Sunday August 28, 2022

Payette United Methodist Church
August 28 2022 – 11:00 AM

Welcome and Announcements
 
Gathering Hymn: “Family of God”
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain,
cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus
as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
the family of God.

Calling Song: “How Majestic Is Your Name”           TFWS# 2023 2x     
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O Lord, we praise your name.
O Lord, we magnify your name:
Prince of Peace, mighty God;
O Lord God Almighty.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O Lord, we praise your name.
O Lord, we magnify your name:
Prince of Peace, mighty God;
O Lord God Almighty.
        
Responsive Reading: Psalm 112 (CEB) - Leslie Olson
One: Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!
Many: Their descendants will be strong throughout the land. The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;
One: wealth and riches will be in their houses. Their righteousness stands forever.
Many: They shine in the dark for others who do right. They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
One: Those who lend generously are good people—as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.
Many: Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever!
One: They won’t be frightened at bad news. Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
Many: Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid. In the end, they will witness the powers’ defeat.
One: They give freely to those in need. Their righteousness stands forever. Their strength increases gloriously.
Many: The powers see all this and fume; they grind their teeth, but disappear to nothing. What the powers want to see happen comes to nothing!

Unison Invocation 
God of love, to whom our hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden; cleanse our hearts by the power of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord, amen.

Scripture Readings:
One: God, open our hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit, that as the scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today.

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. And all the people said:
Many: Amen.

Old Testament Reading - Sirach 10:12-18 (CEB)
Human arrogance begins when people rebel against the Lord,
    and their hearts rebel
    against the one who made them.
The beginning of arrogance is sin,
        and those who cling to it
        will pour out blasphemy.
    For this reason
    the Lord brings calamities upon them,
        and he ruins them completely.
The Lord destroyed the thrones of rulers,
    and he raised up the gentle
    in their place.
The Lord plucked up the roots of nations,
    and he planted the humble
    in their place.
The Lord ruined the lands of the nations,
    and he leveled them
    to their very foundations.
He removed some people
and destroyed them,
    and he erased their memory
    from the earth.
Humans were not created to be arrogant,
    nor were those born of women
    made to indulge in anger.
 
One: The story of God for the people of God!
Many: Thanks be to God!

New Testament Reading - Luke 14:1, 7-14 (CEB)
One: This is the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Many: Glory to you, Lord Christ!
 
One Sabbath, when Jesus went to share a meal in the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely.
 
When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”
 
Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.”
 
One: This is the Gospel of our Lord.
Many: Praise to you, Lord Christ!
 
Praise Hymn  “Forever”           Music Team
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever, God is faithful
Forever, God is strong
Forever, God is with us
Forever

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God, we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise, yeah

Forever, God is faithful
Forever, God is strong
Forever, God is with us
Forever, forever

Forever, God is faithful
Forever, God is strong
Forever, God is with us
Forever

Prayers of the People     
One: Almighty God, in your goodness, you provide for the needy. Remove from your people the pride of place and the pursuit of power that mocks humility. Open our hearts in generosity and justice to the neglected and lonely, that in showing esteem for others, we may honor and please you through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
 
We praise your abiding guidance, O God, for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah, to model for us the way of love for all creation. We offer these prayers of love on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors, on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.
 
Are there any requests?
(The congregation is invited to speak their requests. After each request is spoken, we all respond in unison, “Lord, hear us.”)
 
Loving God, open our ears to hear your word and draw us closer to you, that the whole world may be one with you as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
And now, because we often fail to love, because we acknowledge that we are sinners living in sinful systems, and because we acknowledge that we are all in need of God’s mercy and grace, let us confess our sins.
 
Many: God of the living and the dead,
We confess that we have sinned against you by what we have done and by what we have not done,
We remember our broken promises and missed opportunities;
The gifts we have taken for granted;
The love we have not shown or returned;
Forgive us, comfort and heal us, lift our guilt from us,
That we may walk in freedom and grace to the glory of your name.
Amen.
 
One: May God who is both power and love forgive us and free us from our sins; heal and strength us by the power of the Holy Spirit; and bring us to new life through Christ our Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are a forgiven people!
Many: Thanks be to God!
 
Offering Prayer

Doxology    UMH#94
Praise God, from whom all blessing flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! 
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, 
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Prayer Hymn: “Be Still, My Soul”  UMH#534 vs. 1
Be still, my soul, The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God, to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end

Message: Pastor Mary Beth Boesch         Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 (CEB)
Keep loving each other like family. Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing
this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it. Remember prisoners as if you were in prison
with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place. Marriage must be honored in
every respect, with no cheating on the relationship, because God will judge the sexually immoral
person and the person who commits adultery. Your way of life should be free from the love of money,
and you should be content with what you have. After all, he has said, I will never leave you or abandon
you. This is why we can confidently say,

The Lord is my helper,
and I won’t be afraid.
What can people do to me?

Remember your leaders who spoke God’s word to you. Imitate their faith as you consider the way their
lives turned out. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

So let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through him, which is the fruit from our lips that
confess his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with
these kinds of sacrifices.

The story of God for the people of God.
Many: Thanks be to God!
                 
Response Song “The Servant Song”  TFWS #2222     Music Team
Brother, sister, let me serve you;
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I might have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey;
We are family on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the miles and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the nighttime of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
When you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joys and sorrows
Till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in Heaven
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you;
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I might have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.

Commitment Hymn: “Jesus, United by Thy Grace” UMH#561 vs. 1,2,4                     
Jesus, united by thy grace
and each to each endeared,
with confidence we seek thy face
and know our prayer is heard.

Help us to help each other, Lord,
each other's cross to bear;
let all their friendly aid afford,
and feel each other's care.

Touched by the lodestone of thy love,
let all our hearts agree,
and ever toward each other move,
and ever move toward thee.

Sending Forth/Unison Benediction
One:  May God bless you and keep you; may God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; may God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace, from this day forth and forevermore. Amen.
Many: May the peace of the Lord go with us, wherever God may send us. May we embody the love, grace, and mercy of Christ to those we meet along the way. Amen

Prelude
Thank you for worshiping with us today!

(CCLI License #1552544)