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September 2019 Newsletter

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Last Updated September 10, 2019

September 2019 Newsletter

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Pittsfield United Methodist Church

1 week ago

Please join us for Worship this Sunday, August 2 at 9 a.m. on WBBA Radio (97.5). We have included the bulletin so you may join in from home.

Sunday, August 2, 2020
9 a.m.

Welcome

Announcements:

Tuesday
7:00a - Men’s Prayer Group (Orr Hall)
9:00a - Rug Makers (rug room on the lower level)
7:00p - “Anxious For Nothing” Book Study (Orr Hall)

On Saturday, August 15th, our Annual Conference will have their yearly meeting. It will be a virtual meeting, and our church will be a remote site for this event. The Clergy Session will be in the morning from 9 am until 12 pm, and the regular session will be from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Prelude:

Hymn: 140 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
1 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Call to Worship/Opening Prayer (AWA)

Rejoice in the Lord. Call on God’s holy name.
Give thanks to the Lord. Sing to our God with shouts of joy.
Rejoice in the Lord. Proclaim God’s mighty works.
Give thanks to the Lord. Proclaim the miracles of God’s hands.
Rejoice in the Lord. Trust in God’s saving love.
Give thanks to the Lord. Tell the wonders of God’s glory.
Let us pray . . .
Eternal God, in visions and dreams, you offer us hope for a new tomorrow. Amidst life’s storms and raging waters, be with us in our time of need. Reveal to us the great works we are capable of, that we may rise above our narrow purposes, and be of service to the world. Bless our journeys, that it may be said of us: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Amen.

Hymn: 622 (Vs. 1-3) “There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood”
1. There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
2. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
3. Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood shall never lose its power till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more. Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more; till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

Prayers of The People:

Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 2:1-7
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
James 2:8-13
1If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God, Amen

Special Music:

Sermon: “Mercy Is Central To The Church’s Ministry”

Sacrament Of Holy Communion Page 7 (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Pages 12 – 15 Word and Service Table II
Prayer of Confession:
Almighty and all-loving God, through your Son Jesus Christ you have reconciled the world to yourself. Help us now to be reconciled with one another, that again we might dwell in the warmth of your love. Inspire us with your Holy Spirit to put aside the cloak of pride and put on Christ, that we might forgive and be forgiven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: 98 “To God Be The Glory”
1. To God be the glory, great things he hath done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done!
2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done!
3. Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son; but purer, and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
(Refrain)
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done!

*Benediction:

*Postlude:

Liturgist: Kay Dunham
Usher/Greeter: Phil Rhoades ...

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Pittsfield United Methodist Church

2 weeks ago

Please join us for Worship this Sunday, July 26 at 9 a.m. on WBBA Radio (97.5). We have included the bulletin so you can join in from home.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
9 a.m.

Welcome

Announcements:

Tuesday, July 28
7:00a - Men’s Prayer Group (Orr Hall)
9:00a - Rug Makers (rug room on the lower level)
7:00p - “Anxious For Nothing” Book Study (Orr Hall)

If you would like to receive a month’s worth of blessed pre-packaged communion elements, these can be delivered to your front door. If interested please church office 217- 285-9613. Those interested in delivering communion elements once a month please call the church office.

If you are willing to be an Usher or Greeter please call the church office, as soon as possible, to sign up. We are need of these servers for the foreseeable future.

Prelude:

Hymn: 472 “Near To The Heart Of God”
1. There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God; a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.
Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God.

2. There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God; a place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God.
(Refrain)
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God.

3. There is place a place of full release, near to the heart of God; a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.
(Refrain)
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God.

Call to Worship/Opening Prayer (AWA 171)

Why have you come this morning?
We have come to encounter the Holy One.
You know you’ll never be the same if you do.
We have come to wrestle with our faith, our doubts, and even our convictions.
Then come; let us venture into this time of worship and prepare to encounter God face to face.
Let us pray . . .
O God of nighttime visits and daylight assurance, we come to this time of worship to wrestle with who we are, and who you call us to be. Search our hearts and know us thoroughly. We long to meet you face to face,
even if the encounter leaves us forever changed. With open ears and ready hearts, touch us with your words and transform us with your presence. Amen.

