Mill Plain UMC. Sunday August 21, 2022
God Runs to Meet You
Scripture: Luke 15:25-32
Songs
He Reigns
Blessed Be Your Name
Enough
How Great Is Our God
I have decided to follow Jesus
Give Thanks
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Sunday August 21, 2022
Opening Praise Song – He Reigns
Greeting
Call to Worship
Worship Assistant: As a shepherd seeks a lost sheep,
People: So, God seeks and saves the lost.
Worship Assistant: Like a woman who searches for a lost coin until it is found,
People: So, God rejoices over one soul restored to wholeness.
Worship Assistant: As a father receives a returning, wayward son,
People: So, God welcomes us, and lets the past be the past.
Worship Assistant: Therefore, let us praise God in thanksgiving that we are received.
People: Let us receive and welcome and rejoice over one another in the name of Jesus Christ.
(From The United Methodist Book of Worship, copyright 1992, by permission of The United Methodist Publishing House)
Opening Prayer
God of Grace, you run to meet us when we turn to you after a lifetime of wandering.
You seek us out in the back corners when we turn away from you.
You enfold us in your love, though resentment hardens our hearts.
Free us from the bitterness that infects us. Love us beyond our attachment to the rules to a relationship of joy and grace, that we may rejoice in you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray,
Amen.
Praise SONG Blessed your Name
Praise SONG Enough
Young Disciple’s Moment
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Offertory Praise song- Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful
Presentation of Offerings
Doxology How great is our God
New Testament
Luke 15:25-32
“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Sermon God Runs to Meet You
Prayer
We come home to you, O God.
Some of us have wandered far away, to distant lands, thinking we can somehow leave you behind, and then we discover you are always with us.
We come home to you, O God.
Some of us stay close and yet become so bound by the rules that we lose sight of your love in the process.
We come home to you, O God.
We come home to your love which rejoices over one lost sheep, one lost coin, one lost child who is restored to your presence.
Amen.
Song I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Benediction
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sunshine warmly upon your face,
May the rain fall softly upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Amen
(reprinted from The United Methodist Book of Worship, copyright 1992, by permission of The United Methodist Publishing House.)
Closing Praise Song – Give Thanks
Walk out slides