Caldwell United Methodist Church

Bring Individuals to Christ Nurture Spiritual Growth

Invite Others to Discipleship

April 11, 2010

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(Please sign the attendance sheet in the pew pad. Please tear the sheets out and place them in the offering plate after everyone in your pew has signed in.)

PRELUDE: “Holy Ground” Geron Davis, arr. Carol Turnquist

WORDS OF GREETING: God is Good – All the time

All the time – God is Good

*CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 150 #862 in Hymnal

*HYMN OF PRAISE: “To God be the Glory” #98 in Hymnal

*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE:

St. Paul always greeted and closed with the words, “The peace of God be with you” in his pastoral letters. This is an appropriate way to greet fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and so we say, “The peace of the Lord be with you” and respond, “And also with you.” We then pass this greeting of peace to one another. At the passing of the peace we should earnestly desire God’s peace upon each person we greet. The passing of the peace is also a sign of obedience to Jesus’ words that we make peace with one another before offering our gifts at the altar. (Matthew 5:23-24)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHILDREN’S MOMENT

SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS: Including birthdays and

Anniversaries

Following each joy, please respond:

For these gifts, We Thank you God.

Following each concern, please respond:

God in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

PRAYER HYMN: “It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord” #352 in Hymnal

SILENT PRAYER

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

SHARING GOD’S BLESSINGS:

All loose change goes to Christian Disciple Farm

*OFFERING RESPONSE: #95 in Hymnal

“Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow”

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

O Lord, we are greatly blessed by you. We give our gifts and offerings as a testament to our willingness to please and serve you. To work for peace and justice for all as we share your Gospel of love and forgiveness, grant us courage for the facing of each hour. Amen.

READINGS FROM THE BIBLE: Matthew 16:24-28, 22:34-40

John 15:11-15

ANTHEM: “Majesty” Jack W. Hayford, arr. Jack Schrader

MESSAGE: “It’s All About Me” Rev. Donald Herron, Ph.D.

*HYMN OF COMMITMENT: #2223 in “The Faith We Sing” “They’ll Know we are Christians by our Love”

*BENEDICTION

*PARTING SONG: #2279 in “ The Faith We Sing”

“The Trees of the Field”

Matthew 16: 24-28

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is not help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all you passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

John 15:11-15

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.”

Translation: “The Message” by Eugene H. Peterson

Matthew 16: 24-28

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is not help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all you passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”

John 15:11-15

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.”

Translation: “The Message” by Eugene H. Peterson