Chatham Circuit

St Louisville, Chatham & Liberty UMC

February 16, 2025

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Prelude
Bringing the Light

*Call to Worship:

L: Happy are those who delight in God’s ways,

P: Who set their Hearts and minds on the laws of God’s love.
L: In the presence of the Holy, they are like trees planted by the waters of life.
P: They are fed by enduring streams, with roots that reach into the depths  of the soul.
L: They are nourished in times of drought and bring forth fruit in seasons of famine.
P: Life shall spring forth as they walk each day in the Way of peace.

 

*Opening Prayer

Holy One, when the road is dusty under our feet and we find ourselves engulfed, you share with us the water of life. You plant our spirits by the streams of your Being. You nourish our bodies and replenish our souls. You challenge our minds and guide our hearts. Lead us, again, O God, into your presence with your prayers. Be with us, as your renewing love overflows from our lives and our souls

into the world. Amen.

 

Hymn: Marching to Zion                                            #733

 

1. Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known; join in a song with sweet accord, join in a song with sweet accord and thus surround the throne, and thus surround the throne.

 

Refrain: We're marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion; we're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.

 

2. Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God; but children of the heavenly King, but children of the heavenly King may speak their joys abroad, may speak their joys abroad. (Refrain)

 

3. The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets before we reach the heavenly fields, before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets, or walk the golden streets.

(Refrain)

 

4. Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry; we're marching through Emmanuel's ground, we're marching through Emmanuel's ground, to fairer worlds on high, to fairer worlds on high. (Refrain)

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

First Scripture:                                   1 Corinthians 5:12 – 20

 

The Apostle’s Creed                                                 #881

 

*Second Scripture:                                      Luke 6:17 – 26

Gloria Patri                                                                #70

 

Message Lesson:                                        Jeremiah 17:5 – 10

 

 

Spirit of the Living God                                            #393

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

 

The Message

Trust in the Lord

Bryan Moore

 

Hymn: Trust and Obey                                              #467

 

1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.

 

Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

2 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

 

3 But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

 

4 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we'll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

 

Prayers of the People

Father, it is at this time that we humbly come to praise you for the joys in our lives and the lives of others and to beseech your mercies for challenges that we and others dear to us face. At all times and in all places, encourage us to listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit, who leads us to follow your acts of Grace and Mercy.

 

Invitation to Respond to God’s Grace

God has satisfied the hunger of both our bodies and our souls. Let us share our gifts with all God’s creation, that weeping may turn to laughter, and struggle may turn to joy.

 

*Doxology/Prayer

Merciful God, you bless us beyond measure or belief. May the gifts you have poured into our lives overflow, spilling over into the world. May these gifts nourish all who have need. Amen.

 

*Hymn: How Firm a Foundation                                 #529

 

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

 

2. "Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

 

3. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow; for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

 

4. "When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

 

5. “The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes; that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

 

*Responsive Benediction

 

L: People of God, you are blessed!

P: We will go into the world and follow the living God this day and all days.

L: Amen.

 

Closing

 

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

St Louisville

Deb Soter                                Bryan Miller

Warren & Cliver Family          Pound Family

Bob and Bev Bevard               John & Dawn Bevard

Teri Schaller

 

Chatham

Frances Garno                        Warner Family

Carol & Paul Rostofer             Layman Family

Kayla

 

Liberty

John & Janice Prather            Sally Lindsay

Sandy Hubbard                       Troy Mallow

Cindy and Paul                       Velma

Maria                                       Ruth and Rick

 

Chatham Charge News:

 

Bible Study continues this week. You can join either Bible Study by calling 508-924-2997. We will continue to study from Luke, so read chapters 11 and 12.

 

The next Charge Ad Board Meeting is March 3rd at St Louisville at 7 PM. St Louisville Church will have a Church Meeting prior at 6 PM.

 

Words of Confession:

God of Mercy, whose presence is ever-living, make us whole. Lay your path before us, for we are easily confused, distracted, blown off course, and lost. In the arid places of our lives, the seasons when our hearts starve and our souls are parched and dry, lead us to your living waters and the nourishment of your ever-flowing streams. Plant us and center us in the core of your mercy, that we might soak up your grace and touch the fullness of your Life, this day and all days. Amen.

 

Words of Assurance

In every impoverished place, every season of greatest longing, God is with us. In every instance of confusion or conundrum when we cannot find our way, God comes to be our guide. For every moment when our hearts hunger, when our souls thirst and our minds and bodies cry out, God plants us by streams of grace. God overcomes our pain, until there is only life, only love, only joy. Amen.

 

Contact info for Pastor Bryan

email: brmoore1@aol.com - phone: 614-323-9561