June 1, 2025 Order of Worship
Vignette on "O filii et filiae" (setting by Rebecca Groom te Velde) – Geoffrey Liu
Welcome – Terry Bolender
Opening Prayer – Reese Stampalia
Leader: We give thanks to you, O God, Beloved of our hearts. You are kind and Your steadfast love endures forever.
People: Let every person and every nation say it loud, “Your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever!”
Leader: Out of my distress, I cry to You.
People: You always answer, always set me on a new path.
Leader: You give me courage to face the fears within and threats without.
People: You show me, God, that it is better to lose myself in You than to trust in myself alone.
Leader: So, I surrender to You and your love and turn my back on the riches the world seeks.
People: When my fears surround me like bees and overwhelm me,
Leader: Like the wind you scatter them and I rest in your strong presence.
People: Each day is a holy day, as long as I rest in You!
Leader: Let all Your people cry out,
People: “Your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever!”
Leader: Let those who need you most and all who seek your calming, centering, grounding way of life cry out.
People: “Your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever!”
Leader: Give me an unshakable commitment to seek You, God, in a holy rhythm and balance every single moment of every day of my life.
All: Lord, fill me with Your loving grace so that I might be steadfast and faithful, too!
Here I Am Lord – UMH #593
Gifting at Graduation and the Mantle of Adulthood
Time with Young Disciples – Stephanie McIlwain Miller
Lead Me Lord – Sanctuary Choir
Baptism of Arin Michele Coleman
Scripture Reading – Reese Stampalia
Introduction to the First Scripture Reading
Titus was a trusted co-worker and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul who sent him to the Greek island of Crete to start of network of house churches amidst a corrupt, violent, and greedy culture. Paul’s instruction to the Cretan Christians is built on God’s loyal love. Listen now to Paul…
Titus 3:1-7
…be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Introduction to the Second Scripture Reading
Our second reading comes from one of the oldest accounts of Jesus’ life. John wants us all to know that Jesus is the Messiah and that he has come so that you may have life, the life that really is life. The source of this life is love – receive it and share it! Here’s what John says…
John 15:8-14
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Message – Practice Loyal Love and Faithfulness – Pastor Jim
Offering Our Gifts to God – "Berceuse" from 24 Pièces en style libre (by Louis Vierne)
Doxology – Many Gifts, One Spirit – UMH #114, refrain
Prayer of Dedication
Pastor: All that we have, we have from you, Creator and Preserver of all.
People: Accept these gifts which we now offer. Help us to make the whole of life an offering and every thought a prayer.
Holy Communion
The Great Thanksgiving
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
Congregational Singing During Communion
Let Us Break Bread Together UMH #618
One Bread, One Body UMH #620
I Come with Joy UMH #617
Marching to Zion – UMH #733
Blessing – Pastor Jim
We’re Marching to Zion (setting by Gordon Young) – Geoffrey Liu
Resources for Worship
Opening Prayer is by Jim Head-Corliss for worship at Kent UMC, February 16, 2025 based on Psalm 118.