First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the 15th Sunday after the Pentecost

September 18th, 2022

Photo by Zach Long

Gathering

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“We merge our hearts with yours.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

“Majesty” by Jack Hayford Arranged by Mark Hayes

Call to Worship

One: God calls you here, and welcomes you in.
Many: God’s calls and God’s welcomes open our hearts.
One: The Holy One reminds you that you are loved.
Many: May God’s love define our lives.

Hymn #405: “Seek Ye First”

Praying

Shared Prayer

Gracious God,
you call us to embrace
both you and the people of this world
with unconditional love.
Give us grace to discern
what your love asks of us,
that, being faithful in things
both great and small,
we may live with
undivided hearts. Amen

Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father (Creator)
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, for ever. Amen.

Listening and Reflecting

Scripture Reading: Psalm 113 and Luke 16:1-13

Time with Young People: “Praise God”

Poem: “Today, When I Could Do Nothing” Jane Hirshfield

Hymn #68: “When in Our Music God is Glorified”

Passing of the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

Sermon: “Role Model?”

Responding

Offertory: “Prelude in G-flat Major (Op. 11, No. 13)” by Alexander Scriabin

Offering

Photo by Larry McArthur
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

A Giving Away Prayer

Holy One,
If we can only serve one of two masters,
we chose You.
The master of love, the mistress of grace.
And we give you all the other choices:
we give to you of our wealth,
we give to you of our time,
we give to you of labor,
we give to you of our
relationships.
In all that we are,
all that we seek,
and all that we offer,
we seek to serve you.
May our offerings be blessed,
to be used for the kindom.
Amen

Hymn #399: “Take My Life and Let It Be”

Benediction

Dear Ones, you serve a good and loving God.
May your return from worship, into the world, be a time of blessing,
and may you be able to share goodness and love, wherever you go. Amen

Postlude: “Prelude in Classic Style” by Gordon Young