We welcome you to either virtual or in-person worship on Sunday, July 18, 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 23
The needs of all humankind are provided by our God.
It is the very nature of God
to offer healthy purpose and direction;
safe haven and nourishment – for life to grow and abound.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
God makes me lie down in green pastures
and lead me beside still waters.
The LORD restores my soul
and leads me in right paths for God’s name sake.
Through the darkest of times, we are not alone
and have no need to fear that we will be overcome!
For God not only watches over us, but protects and comforts!
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me: your rod and staff – they comfort me.
No one is excluded from the bounty of God
and everyone is treated with dignity and generosity.
No matter where we go or what we do,
the presence of God never falters,
but it is our choice to walk and abide with God or to turn away.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I shall dwell
in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
*H78YMN OF PRAISE
God Leads Us Along
MORNING PRAYER (unison)
O God, our Guide and Guardian,
You have led us apart from the busy world into your house.
Grant us grace to worship you in Spirit and in truth.
Empower us to do more perfectly the work
to which you have called us and to be
the family of faith that you have created us to be.
May our worship this day be not just
with the words of our mouths, but may it be confirmed
by the works of our hands that we may fulfill
your will for all humankind. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
YOUNG DISCIPLE’S TIME
All the children are invited to come to the Chancel for a time of discipling!
SONG OF RESPONSE The Seed in the Ground
God gives you the sun and God gives you the rain
And if you plant a little seed in the old back lane
And you pray and you hope and you keep the weeds down
You might find, oh, you might find
A root growing out from the seed in the ground!
…a shoot growing out from the root from the seed in the ground!
…a stem growing out from the shoot from the root
from the seed in the ground!
…a flower growing out from the stem from the shoot
from the root from the seed in the ground!
…a seed growing out from the flower from the stem from the shoot
from the root from the seed in the ground!
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
FIRST READING
30The apostles gathered around Jesus,
and told him all that they had done and taught.
31He said to them,
“Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”
For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33Now many saw them going and recognized them,
and they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them,
because they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
35When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said,
“This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late;
36send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.”
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
*HYMNS OF RESPONSE
Come and Find the Quiet Center
SECOND READING
37But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “Are we to go and buy
two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?”
38And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.”
When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39Then he ordered them to get all the people
to sit down in groups on the green grass.
40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties.
41Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven,
and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all.
42And all ate and were filled; 43and they took up twelve baskets
full of broken pieces and of the fish.
44Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
SERMON The Rev. Dr. Joel Daniel Hubbard, III
Being a Sheep and Becoming a Shepherd
Responding With Faith
*HYMN OF RESPONSE AND INVITATION No. 3149, W&S
A Place at the Table
PRAYERS FOR GOD’S CHILDREN AND THE WORLD
SUNG RESPONSE Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
(sung before and after the prayer)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of his glory and grace.
GIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERINGS
The Church Goes Out in Mission
*BLESSING
*SUNG BENEDICTION
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy!
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy!
ORGAN POSTLUDE
