St. John’s
United Methodist Church
November 20, 2022
 Sunday Morning Worship
10:45am

 

 

 
WORDS OF WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS      

CENTERING OUR HEARTS FOR WORSHIP
     As we wait for our time of worship to begin, everyone is invited to enter into
     quiet prayer and reflection to prepare our hearts for worship.

PRELUDE            "Count Your Blessings"        by EO Excell, arr by J Bennett
                                                                                           - Sylvia Stone, piano 

INTROIT               "Spirit of the Living God"                                    UMH #393

*CHIMING OF THE TRINITY                    (Please stand as you are able)

     At the beginning of our worship, a bell is rung three times to represent
     the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

*HYMN OF WORSHIP      "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”    UMH #694    
 Come Ye Thankful People Come (St. George's Windsor) 

Verse 1
Come ye thankful people come
Raise the song of harvest-home
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied
Come to God's own temple come
Raise the song of harvest-home

Verse 2
All the world is God's own field
Fruit as praise to God we yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Are to joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

Verse 3
For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take the harvest home
From the field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Giving angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Verse 4
Even so Lord quickly come
To Thy final harvest-home
Gather Thou Thy people in
Free from sorrow free from sin
There forever purified
In Thy presence to abide
Come with all Thine angels come
Raise the glorious harvest-home

CCLI Song # 50200
George Job Elvey | Henry Alford

• © Words: Public Domain
• •Music: Public Domain

*OPENING PRAYER

      One:    The Son of God walks along the waters of chaos and meets us on
                  this holy journey called, “life”.  As we worship, it is our prayer that
                  we would recognize the presence of Christ, remember his promise,
                  rely on his power, and be at peace no matter what storms may
                  come our way.  Therefore, let us join together in our opening prayer
                  as we welcome and greet the Holy Trinity – God, three in one. 
                  Let us pray:

     All:      Gracious God, we gather once again to offer you praise and
                 thanksgiving for your unfailing love and faithfulness, shown
                 most clearly through your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.  Grant us
                 grace to worship you in spirit and in truth.  Through the power
                 of your Holy Spirit, open our eyes to recognize you in our
                 midst.  Give us courage to step out in faith to meet you, and
                 confidence to follow wherever you may lead.  For you are our
                 God, and we are your children, called by your name.  We pray
                 this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord. 
                 Amen.
   
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

      From the beginning, Christians have exercised the practice of passing the
      peace of Christ.  “Peace be with you” is a greeting Jesus himself used with
      his disciples and the apostle Paul opened each of his letters with the words
      “Grace and peace be with you”.  Today we offer God’s peace as we turn to
      our neighbors and speak the words, “The peace of Christ be with you” and
      we then receive in return, “And also with you.” 
 

    LISTENING FOR GOD

CHILDREN’S MOMENT   
                         
     Following the Children’s Moment, all children, preschool through 5th grade, are invited
      to attend Children’s Church located on the children’s Sunday School hallway.  All
      children will return to the sanctuary by the time this worship service has ended.

*SCRIPTURE LESSON                                   Matthew 14:22-34 (NRSV)

²² Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the
other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ And after he had dismissed the
crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he
was there alone, ²⁴ but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far
from the land,^[a] for the wind was against them. ²⁵ And early in the morning he
came walking toward them on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him
walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried
out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart,
it is I; do not be afraid.”

²⁸ Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the
water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he noticed the strong wind,^[b] he
became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 
³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You
of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the
Son of God.”

           One:    The Word of God, for the people of God.
            All:      Thanks be to God.

SERMON                  “Swimming Lessons”                                        Teri Schell

                 RESPONDING TO THE WORD OF GOD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                                          UMH #881

     The Apostle’s Creed

     I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and 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,
     dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into
     heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from
     thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.

*GLORIA PATRI

      Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was
      in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.
      Amen.    

MISSIONS MOMENT

CALL TO PRAYER

      One:    The Lord be with you.

      Many: And also with you.

      One:    Let us pray:

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION AND PETITION

     Each week the church provides a prayer list of all those who have requested
     prayer for themselves as well as those who have requested prayers for
     others.  We wish to respect the privacy of all included in our prayer list;
     therefore, unless a specific request is made by the person or permission has
     been given by the person for whom the prayer request is made, the requests
     will not be announced or printed.  If you have a prayer request that you
     would like to share, please text Pastor Angela at 803-983-2131 and include
     your name, your prayer request, whether you would like to have your
     request included in our weekly prayer list, and if your request is for someone
     else, please specify that you have received permission to share the
     request.  You may also call the church office during the week to offer this
     information.

The Lord’s Prayer is offered in unison at the end of the Prayer of Thanksgiving,
Intercession, and Petition

     Our 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who
     trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
     from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
     forever and ever. Amen.

GIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERINGS 
               
               Offertory                   "Our Thanks"                                 arr by G Sikes
                                                                                             - Sylvia Stone, piano

*DOXOLOGY

       Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  Praise Him, all creatures
       here below, praise Him, above, ye heavenly host!  Praise Father, Son,
       and Holy Ghost! Amen


                              GOING FORTH TO SERVE