Table of Contents
The words in **black bold** are spoken or sung by the congregation. Please, no food or beverages are allowed in the Sanctuary. * Indicates when to rise in body or spirit.
UMH--United Methodist (Blue), TFWS--The Faith We Sing (Black), W&S--Worship & Song (Green)
Prelude
“Gather Us In”
#2236 TFWS
Welcome
Threshold Moment
P:Today, we continue our worship series called "The Way" that invites us to a spiritual journey during this season. Today we come to the table to be sustained for the road ahead. In our society, we are taught that everything costs. But our ways are not God's ways, as we will hear in scripture. We are all invited to the table of Jesus without price. This is the abundance of God's grace. This is the higher way that we are invited to embody for the sake of the world. The "rich food" that we are invited to partake in is the richness of life when all have enough–not simply to survive–but to thrive. Hospitality is the way–even though we do not agree on everything, we are still one family at one table.
"A Wilderness Wandering People" · #3113 W&S
We are a wilderness wandering people
on a journey of the soul.
May we find our destination
in our longing to be whole.
Our Holy God is calling to us.
With Jesus by our side
may compassion be our compass;
may the Spirit be our guide,
on The Way, on The Way, on The Way.
Prayer for the Path
All:God of Grace, we know you are with us on The Way. But we need sustenance in order to make the journey. As we come seeking peace and a place at the table, we find that you have already prepared and were expecting us. Help us to set tables of abundance for all who travel this journey of life, just as Jesus did. Amen.
Passing the Peace
Pastor:The Peace of Christ be with you.
All:And also with you.
Pastor:You are invited to pass the peace among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely.
Praising
“Show Your Power”
Kevin Prosch
Young & Young at Heart Time
Contemporary Reading
What You Need, Give
by Kay Leiberknecht
Need a listening ear? Hear someone's heart. Need understanding? Think and feel with another. Need support? Lend your courage, hope and creativity.
It seems odd. If you're in need, how can you have it to give?
What you need is common to all. What you give is from the unlimited Source for all in common.
So tap that Source. Give to the ones you need. You'll find your own deepest needs met by giving to them as you'd have them give to you. The common Source is open.
COMMUNITY PRAYER ~ THE LORD'S PRAYER
Spoken
Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day
Our daily bread
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil
For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever
Amen
Ancient Readings
FIRST READING - PSALM 37:23-27 (NRSVUE)
Our steps are made firm by the Lord when God delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand. I have been young and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing. Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide forever.
SECOND READING - ISAIAH 55:1-9 (NRSVUE)
Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your earnings for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
Now you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for God will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We Sing
“As the Deer”
#2025 TFWS
Message
“"The High Way"”
Rev. Dr. Michele Robbins
Offertory
“Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone · #3104 W&S”
Offerings can be placed in the basket on the table, online at ukiahumc.org, or mailed to PO Box 323, Ukiah
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
#95 UMH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures high and low
Give thanks to God in love made known
Creator, Word, and Spirit One
Amen
*MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT
Members of the Ukiah United Methodist Church accept the freedom God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. We welcome opportunities to bring God's love to the world in as many ways as we can. We promise to uphold our beloved church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.
Communion
P:Invitation
P:Will you open yourselves to the grace of Jesus Christ that is always and already available here at this table? If so, say, "Open us to your grace, Lord."
All:"Open us to your grace, Lord."
P:Will you open yourselves once again to the call of Jesus Christ? If so, say, "Open us to your call, Lord."
All:"Open us to your call, Lord."
P:Will you open yourselves to the possibility of transformation through Jesus Christ? If so, say, "Transform us, O Lord."
All:"Transform us, O Lord."
P:The Great Thanksgiving
P:The Lord be with you.
All:And also with you.
P:Lift up your hearts.
All:We lift them up to the Lord.
P:Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All:It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P:It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, Creator of all that was, and is, and is to come.
L:You formed us in your image, creating all in goodness, asking us to walk with You in love. When we held back from Your invitation, You sought us out, encouraging us on our way, time and again.
P:You led those who could not see by a road they did not know. You have turned nighttime before them into light. You have smoothed out the rough places and made them plain. You have released the prisoners from the dungeon. You have made all things new.
L:And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
L:Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your Spirit anointed him to walk with the poor, the captive, and the oppressed and to proclaim freedom and abundance in your name. On dusty paths and lakeside shores he encountered friends, strangers, and enemies, inviting them to journey with him and to eat with him. He offered newness of life and renewed covenants of love by water and the Spirit.
P:On the night that he gave himself up for the path of justice, he was at the table with his friends. He invited them… and he invites us, to pause in our quest for destinations and savor the company of each other and the ways in which he still is present in our gathering together. He took the bread, he broke it and blessed it and shared it. "Do this in remembrance of me." He took the cup, he poured into it, blessed it and shared it. "Do this in remembrance of me."
L:And so, in remembrance of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All:Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again!
P:Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ's pilgrimage to the kin-dom, walking together one with each other, working together in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen!
P:Welcome
L:We were expecting you.
Getting Strong
“Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
#2158 TFWS
Opportunities for Ministry
Opportunities where you make a difference: A strong church has members who are actively taking part in ministry and service.
- ⤷Recycling: Ed is looking for someone to share this job that Annie has done so well.
- ⤷Cleanup Day: We are organizing a cleanup day in the center to get the rooms ready before furnishing them for the Be Well Center. Come and join us at 3:00 pm on Wednesday the 4th.
- ⤷Mendo Labor Co-op: Our church sponsors a worker-led co-op connecting underemployed and unhoused workers with people needing help around the house or yard. We need church members willing to hire workers with patience as we get started and work out the kinks. Call/text Cheryl and Braven at (369) 216-1512 to be matched, or fill out the online form on mendolaborcoop.ukiahumc.org.
- ⤷The Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center: If you would like to donate to Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center, below is a list of needed items. All donations can be dropped at HRC M-F, 9-5 or to Trudy's front porch at any time. Thank you to everyone who donates! Trudy•Items needed are: Adult underwear, Men's pants, Socks, Blankets, Sleeping bags, Backpacks, Bath soap, Razors, PENS!
Go For It!
South:Do all the good you can,
North:By all the means you can,
South:In all the ways you can,
North:In all the places you can,
South:At all the times you can,
North:To all the people you can,
All:As long as ever you can. Amen.
— John Wesley
Blessing
*STEPPING OUT
“Takin' It to the Streets”
The Doobie Brothers
WE ARE A WELCOMING & AFFIRMING CONGREGATION:
We welcome all persons into full participation in the life of the congregation regardless of age, gender identity, racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, marriage status, or physical or mental condition.