Smithville United Methodist Church
PO Box 293, 505 N Hwy 169
Smithville, MO 64089
816-532-3200
Celebrating Life through Divine Worship
101h Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 AM August 28, 2011
The time of centering:
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God.” May this time of worship open in you a wellspring of holy joy to strengthen and sustain you today and in the days ahead. If you are visiting us today, know that we are honored by your presence. If you are seeking a new church home, we hope it will be with us. Welcome!
PRELUDE Worship begins as the music is played
ENTRANCE OF THE LIGHT
INVOCATION
Gracious God, Your gifts surround us in all stages of our lives and in all circumstances of our lives. Help us to trust you for what we need. Help us to call on you for the strength we need for the tasks you call us to, so that we are faithful to the end. Help us to give with joy and generosity. We gather now to offer our worship to you. We bring our prayers and praises, our open ears and our willing hearts. Amen.
WELCOME
*SONGS OF PRAISE
CALL TO WORSHIP LEADER: We gather to worship God, the source of all that we have and all that we are, as we humbly confess what is true:
PEOPLE: Giving is an act of worship!
LEADER: We gather as a people of glad and generous hearts, declaring:
PEOPLE: Giving is an act of worship!
LEADER: We gather as disciples, divinely loved by God. In our living, serving, praying, and giving, we testify to what Christ taught and lived:
ALL: Giving is an act of worship! Amen.
CHILDREN’S SERMON SPECIAL MUSICTIME OF PRAYER
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
OUR DISCIPLESHIP OF GIVING
Offering
*Doxology
*Prayer of Dedication
*HYMN OF PREPARATION "Great is Thy Faithfulness" #140
SCRIPTURE READINGS 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, I Timothy 6:17-19
SERMON Generosity: Possessions
UNISON PRAYER
Generous God, you have given us so much. Give us one more thing: give us thankful hearts. We have sometimes shown ourselves to be ungrateful and wasteful with our gifts. We often hold on when we should let go. We are clutching when we should be giving, hoarding when we could be generous, doubting when we should lean on faith. We are fearful instead of trusting in your everlasting care.
Open our hands and our hearts to the bounty of your love, which cares for the flowers of the fields, the birds of the air, each child that toddles, every parent who worries, and every adult who struggles.
Loving God, you have given us so much. Give us again the assurance of your love and care, and fill us with grateful hearts and open hands. Teach us to value the many gifts you have given us as stewards. May we pass them along our gifts to others according to your will. Amen.
*HYMN FOR GOING FORTH "I Surrender All" #354
TAKING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD
BENEDICTION
Go forth as a people of glad and generous hearts, proclaiming God’s love in all that you do and with all that you have. Go forth and share God’s gifts with extravagant generosity! Amen.
POSTLUDE
*Please stand if you are able when indicated by an asterisk
