†Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Introit “There’s A Song” (Hanson) TFWS 2141
All I need is You, Jesus, all I need is You.
You are the source of all I need.
All I need is You.
All I want is You, Jesus, all I want is you.
You are the source of all I need.
All I want is You.
My only hope is You, Lord.
My only hope is You.
You are the source of all I need:
My only hope is You.
†Call to Worship
Come, people of God, to worship the One who calls us into faith on the water.
We come with open hearts, ready to receive grace.
Christ meets us in Word, prayer, song, and service.
The Spirit gathers us and sends us in love.
Let us worship God with joy and expectation. Amen
†Opening Hymn “My Hope is Built” UMH 368
Prayer of Illumination
Holy Spirit, open the Scriptures to us. Let the words read and proclaimed become a living word, so that we may hear Christ, trust your promise, and practice faith on the water in the life of the church. Amen.
A Reading from the Old Testament Genesis 37:1-4,12-28 NRSV
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. These are the descendants of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him an ornamented robe. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring word back to me.”So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.'” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him” –that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the ornamented robe that he wore, and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat, and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Congregational Prayer
Merciful God, we pray for the church, for our neighbors, and for all who carry heavy burdens. Where there is weariness, give strength; where there is division, give peace; where there is grief, give comfort; where there is injustice, give courage. Form us as a people who embody growing with patience, and make Lovely Lane a witness of beloved community for Baltimore and beyond. Amen.
Passing of the Peace “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” UMH 334
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Response “Sanctuary” TFSW 2164
A Reading from the Epistles Romans 10:5-15 NRSV
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down)”or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Sermon Reverend Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
†Responsive Hymn “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” UMH 474
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “All I Need Is You”
Offering Prayer
Generous God, receive these gifts as signs of gratitude and trust. Use them to strengthen worship, deepen discipleship, serve our neighbors, and bear witness to set the mind in Jesus’ name. Amen.
†Closing Hymn “How Firm a Foundation” UMH 529
†Benediction
Go in peace. Practice hospitality, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Amen.
†Benediction Response “Now We Our Vow of Faith Renew” Huber
Now we our vow of faith renew,
Stretch wide our sights to global view,
And claim with Christians far and near
A larger family held dear.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude