St. Matthew's United Methodist Churchof Valley Forge

Growing in Faith Growing in Growing inFellowship Growing in Service to the World

WELCOME

Leader: It's coming: the Kingdom of God is coming! Let your Reign, O God, be acknowledged among all people. People: We stand on the threshold of truth. We are perched on the branches of justice.

Leader: Across the horizon we see the outline of peace and harmony. People: With privilege comes responsibility, With responsibility comes accountability,

People: With accountability comes honesty, With honesty comes faithfulness. All: God of Creation and history, equip us to live faithfully in your Kingdom God of Creation and history, equip us to live faithfully in your Kingdom !

Come and See (Kyrie) Marilyn Houser Hamm (John 1:35-51; 14:6) Come and See (Kyrie) Marilyn Houser Hamm (John 1:35-51; 14:6) “Come and see, come and see, I am the way and the truth,” said he. Come and See (Verse 1) © 1974 Marlyn Houser Hamm

“Follow me, follow me, come as a child, O come and see.” “Follow me, follow me, come as a child, O come and see.”

Kyrie, Kyrie, Kyrie eleison, Christe, Christe, Christe eleison. Come and See (Verse 2)

Part 2 (descant) Christe, Christe, Part 1 (melody) Kyrie, Kyrie, Part 2 adoramus te. Part 1 Kyrie eleison. Come and See (Verse 3)

Part 2 Alleluia, Part 1 Christe, Christe, Part 2 Kyrie eleison. Part 1 Christe eleison.

Prayer

God, In Jesus you shone your light to all of us who sat in darkness. We see you now, and your call to discipleship. We confess that we are not eager to follow.

It will demand that we leave profitable jobs, sometimes. It will demand that we leave family members and move to other parts of the world, sometimes. It will demand that we see our life work as the work of becoming like Christ.

If you don't help us, God, we will not be able to follow. The pull of our comfort is great. We do not easily embrace the unknown. But we want to follow you; give us the power to do so. Amen. But we want to follow you; give us the power to do so. Amen. (Prayer created by Valerie Bridgeman Davis.)

If you don't help us, God, Jesus has, indeed, come to save us and show us the way to experience God's love. Jesus will strengthen us to the end, so we may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hear the good news: you are forgiven! (Words of Assurance created by Sherrie Dobbs Johnson.)

Sharing Signs of Peace and Reconciliation

Children’s Message

Parish Announcements Announcements

Presentation Of Tithes, Gifts and Offerings

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow 94 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow WORDS: Thomas Ken, 1674; adapt. by Gilbert H. Vieira, 1978

Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

“Precious Lord, Take my Hand”...Ringwald” Chancel Choir

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place;

3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!"

5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called again, Samuel!"

And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me.“ Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, `Speak, LORD, for thy servant hears.'"

So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the LORD came and stood forth, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for thy servant hears."

Psalm 139 R ESPONSE (General) Ps. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. Psalm 139 (Response)

R 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You searched out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You pursue me behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. R

7 Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea.

10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Let only darkness cover me, and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with you.R

13 For it was you who formed my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you, for you are fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are your works! You know me very well;

15 my frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance; in your book were written the days that were formed for me, every day, before they came into being.

17 How profound to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with you.R

19 O that you would slay the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me,

20 those who maliciously defy you, who lift themselves up against you for evil.

21 Do I not hate them that hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe them that rise up against you?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts;

24 and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!R

12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. 13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food“ -- and God will destroy both -- and God will destroy both one and the other.

The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh."

17 But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?

17 But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body.

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

“Are You Going to Take That Call?” Rev. Lillian Smith

The Summons John Bell Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? © 1987 WGRG The Iona Community (Scotland), admin. by GIA Publications, Inc. 1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? © 1987 WGRG The Iona Community (Scotland), admin. by GIA Publications, Inc. The Summons (Verse 1)

Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? The Summons (Verse 2)

Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? The Summons (Verse 3)

Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen, and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4. Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? The Summons (Verse 4)

Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. The Summons (Verse 5)

In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.