Sunday August 29th, 2021

August 29, 2021 Worship Bulletin

THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE Greet Your Friends and Our Guests The Morning Prelude “Beautiful Savior” Crusaders Hymn/Wood GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP The Call to Worship— M:: Today is a day to celebrate! We have gathered here in this sanctuary and at home to praise our God! P: For with a single WORD, God created all that is and ever will be, including us! M: God has given us the gift of creation through words which we share. P: May the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O God, our creator! +The Hymn #145 “Morning Has Broken” +The Opening Prayer— New every day is your love, O God; and new every day are the possibilities for our lives. With your WORD you created us and have given us the potential to create with the words of our mouths. Let every word we speak be a gift of joy to someone. And may we bless you in this hour with our songs, our praise, and our prayers that all might truly know how great you are! This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WE CONFESS OUR SINS The Call to Confession The Prayer of General Confession— Lord, we have all, from time to time, failed to remember that we are sent into all the world to tell of your love and grace, your mercy and peace, and not just to the places where we are safe and comfortable. We are sent to help and care for all your children, and not just those we find acceptable by our standards. Our call is to share your blessings and not keep them for ourselves. Forgive us, Lord, and open our mouths to sing forth your praise. In the name of Jesus, the Christ, we pray. Amen. Moments For Personal Confession Words of Assurance and Pardon The Response #2152 “Change My Heart, O God” The First Lesson WE SHARE THE WORD James 1:17-27 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteous- ness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wicked- ness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive them- selves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves[c] in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the per- fect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. 26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before

God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Response: L: The Word of God for the people of God. All: Thanks be to God! +The Act of Praise #780 Response # 1 Psalm 46 +The Affirmation of Faith #885 The Modern Affirmation +The Gloria Patri #70 The Morning Prayer…………………………………………..…….The Lord’s Prayer (using trespasses) +The Gospel Lesson Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusa- lem gathered around him, 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hyp- ocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ 8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” 14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornica- tion, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy,

slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Response M: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God. (#901 Alleluia) +The Hymn #402 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” The Sharing Time with “Church Mouse and Paul” The Word Proclaimed “Sticks and Stones Can Break Your Bones, But Words Can Really Kill You!” Rev. Mike WE RESPOND TO THE WORD The Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving Governor The Offertory Solo “O For a Song” Cindy Kennedy, soloist + The Doxology #94 “Take My Life, and Let It Be” Powers + The Hymn #399 “Spirit Song” (Vs 1 only)) + The Benediction “Praise Be To God” + The Response #347 + The Postlude + Please stand in stature or in heart as you are able!

WELCOME TO THIS MORNING’S WORSHIP! We hope the music, scriptures, prayers and fellowship of this service strengthen your faith and encourage your discipleship. If you are our guest today, please know you are WELCOME! We’re glad you are here and hope you might come again. If you are looking for a church home, or wanting to grow in your faith, we would be glad to tell you more about our church’s ministry and would hope you might consider being part of our community of faith. Please sign the pew pad located at the end of your pew. Tear out the sheet and place it in the offer- ing plate when passed during the service. Please visit our Welcome Table in the rear of the sanctuary for more infor- mation about our church. For your added comfort in worship, the ushers can provide any assistance you may need, as well as with the use of acoustical equipment, or provide you with large print bulletins and hymnals. Our “Baby Fold” Nursery is available for your young children should you want to leave them in a safe place during worship. Also, a changing table is available in the rest room next to the nursery. It is located through the left rear door and then down the hallway. Ask an usher to direct you… Restrooms are located in the main hallway. Use the left door as you face the back of the sanctuary and follow the hallway towards the main entrance. Re- strooms will be on your left. We are a “Safe Sanctuary” church. Parents, please accompany all young chil- dren to the rest rooms during the worship service. Our Mission – “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ For the Transformation of the World!”

Assisting in Today’s Worship In The Sanctuary Senior Pastor.....................................................................................Rev. Mike Bealla Associate Pastor ……………………………………………… ..…….Rev. Andy Weidner Lay Leader .............................................................................................. Diana Howe Music/Organist................................................................................... Cindy F Thomas Reader................................................................................................... Joe Sadowski Media Team ............ Wesley Bealla, Bill and Betsy Miller, Dylan Smith, Joseph Smith

Elm Park United Methodist Church Elm Park is a 712 Linden Street United Methodist Congregation Scranton, PA 18510. and proud to be Our Telephone number is a church of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District (570) 342-8263 We can be reached by email at of the [email protected] Susquehanna Conference Our website address is of www.elmparkumchurch.org The United Methodist Church. Our Conference website address is Our Resident Bishop is www.susumc.org Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Park Our District Superintendent is Rev. Judy Walker Our Senior Pastor is Reverend Mike Bealla Our Associate Pastor is Reverend Andy Weidner Our Lay Leader is Diana Howe Student Intern Rev. Takasongo Jean