Sunday, September 26th 2021

September 26, 2021 Worship Bulletin

THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE Greet Your Friends and Our Guests! The Morning Prelude “Prelude in G” by Francis Linley GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP The Call to Worship— L: Come! Let’s gather before the Lord our God to offer praise and thanksgiving! P: If the Lord was not on our side, we would have perished long ago. L: If the Lord was not on our side, we would be a people with no hope and no future. But the Lord God is on our side and all who trust him. All: Blest be the Lord who gathers us in and nurtures us. Praise God with heart, soul and mind! To God be praise and glory! +The Hymn #126 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” +The Opening Prayer— Gather us at your knee as children in need of direction. Speak to us words of guidance and truth so that we might never lose sight of your Kingdom. When we feel small, lift us up and remind us that every act of compassion and grace we can muster makes a difference for those you came to save, including ourselves. Together, may we forever be faithful to the task of discipleship and the building of your kingdom. AMEN.

WE CONFESS OUR SINS The Call to Confession The Prayer of General Confession— God of unity and love for all your people in every time and place, we come before you acknowledging our struggle to move from lip service to bold and courageous action. We speak words of care and compassion while we harbor thoughts of selfish ambition. We proclaim our love for each other but we are afraid to lose our point of view and would rather keep to ourselves. We long for a day when division and separation are no more, yet we gladly live in isolation from those who are different than us. Lord, simply put, heal us… forgive us and by your grace, draw us so near to your side that we may never wander away again. In the name of Jesus! AMEN. Moments For Personal Confession Words of Assurance and Pardon The Response #349 “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus” (2x) The First Lesson WE SHARE THE WORD James 5:13-20 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiv- en. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effec- tive. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Response: L: The Word of God for the people of God. All: Thanks be to God!

+The Act of Praise #846 Psalm 124 +The Affirmation of Faith #881 The Apostle’s Creed +The Gloria Patri #70 The Morning Prayer…………………………………………..…….The Lord’s Prayer (using trespasses) +The Gospel Lesson Mark 9:38-50 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. 42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Response M: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God. (#901 Alleluia) +The Hymn #140 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (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 “A Sign for Our Times” Rev. Mike WE RESPOND TO THE WORD The Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving The Offertory The Offertory Solo “I Surrender All” by W.S. Weeden soprano, Janet Muse-Burke + The Doxology #94 WE GO FORTH TO SERVE + The Hymn #2236 “Gather Us In” + The Benediction + The Response #347 “Spirit Song” (Vs 1 only)) by Matthew Camidge + The Postlude “Gavotte” + Please stand in stature or in heart as you are able! Next Week’s Scripture Lessons Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost Job 1:1; 2:1-10, Psalm 26, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16

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 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 Director of Music/Organist ................................................................George Simmons Reader.................................................................................................... John Warring Media Team …………………..…. Wesley Bealla, Bill Miller, Betsy Miller, Dylan Smith 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 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