Worship Service February 23, 2025

Order of Service

Welcome, Greeting, Service Introduction                         Rev. Cindy Lunsford /All

Call to Worship                                                                    Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All

Let all who would know the loving ways of the Lord come together. 
But our lives are so flawed and we are so marked by our ways of sin.
The Lord’s grace is real; we enter today forgiven of all our sins.
What does God ask of us as we come together to worship this day?
That we freely forgive all others as we ourselves have been forgiven.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!

~ (James R. Wilson, Lectionary Worship Aids Series IV, Cycle C, p.54)

Response to the Call              Now Thank We All Our God                          UMH 102

 Opening Prayer                      Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All                                                           

Holy Jesus,

    You call us into a life that others have told us is easy, but it is not.

    You challenge us to forgive, to love our enemies,

         to bless those who curse us.

    We want the easy way, but You have given us the hard path.

Grant us the patience and endurance to journey with You,

    to allow ourselves at times to stumble,

    to live into the hard way

so that we might fully experience

    Your love, grace and peace in this world,

by becoming a people full of love and grace

     and forgiving others.

In Your name we pray. Amen.

~ written by Rev. Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Affirmation of Faith       The Apostles’ Creed UMH 881   Sheri King/All

Gloria Patri                                                                                                    UMH 071

Life of the Church                                                 Rev. Cindy Lunsford (see bulletin)

Mission Moment –

Psalm                                       Psalm 37:1-11  (UMH 772)                      Gina Elrod

Hymn                                                     Freely, Freely                                 UMH 389    

OFFERING OF OURSELVES

Pastoral Prayer                                                                      Rev. Cindy Lunsford/All    

Worship with Our Tithes & Offerings                           Steve Hawkins instrumental

              Dedication & Offertory                                              Rev. Warren Lunsford

             Doxology                                                                             UMH 095 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen

Centering Song           Touch Your People Once Again           Steve Hawkins

PROCLAMATION

Prayer of Illumination                                                                                Gary Seiler

Living God, help us so to hear your Word
    that we may truly understand;
    that, understanding, we may believe;
         and believing, we may follow your way in all faithfulness,

    seeking your honor and glory in all that we do. Amen.

Scripture                                   Luke 6:27-38                               Rev. Warren Lunsford

Message                   On Loving Enemies & Restraining Sin         Rev. Warren Lunsford

GOING FORTH WITH CHRIST

Closing Hymn                  O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go                           UMH 480

Commissioning & Benediction                                                  Rev. Warren Lunsford

Depart to Serve, caring for others, as we truly serve God