Hymn: 351 “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior”
1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
2. Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief, kneeling there in deep contrition;
help my unbelief.
(Refrain)
3. Trusting only in thy merit, would I seek thy face; heal my wounded, broken spirit,
save me by thy grace.
(Refrain)
4. Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me, whom have I on earth beside thee? Whom in heaven but thee?
(Refrain)

Prayers of The People:

Scripture Lesson: Luke 18:1-8
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

I Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God, Amen

Special Music:

Sermon: “The Primary Importance of Prayer”

Sacrament Of Holy Communion Page 7 (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Pages 12 – 15 Word and Service Table II
Prayer of Confession:
All-merciful, tender God, you have given birth to our world, conceiving and bearing all that lives and breathes. We come to you as your daughters and sons, aware of our aggression and anger, our drive to dominate and manipulate others. We ask you to forgive us, and by the gentle touch of your Spirit help us to find a renewed sense of compassion, that we may truly live as your people in service to all. Amen.

Hymn: 496 “Sweet Hour Of Prayer”
1. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter's snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! the joys I feel, the bliss I share of those whose anxious spirits burn with strong desires for thy return! With such I hasten to the place where God my Savior shows his face, and gladly take my station there, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
3. Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! thy wings shall my petition bear to him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since he bids me seek his face, believe his word, and trust his grace, I'll cast on him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

*Benediction:

*Postlude:

Liturgist: Lori Whitlock
Greeter: Patty Capps ...

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Pittsfield United Methodist Church

3 weeks ago

Please join us for Worship this Sunday, July 19 at 9 a.m. on WBBA Radio (97.5) We have included the bulletin so you can join in from home.

Welcome

Announcements:

Tuesday, July 21
7:00a - Men’s Prayer Group (Orr Hall)
9:00a - Rug Makers (rug room on the lower level)
7:00p - “Anxious For Nothing” Book Study (Orr Hall)

If you would like to receive a month’s worth of blessed pre-packaged communion elements, these can be delivered to your front door. If interested please church office 217- 285-9613. Those interested in delivering communion elements once a month please call the church office.

If you are willing to be an Usher or Greeter please call the church office, as soon as possible, to sign up. We are need of these servers for the foreseeable future.

Prelude:

Hymn: 369 “Blessed Assurance”
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)
4. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

Call to Worship/Opening Prayer (AWA 165)

Waiting and hoping, we gather together,
seeking God’s presence and singing God’s praise.
Waiting and hoping, we come now to worship,
praying and listening for the Spirit’s guidance.
Waiting and hoping, we gather together,
seeking God’s presence and singing God’s praise.
Let us pray . . .
Holy One, your kingdom always takes us by surprise— like a mustard seed growing into a great shrub where the birds of the air can build their nests; like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price. May we desire your kingdom more than we value worldly things, through Christ, who shows us the way. Amen.

Hymn: 395 “Take Time To Be Holy”
1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; abide in him always, and feed on his word.
Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak, forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let him be thy guide, and run not before him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord, and, looking to Jesus, still trust in his word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul, each thought and each motive beneath his control. Thus led by his spirit to fountains of love, thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

Prayers of The People:

Scripture Lesson: I Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Philippians 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God, Amen

Special Music:

Sermon: “Getting In Shape For The Journey”

Sacrament Of Holy Communion Page 7 (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Pages 12 – 15 Word and Service Table II

Prayer of Confession:
All-merciful, tender God, you have given birth to our world, conceiving and bearing all that lives and breathes. We come to you as your daughters and sons, aware of our aggression and anger, our drive to dominate and manipulate others. We ask you to forgive us, and by the gentle touch of your Spirit help us to find a renewed sense of compassion, that we may truly live as your people in service to all. Amen.

Hymn: 419 “I Am Thine, O Lord” (Vs. 1,3 & 4)
1. I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice, and it told thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou hast died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious, bleeding side.
3. O the pure delight of a single hour that before thy throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend!
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou hast died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious, bleeding side.
4. There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea; there are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where thou hast died. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious, bleeding side.

*Benediction:

*Postlude:

Liturgist: Sue Grigsby
Greeter: Jamie Thompson ...

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