We welcome you to either virtual or in-person worship on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 10am! You are welcome to join us for in-person worship in the Essex Center UMC sanctuary (please wear a mask), 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.
Welcome, Announcements & Passing of the Peace
ORGAN PRELUDE Kathryn Ammel Parker
*CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Psalm 1
Blessed are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that leads away from God,
or sit and mock people of faith.
Blessed are those who delight in God’s ways;
who read and reflect upon the law of the LORD,
all through the day.
For they are like trees that have been planted beside streams;
they blossom and flourish.
Their leaves do not wither in the summer heat,
but offer shade to the weary and fruit to the hungry.
They prosper in all they do and are a blessing to all.
*HYMN OF PRAISE No. 2270, TFWS
He Has Made Me Glad
MORNING PRAYER (unison)
Thank you our Creator, not only for the life we have received,
but also for your constant faithfulness
and steadfast guidance each day.
We ask that you would refine in us
what it means to truly care for one another;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labor and not to ask for any reward,
except that of knowing that in these acts we are one with you.
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.
YOUNG DISCIPLE’S TIME
All the children are invited to come to the Chancel for a time of discipling!
SONG OF RESPONSE Welcome No. 3152, W & S
We’re singing welcome, welcome to this place.
You’re invited to come and know God’s grace.
All are welcome the love of God to share
‘cause all of us are welcome here; all are welcome in this place.
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
Show by your good life that your works
are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not be boastful and false to the truth.
15Such wisdom does not come down from above,
but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
16For where there is envy and selfish ambition,
there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
17But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?
2You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder.
And you covet something and cannot obtain it;
so you engage in disputes and conflicts.
You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
Let There Be Peace on Earth
SECOND READING Mark 9:33-37
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them,
‘What were you arguing about on the way?’
34But they were silent, for on the way
they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them,
‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’
36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms,
he said to them, 37‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name
welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me
welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
Greatness Begins with Invitation and InclusionResponding With Faith
*HYMN OF RESPONSE AND INVITATION No. 3152, W & S
Welcome
PRAYERS FOR GOD’S CHILDREN AND THE WORLD
THE DISCIPLE’S PRAYER
THE GIVING OF GOD’S TITHE AND OUR OFFERINGS
Let’s walk together for a while and ask where we begin
to build a world where love can grow and hope can enter in,
to be the hands of healing and to plant the seed of peace,
singing welcome, welcome to this place.
You’re invited to come and know God’s grace.
All are welcome the love of God to share
‘cause all of us are welcome here; all are welcome in this place.ORGAN POSTLUDE
