We welcome you to either virtual or in-person worship on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at 10am! You are welcome to join us for in-person worship in the Essex Center UMC sanctuary, you may participate on Facebook Live by clicking here, or you may watch below. After worship concludes, a recording will be posted on this page.
Dear Guests – WELCOME!
We are thankful for your presence with us this morning. We pray that you will be blessed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit in our time together and you will continue to join us for worship and ministry in the weeks to come.
The Church Gathers
WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS,
& PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
ORGAN PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Psalm 51 (TNJB)
Have mercy on me, O God,
and in your faithful love and great tenderness wipe away my offences.
Wash me clean from my guilt and purify me from my sin;
for I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in my mind.
Your delight is in a sincere heart
and you quietly teach me wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop till I am clean,
wash me till I am whiter than snow.
Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
so that my crushed body can dance again.
Create in me a clean heart, O God;
renew a right spirit within me that I am not thrust from your presence
and your spirit of holiness is not taken away.
Return to me the joy of your salvation with a generous spirit
and I will teach others like me that they too may return to you.
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will speak your praise. Sacrifice gives you no pleasure,
burnt offering you do not desire.
For the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit,
a broken, contrite heart you never scorn.
*H78YMN OF PRAISE No. 2133, TFWS
Give Me a Clean Heart
MORNING PRAYER (unison)
O Lord our God, you are always more ready
to bestow your good gifts on us than we are to seek them,
and are willing to give more than we desire or deserve.
Help us to seek that we may truly find,
so to ask that we may joyfully receive,
so to knock that the door of your mercy may be opened to us;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
YOUNG DISCIPLE’S TIME
All the children are invited to come to the Chancel for a time of discipling!
SONG OF RESPONSE Bread & Juice Rap
God is great, God is good,
and we thank God for our food.
When we drink juice or eat some bread
we think about what Jesus said.
He said, “First I give this all to you
so you can share with others, too.”
Share the bread with those around,
share the juice til joy is found!
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
FIRST READING John 6:24-29
24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into the boats
and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you come here?”
26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me,
not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
27Do not work for the food that perishes,
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”
28Then they said to him,
“What must we do to perform the works of God?”
29Jesus answered them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
*HYMNS OF RESPONSE No. 2165, TFWS
Cry of My Heart
SECOND READING John 6:30-35
30So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then,
so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?
31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written,
‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you,
it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven,
but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”
34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
SERMON The Rev. Dr. Joel Daniel Hubbard, III
”Give us this day our daily Bread…”
Responding With Faith
*HYMN OF RESPONSE AND INVITATION No. 3169, W & S
You Feed Us, Gentle Savior
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
THE BLESSING AND SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP
Today we will celebrate Holy Communion in three ways.
As you come down the center aisle
- IF you would like to receive by intinction please walk to the right.
- IF you would like to receive by an individual serving please walk to the left and take a piece of bread and cup provided on the table.
- IF you are worshiping with us from home please have something to eat and drink available.
If you have a tithe or offering please place it in the offering plates at each end of the chancel.
The Church Goes Out in Mission
*BLESSING
*SUNG BENEDICTION You Feed Us, Gentle Savior
You call us, gentle Savior, and send us in your name.
You teach and heal and show us how we can do the same.
So, strengthened by your Spirit and nourished by your grace,
we go to be your presence in love, in every place.
ORGAN POSTLUDE
For announcements and prayer requests, please click here.
