Friday, February 21, 2025

Worship Service - February 23, 2025

                                           Elkton United Methodist Church
                                         Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
                                                 Sunday, February 23, 2025
                                                                 10:00 a.m.

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE................................................ “LORD, LET THY SPIRIT”1............... ARR. BY DAVID PAXTON

INTROIT................................... “ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!  GIVE THANKS”1............... CHANCEL CHOIR

OPENING

TIME OF CENTERING PRAYER

RESPONSE #2071 (TFWS)................................................................ “JESUS, NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES”

Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.  Emmanuel, God is with 

us, blessed Redeemer, living Word.


**CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:       Jesus teaches us, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  But who are 

                   the others?

People:      Our enemies and friends, family and strangers.

Leader:       Jesus teaches us, “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.”  But what is mercy?

People:      To act with compassion, to help without expecting anything in return.

Leader:       Jesus teaches us, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”  But how do we forgive?

People:      By recognizing enemies, friends, family, strangers, and ourselves as people 

                   in need of compassion.

Leader:       Let us worship God, who loves us and empowers us to love one another with 

                   mercy and compassion.

All:             Come, let us worship!  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

**HYMN #2056 (TFWS)........................................................................................................ “GOD IS SO GOOD”

CALL TO CONFESSION

For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should 

not perish but have eternal life.  For God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the 

world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  Would you please pray with me as 

we confess our sins against God and neighbor…


PRAYER OF CONFESSION (IN UNISON)

God, we are so conditioned to respond in kind.  We are so worried that when the 

reckoning comes, we will find ourselves left with the short end of the stick. And not 

without reason.  The powerful take and take and lie and lie and oppress and oppress, 

seemingly without consequence.  Teach us to love with skill.  Teach us to love with 

precision.  Teach us to love with abandon, trusting that when we step into the ocean of 

your abundant love, we will receive the blessings of your abundant life.  AMEN.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF PARDON AND ASSURANCE

Leader:    Now return to the Lord with joy and gladness.  Sing a song of redemption! Let 

                sorrow and sighing be no more.

People:   Thanks be to God!  By God’s grace we are forgiven!  AMEN.


OLD TESTAMENT LESSON, GENESIS 45:3-11, 15 (PAGE 42)
Leader:   This is the Word of God for the people of God.
People:  Thanks be to God!

MUSICAL OFFERING......................................... “PEACE”1............................................. CHANCEL CHOIR

**GOSPEL LESSON, LUKE 6:27-38 (PAGE 64)
Leader:   This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People:   Thanks be to God!

**RESPONSE #204 (UMH)................................................................................... “EMMANUEL, EMMANUEL”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.  God with us, revealed in us, his 

name is called Emmanuel.

SERMON................................... “LOVE: IT’S HARDER THAN YOU THINK”........... REV. ERIC WARNER

**RESPONSE #389 (UMH)................................................................................................... “FREELY, FREELY”

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 #572 (UMH)...................................................................................................................... “PASS IT ON”

**CHORAL BENEDICTION......... “LORD, LET US NOW DEPART IN PEACE”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........................................................... “NICEA”1.................................. ARR. BY DAVID LASKY

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                   Flowers on the altar are given in memory of McVay loved ones by Gretchen Ginder


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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

 

  

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