Worship Service - October 20, 2024

                                          Elkton United Methodist Church

                                                            Laity Sunday

                                                 Sunday, October 20, 2024

                                                               10:00 a.m.

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GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE..................................................... “LAND OF REST”¹............................ ARR. BY DAVID LASKY

INTROIT..................................................... “AS WE GATHER”¹....................................... CHANCEL CHOIR

OPENING

TIME OF CENTERING PRAYER

RESPONSE #2164 (TFWS)...................................................................................................... “SANCTUARY”

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.  With

thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.

**CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:  When I think of God’s presence in this world, I am grateful:

People:  Grateful for the presence of hope; grateful for the gift of life.

Leader:  And when I think of God’s presence in my life, I am humbled;

People:  Humbled by the gift of grace, humbled by the invitation to begin again.

Leader:  Friends, let us worship God today!

People:  God has blessed us with life, with faith, and with community.

Leader:  Let us worship God today—

People:  Because we are God’s people!

**HYMN #140 (UMH).................................................................................. “GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS”

CALL TO CONFESSION

Our hearts long for God, and we know we fall short of God’s glory, so let us now 

confess to God the ways we have individually and collectively fallen short of 

God’s grace by praying the Prayer of Confession printed in your bulletin:

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (IN UNISON)

Heavenly Father, we come to You confessing that we have held back. We have 

held back our things, our time, and even ourselves out of greed.  We have held 

back love and compassion out of fear and pride.  You have overwhelmed us with 

such good gifts and we have kept them to ourselves. We have been so selfish.  As 

you call us to a life of surrender and sacrifice, help us to let go, help us to trust 

and help us to serve.  As we do, may we find increased joy, contentment, and 

freedom in You, and may our lives be a light to the world around us.  Amen.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF PARDON AND ASSURANCE

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.  He has delivered us from 

the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in 

whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.  In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON, JOSHUA 6:1-5, 12-17, 20, 22-23  (PAGE 197)

Leader:   This is the Word of God for the people of God!

People:  Thanks be to God!

MUSICAL OFFERING.................... “CALLED TO SERVICE”¹....................................... CHANCEL CHOIR

** NEW TESTAMENT LESSON, HEBREWS 11:1-3, 6, 29-31  (PAGE 225)

Leader:   This is the Word of God for the people of God!

People:  Thanks be to God!

**RESPONSE #2119 (TFWS)............................................................. “WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS”

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace; where the Spirit of the

Lord is, there is love. There is comfort in life’s darkest hour; there is light

and life, there is help and power in the Spirit, in the Spirit of the Lord.

SERMON......................................... “SCANDALOUS GRACE” ................................. NANCY CRAWFORD

LAY LEADER

**RESPONSE #130 (UMH)......................................................................... “GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU”

PRAYER CONCERNS/PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD'S PRAYER (IN UNISON)

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.

RESPONSE #2215 (TFWS)................................................................................................. “CARES CHORUS”

I cast all my cares upon you, I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,

and anytime that I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you.

CALL TO OFFERING

OFFERTORY

**DOXOLOGY #95 (UMH)..................................... “PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

**OFFERTORY PRAYER

**HYMN #2146 (TFWS)................................................................................ “HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW”

**CHORAL BENEDICTION...... “GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN”¹.......... CHANCEL CHOIR

**CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together in love. 

POSTLUDE......................................... “FESTIVE VOLUNTARY ON................... ARR. BY DAVID LASKY

                                                                    ‘DARWALL’S 148^TH’”¹

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**Indicates the congregation should stand if able

UMH: United Methodist Hymnal (red cover)

TFWS: The Faith We Sing (black cover)

W&S:  Worship & Song (green cover)

¹Public Music performance provided for and reported to CCLI Licensing

Copyright License:  #1824650/Recording License:  CSPL148932