Mill Plain UMC Sunday September 18, 2022, Expanding the Guest List, Building a Bigger Table
Scripture: Luke 15:15-24
Songs: Bigger Table
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy
My Jesus I Love Thee
Give Me A Faith
God Of Love And God Of Power
give.millplainumc.org
Sunday Sept 18, 2022
Prelude
Greetings
Call to Worship
Worship Assistant: Blessed are those who will eat at God’s banquet.
People: The table is set, the feast is prepared, we come with joy to celebrate God’s love.
Opening Prayer
God our Gracious Host, we confess to you that we cross names off our guest lists of those you would invite. We confess that we shrink your table, thinking that we will dine in the honor your presence and forgetting that the smaller the table the lesser the honor. Forgive our smallness and teach us to expand the guest list and to build a bigger table the better to welcome all. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Song Bigger Table
Young Disciple’s Moment
Anthem “Big God Medley”
Great is Thy Faithfulness
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
My Jesus I Love Thee
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Presentation of Offerings
Doxology
Luke 15:15-24
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
Song Give me the faith #650
Sermon Expanding the guest list, Building a bigger table
Prayer
Pastor: Go into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the homeless, the disabled, and the forgotten.
People: Expand the guest list, build a bigger table.
Pastor: Go to the highways and byways of life, to the back alleys and the hidden places, and compel people to come by the warmth of your welcome.
People: Expand the guest list, build a bigger table.
Pastor: Go into all the world to invite those who don’t look like you and who speak a different language, to know God’s grace.
People: Expand the guest list, build a bigger table.
Song God of Love and God of Power #578
Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen
Postlude
Walk out slides