Sunday, June 25th 2022

June 26, 2022 Worship Bulletin

THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE The Time For Greeting Each Other And Signing Our Pew Pads The Morning Prelude “Largo” John Travers GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP The Call to Worship— L: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. P: And also with you. L: Expect that God will be with you today and will call you into service for his Kingdom. P: Lord, call us anew to the work you have asked us to do , now and always! + The Hymn #103 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”” + The Opening Prayer— Help us, as we worship you today, our gracious God, to expect our lives to change. Grant your Holy Spirit to inspire and fill us with the pas- sion of those who truly love you and wish to serve you each and every- day. May our songs, our prayers, our words and our thoughts glorify you as we come together in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen.

WE CONFESS OUR SINS The Call to Confession The Prayer of General Confession— Merciful God of grace, on our own merits, we are not fit to be called your children. You have shown us the ways of love and forgiveness, but we sometimes turn back to ways of pride and hatred. We are more ready to denounce your enemies than to declare the Good News of your grace. We delay obedience to your call with excuses of personal privilege. For- give our refractory discipleship and even our outright disobedience, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. Moments For Personal Confession Words of Assurance and Pardon The First Lesson WE SHARE THE WORD Galatians 5:1, 13-25 1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single com- mandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is op- posed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from do- ing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentious- ness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissen- sions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kind- ness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be

guided by the Spirit. set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Response: L: The Word of God for the people of God. All: Thanks be to God! + The Act of Praise #798 (Response #1) Psalm 77 + The Affirmation of Faith #881 The Apostle’s Creed + The Gloria Patri #70 The Morning Prayer…………………………………………..….The Lord’s Prayer (using trespasses) (Please feel free to say the Lord’s Prayer in your native tongue.) +The Gospel Lesson Luke 9:51-62 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they en- tered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not re- ceive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village. 57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my fa- ther.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Response M: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God. (Alleluia #901) +The Hymn #465 “Holy Spirit, Truth Divine” (10:00 am —Those who want to praise God for an answered prayer may come forward and place a stone in the jar during this hymn.)

The Sharing Time with Our Children The Word Proclaimed “What Jesus Really Wants!” Rev. Mike WE RESPOND TO THE WORD The Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving The Offertory Solo “Come, Follow Me” by Elly and Steve Kupferschmid soprano, Cindy Kennedy + The Doxology #94 + The Hymn #2137 “Would I Have Answered When You Called” + The Benediction + The Response #347 “Spirit Song” (Vs 1 only) + The Postlude “Voluntary in G Minor” by Thomas Thorley + Please stand in stature or in heart as you are able! Readings for Next Sunday The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost 2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, Galatians 6:1-6, 7-16, Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

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 Nursery is currently closed due to Covid concerns. It is normally 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- 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 Director of Music/Organist................................................................ George Simmons Reader .............................................................................................. Carole Anderson Hospitality Host/Hostess .................................................................... Karen Sadowski Media Team ............................................................Wesley Bealla, Bill & Betsy Miller Head Ushers ............................................................ John Luczak and Leigh Redmon

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 Bishops are www.susumc.org Bishop Cynthia Moore-KoiKoi Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball 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