WORSHIP SERVICES

SEASON OF CREATION: WILDERNESS

ORDER OF SERVICE

Centering chimes

Lighting of the solidarity lamp
–Symbolic of our Sister Church relationship with El Divino Redentor

Prelude  “Swing low, sweet chariot”

Call to worship

We gather in the name of the Creator, the fountain of life,the name of Christ, the pulse of life,and the name of the Spirit, the breath of life. Amen.

Holy! Holy! Holy!Earth is filled with God’s presence.

Be still and feel the presence of God,the presence pulsing, pulsing through Earth, be still and feel the pulse of God.

Be still and hear the Spirit of God,the Spirit breathing, breathing through Earth, be still and hear the breath of God.

Be still, behold the glory of God, the glory filling, filling this Earth. Be still, behold the face of God

Green songbook #2 -Hamba nathi (Come walk with us)

Welcome & prayer

Virtual Passing the Peace (break-out groups)

Song – Before the waters nourished earth

Children’s story
– Song “Let the children come to me”
– The Children’s Fall/Winter offering benefits Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) as it celebrates its centennial year in 2020. All households are invited to set out a basket and gather an offering weekly. Donations may be sent to the FMC office at any time or can be made online (select children’s offering in “To” box)

Creation Testimony – “WILDERNESS” by Bonnie Schneider (Baggins)

Scripture – Jeremiah 4:23-28; Romans 8:18-27

Sermon

Green songbook #25 – When long before time

Congregational sharing & prayer

Meditative music  “He’s got the whole world in his hands”
– In the absence of a weekly offering collection, reflect on how you are practicing and receiving generosity. Consider giving to First Mennonite Church by mailing a check, giving through your bank, or giving online.

Work of the church
– FMC Food pantry – Reba King

Song – Known or unknown

Benediction

Worship Leader – Pastor Deb
Sermon & sharing – Pastor Michael
Hymns – Pastor Deb
Prelude – Pam Pena Martin (piano), Pete Shungu (trumpet)
Meditation music – Pam Pena Martin (piano), Mary Krick (flute)
Children’s Storyteller – Janet Liechty
Scripture – Janet Elaine Guthrie

SEASON OF CREATION: LAND

ORDER OF SERVICE

Centering chimes

Lighting of the solidarity lamp
–Symbolic of our Sister Church relationship with El Divino Redentor

Prelude  “Holy Ground”

Call to worship

We invite the land to worship with us:
wildflowers and mysterious mushrooms, swirling grasses and goldenrods.
We invite the farmlands to sing with us:
wheat fields, orchards, and vineyards, hay fields, gardens, and wetlands.
We join with all the fauna of the fields in praising God:
horses, sheep, and cattle, grass snakes and grasshoppers, eagles and crows.
We invite the ground to stir deep below:
life-giving microbes restoring the soil, beetles and worms preparing our food.
We celebrate the song of the soil!
Sing, soil, sing!

Green songbook #18 – Over my head

Welcome & prayer

Virtual Passing the Peace (break-out groups)

Hymnal #160 – God created heaven & earth

Children’s story
– Song “Let the children come to me”
– NEW Children’s offering,  September – February, will benefit Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in two ways: 1) To purchase supplies to help finish 5 comforters that the FMC quilting group is giving to MCC and 2) direct contributions to MCC as it celebrates its centennial year in 2020. Contributing to the comforter project and MCC will support displaced people around the world. Since 1920, MCC has shared God’s love and compassion by responding to basic human needs; comforters are one tangible sign of God’s love. 
– All households are invited to set out a basket and gather an offering weekly. Donations may be sent to the FMC office at any time or can be made online (select children’s offering in “To” box)

Creation Testimony – “LAND” by Lincoln Morris

Scripture – Psalm 139:7-10; Luke 10:25-29

Sermon – “Humans are nature”
      Guest preacher Rev. Brian Sauder, Faith in Place Executive Director

Hymnal #299 – New earth, heavens new

Congregational sharing & prayer

Meditative music  “As the deer”
– In the absence of a weekly offering collection, reflect on how you are practicing and receiving generosity. Consider giving to First Mennonite Church by mailing a check, giving through your bank, or giving online.

Work of the church

Hymnal #434 – Thuma mina

Benediction

Worship Leader – Pastors Michael and Deb
Sharing – Pastor Michael
Hymns – Andrea Welty Peachey
Prelude & meditation music – Jan Kellogg
Children’s Storyteller – Sharon Monday
Scripture – Laura Brenneman Fullwood
Sermon – Brian Sauder

ORDER OF SERVICE

Centering chimes

Lighting of the solidarity lamp
–Symbolic of our Sister Church relationship with El Divino Redentor

Prelude

Call to worship

In the beginning before time, before people, before the world began,

GOD WAS.

 

Here and now among us, beside us, enlisting the people of earth for the purposes of heaven,

GOD IS.

 

In the future, when we have turned to dust and all we know has found its fulfillment,

GOD WILL BE.

 

Not denying the world, but delighting in it, not condemning the world but redeeming it, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit,

GOD WAS.

GOD IS.

GOD WILL BE.

Green songbook #12 – O sing to the Lord (Cantai ao Senhor)

Welcome & prayer

Virtual Passing the Peace (break-out groups)

Purple Songbook #115 – Beauty for brokenness

Children’s story
– Song “Let the children come to me”
– NEW Children’s offering,  September – February, will benefit Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in two ways: 1) To purchase supplies to help finish 5 comforters that the FMC quilting group is giving to MCC and 2) direct contributions to MCC as it celebrates its centennial year in 2020. Contributing to the comforter project and MCC will support displaced people around the world. Since 1920, MCC has shared God’s love and compassion by responding to basic human needs; comforters are one tangible sign of God’s love. 
– All households are invited to set out a basket and gather an offering weekly. Donations may be sent to the FMC office at any time or can be made online (select children’s offering in “To” box)

MCC video: Celebrating 100 years

Hymnal #493 – I heard the voice of Jesus say

Embodies scripture: Psalm 137 & Genesis 32:24-28

Stories of joys & laments during COVID-19

Embodied scripture: Psalm 130 & Matthew 28:1-6

Congregational sharing & prayer

Embodied scripture: Psalm 42-43 & Luke 5:17-26

Meditative music 
– In the absence of a weekly offering collection, reflect on how you are practicing and receiving generosity. Consider giving to First Mennonite Church by mailing a check, giving through your bank, or giving online.

Work of the church

Hymnal #71 – Joyful, joyful, we adore thee

Benediction

Worship Leader – Pastor Deb
Sharing – Pastor Michael
Hymns – Cindy Breeze
Prelude & meditation music – Kathy Springer
Children’s Storyteller – Kathy Anderson
Scripture – Embodies scripture participates: Rebecca Bare, Mary Biddle, Cindy Breeze, Chuck Gibson, Randy Nelson, Pastor Deb Sutter
Short stories on lament & joy during COVID – various people at FMC