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:Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. — Genesis 32:24
Jacob wrestled with God before he crossed over into the promised land. We all wrestle with life and love, especially during big events or transitions in our lives. Jacob was afraid at this point in his journey, and so we find ourselves afraid. Yet, like Jacob, we wrestle with our faith, with God. What if this story was told from God’s point of view? God’s story might be, “I held Jacob all night while he struggled.” Indeed, God is present as we wrestle with life and love, as we undergo changes that scare us. In the end, we are blessed and God changes our name.
“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:Meet us in our wrestling, O God. When we are uncertain, stay with us. When we resist, be patient with us. When we struggle to see where you are leading, give us courage to remain engaged with you. And like Jacob, may we emerge from our struggles changed—not because we have all the answers, but because we have encountered you. 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)
Jacob Wrestles with the Angel
by Malcolm Guite
I dare not face my brother in the morning,
I dare not look upon the things I’ve done,
Dare not ignore a nightmare’s dreadful warning,
Dare not endure the rising of the sun.
My family, my goods, are sent before me,
I cannot sleep on this strange river shore,
I have betrayed the son of one who bore me,
And my own soul rejects me to the core.
But in the desert darkness one has found me,
Embracing me, He will not let me go,
Nor will I let Him go, whose arms surround me,
Until he tells me all I need to know,
And blesses me where daybreak stakes it’s claim,
With love that wounds and heals; and with His name.
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 32:22-32 (NRSVUE)
The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.
We Sing
“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”
#480 UMH
Message
“Wrestling with God”
Rev. Dr. Michele Robbins
Offertory
“I Choose Love · Mark Miller”
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.
Communion Setting
#2257 a, b, c, d TFWSLiturgist:Bring all the places you’re weary, all the ways you’re restless. Bring your hunger for peace, your thirst for justice. Bring it all -- and come! Jesus invites us to dine as friends! Come! God’s welcome feast is set for us, for all!
Pastor:It’s a good and joyful thing to open our hearts in thanks and praise to you -- always and everywhere. So, we join with all of creation, with people on earth and all the saints in their unending song of praise:
Liturgist:Creative God, You formed all that is. You created us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast, calling us home. With Jesus, we take, bless, break, and share our daily bread. You fill us and heal us to send us into the world as a community of faith, hope and reconciliation. So, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Pastor:Holy One of Love and Mystery, you blessed your son, Jesus Christ, anointing him with your Spirit to preach good news to the poor, to announce freedom to all captives, vision to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to spread the word that help and healing were at hand.
Liturgist:Continue to pour out your life-giving Spirit, O God. Make us one body in Christ, one ministry to the whole world.
Pastor:On the night before he gave everything, Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body, given for you. Every time you share it, remember me.” When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup, and again gave you thanks and praise. He gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you. This is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for all people, filled to overflowing with forgiveness for everyone. Whenever you share it, remember me.”
Liturgist:And so, we do remember -- the movement of your powerful Spirit, and your amazing love in Jesus. As we eat this bread and share this cup, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving. In God, with Christ, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, forever and ever.
Getting Strong
“Cry of My Heart”
#2165 TFWS
Opportunities for Ministry
- ⤷Church Conference: Willits UMC 1:30 on Sunday, October 25th.
- ⤷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, 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
“Put a Little Love in your Heart”
Dolly Parton
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.