23, 2011

8:30 AM and 11:00 AM

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Order of Worship

THE PRELUDE “More Love to Thee, O Lord” Moore

LIGHTING THE CANDLES

GATHERING AND WELCOME

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*CALL TO WORSHIP
Lord, you have been our shelter and security from generation to generation.
You breathed creation into being, giving shape to mountains and
form to the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Help us to begin day after day focused on your steadfast love, so that
each day will be filled with joy and gladness.
By your mercy and grace, O God, transform our afflictions into
blessings and our wrongful ways into goodness.
Let your work be so visible among us that your glory will be revealed now
and for generations to come.
May your grace, O God, enrich our lives and give meaning and purpose
to our daily activities.

May your loving presence help us to love you and our neighbor in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

*HYMN “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” UMH No. 402

OPENING PRAYER

 Eternal God, we worship you with hearts full of praise and adoration. Our minds find it difficult to grasp the extent of your love and grace. You, O God, have shown how, in Jesus, you care for our hearts, our souls and our minds. May our worship, our witness and the service of our lives reveal the extent of our gratitude for these blessings so lovingly bestowed upon us. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.  

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 OT pgs. 517-518

The Psalmist reflects on the passing character of human life in the face of the Lord’s wrath and asks the everlasting God for wisdom to make use of the time.

ANTHEM (8:30 AM) “The Gift of Love” SonRise Singers

(11:00 AM) “Pie Jesu” Chancel Choir

EPISTLE LESSON 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 NT pgs. 191-192

Paul recalls his first visit to the Thessalonians, the troubles he endured, and the straightforward and gentle way in which he presented the gospel.

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 22:34-46 NT pg. 24

Jesus presents the double commandment of love for God and neighbor. Christians trust that through Jesus, disciples may learn to love both God and neighbor.

HYMN “To Know You More” TFWS No. 2161

SERMON “Is Love a Noun or a Verb?” Rev. Judy Emerson

HYMN “Jesu, Jesu” UMH No.432

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Joys and Concerns

Silent Prayer/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.

GIFTS OF THE PEOPLE

Offertory “Pie Jesu” Chancel Choir

*Presentation of Gifts

*Doxology “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” UMH No. 160

Praise God who reigns on high,

The Lord whom we adore,

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

One God forever more.

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing!

*Prayer of Dedication

Gracious God, we offer these gifts in response to your great love for us. We offer our lives because we love you with all our heart, soul and mind. As we go from here to love our neighbor as ourselves, may we go in the power of your Spirit to love as Jesus loves and to serve as Jesus served. This we pray in his name. Amen

*CLOSING HYMN “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” TFWS No. 2223

*BLESSING WITH DISMISSAL

*POSTLUDE

TFWS=The Faith We Sing Hymn Book

UMH=The United Methodist Hymnal

*= Congregation stands as able

Prayer Requests

Randy Paulsgrove, Wisner family, Jordan Davis, Lutz family,

Karen Goldberg, Annie Wells, family of Jim Neary, Andrew Christianson,

Sarah Jane Zimmerman, Wendy & Sam, Mr. Beaton, Nick Dantzler and family,

Douglas, Helen & Harvey Reiblich, Gloria Bair, John Bruce, Janice Guynn,

Edgar Cornelison, Gene & Carolene Will, Soderstrom family, Chuck,

George Comert and family, Paula Ehmann, Nick, Carryl & Morris Peters,

Skip Mackey, Jonathan, Dorothy Scott, Brian Benfield, Larry Chambers

This Week

Day	Event	Time
Today	UMYF meeting at church	6:30-8:00 PM
Monday	Craft day at church Staff/Parish meeting	9:30 AM 7:00 PM
Wednesday	Choir practices	6:00-8:30 PM
Thursday	Craft day at church	9:30 AM

BRUNCH NEXT SUNDAY, October 30^th at 11:00 AM

We will have one worship service at 10:00 AM next Sunday, October 30th and Sunday School will be from 9:00-9:45 AM. Right after the worship service there will be a brunch in the Fellowship Hall. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending!

Join us for the 2011 Fall Fest next Sunday, October 30^th

The fall fest is being held this year during the brunch and is open to those ages infant through 5^th grade. The fun includes crafts, games, and story time. Don’t forget your costume as we’ll be showing them off as we parade through the brunch!

Parents…this will be a great time for you to enjoy some Brunch conversation while your children are entertained!! Questions: please contact Julie Jones 410.795.2890

Nov 13^th - New Members joining the church! If you would like to become a member of Ebenezer UMC please speak with Rev. Judy or make a note on your attendance card!

Calling All Cheese Balls!

Please sign up to donate ingredients for the Cheese Balls for Holly Mart and to help make the Cheese Balls on Thursday, November 10th at 6:30PM.  Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board in the narthex.