Live stream Sunday Service with Pastor Sue
Accompanied by a worship assistant
Accompanist Andrea Llafet
Scripture:
Revelation 22:1-5
Music:
Days of Elijah
For the Healing of the Nations
To Make an Offering: https://millplainumc.org/giving/
Order of Worship
Prelude
Greeting
Worship Assistant: Shall we gather at the river?
People: At the river there shall grow all kinds of trees.
Worship Assistant: Shall we gather at the river?
People: the trees will bear fruit for food and their leaves shall be for healing.
Worship Assistant: Shall we gather at the river?
People: Yes! Let’s gather at the river that flows from the throne of God.
Opening Prayer (Worship Assistant)
God of all the nations, we live in a torn and broken world; Nations battle each other, fighting over water rights and vaccine access. In our warring madness we launch drone attacks and always it is the children who suffer. We have used your creation until it is nearly depleted; forests wither and rivers run dry, salmon die in hot rivers and farmers cry for water to irrigate their crops. Forgive us, we pray, and grant that we might turn to your tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Songs of Praise Days of Elijah
Young Disciples
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Presentation of Our Offerings
Doxology
Reading from the Old Testament
Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Hymn Down By the Riverside
The Message Lessons from the Trees: Paradise Regained
Prayer
Holy One, we despair at the pain and strife in the world and in our lives; we sigh in dismay at cruelty and selfishness in others and weep at it in ourselves; we doubt your power when we see the might of human tyranny. Lead us again to your tree of life that we may hope even in the darkest hour, assured that you bring healing to us and to the nations. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Closing Song For the Healing of the Nation UMH #428
Benediction
Leave from this place confident that God is with you in the loudness and in the quiet; in the busy-ness and the stillness. There is always room for hope to spare. May the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be your companions ever on this journey. Amen.
Postlude