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
“Welcome”
#3152 W&S
Welcome
Threshold Moment
P:“But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.’” — Genesis 21:9-10
Our own painful memories of rejection live on in the ways we reject others. All people have a place at the table of relationship — of life and love fulfilled. Our journey now is to include those from other faiths for they are God’s children too; the rejected Hagar and Ishmael have a huge place in this world and we are called to be in communion with them; God “sees” them; there is no rejection in the realm of God.
“We Live, We Love” · Greg Davis
“We live, we love, we forgive and we never give up,
‘cause the days we are given are gifts from above,
and today we remember to live and to love!”
Opening Prayer
All:God of boundless love, You gather us from many places, with many stories, hopes, and struggles. In your presence, no one is disposable, no one is forgotten, and no one is outside the circle of your care. Where the world draws lines of exclusion, widen our hearts. Where fear tells us there is not enough room, remind us of your abundant grace. Where people are pushed aside, give us the courage to make room and to stand beside them. Amen
Passing the Peace
P:The Peace of Christ be with you.
All:And also with you.
P:You are invited to pass the peace among you, remembering to pass it to those joining us remotely.
Praising
“Lord I Need You”
Matt Maher
Young & Young at Heart Time
Contemporary Reading (Liturgist)
by Fred Rogers
“Every time we affirm how special our children are to us for being themselves, we're helping them grow into adults who rejoice in the diversity of the world’s people.”
COMMUNITY PRAYER ~ THE LORD’S PRAYER
Sung in Echo
Our Mother, Father, Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven, On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day, Give us this day
Our daily bread, Our daily bread
And forgive us all our sins, And forgive us all our sins
And lead us not, And lead us not
Into temptation, Into temptation
But deliver us from evil, But deliver us from evil
For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
Forever, Forever
And ever, And ever
Our Mother, Father, Our Mother, Father
Who art in heaven, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name, Hallowed be thy name
Ancient Readings
Genesis 21:1-19 (NRSVUE)
The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
We Sing
“God’s Eye Is on the Sparrow”
#2146 TFWS
Message
“Rejected”
Rev. Dr. Michele Robbins
Offertory
“A Place at the Table · #3149 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 Blessings Flow”
#94 UMH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
*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.
Getting Strong
“Trading My Sorrows”
#3108 W&S
Opportunities for Ministry
- ⤷The Palestine Task Force and Friends of Wadi Foquin are reaching out conference-wide to announce our upcoming 4-part Zoom study. Study launches on Wednesday, Sept. 30th. We will meet for 4 consecutive Wednesdays (9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21) Via Zoom Noon - 1:15PM. For more information & to register use QR code, or link: https://tinyurl.com/WOTHStudy.
- ⤷Methodism 101 meets August 23rd.
- ⤷Jo Ann Findly: 10-year-old kitty needs a home.
- ⤷Be Well Engraved Tile Campaign: Find information on our website, ukiahumc.org.
- ⤷Gentle Yoga: Every Wednesday and Saturday with hand weights at 8:15 am and yoga at 8:30 am in the Social Hall, led by Pastor Michele.
- ⤷Recycling: Annie is collecting CRV bottles & cans, to benefit Ukiah UMC. Text Annie at 707-513-9634 for pickups and more information. Items can be taken to Jone’s house and left behind her recycling totes on the corner of Jones and McPeak.
- ⤷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: underwear, socks, shower towels, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, men’s pants, bath soap, razors, dog food
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
“I’d Like to teach the World to Sing”
#49 The Fish Book
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.