Online Worship
Worship for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
October 24, 2021

Photo by Zach Long
Getting Centered
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
“Love be our duty.”
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
“I Want A Principle Within” by Robert J. Powell
Call to Worship
One: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
Many: I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
One: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
Many: When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
One: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
Many: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
One: who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
Many: the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those
who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
One: The LORD watches over the strangers; upholds the orphan and
the widow, but brings to ruin the way of the wicked.
Many: The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!

Hymn #410: I Want a Principle Within
Connecting in Prayer
Shared Prayer
Our God, in mystery and silence you are present with us, bringing new life out of destruction, hope out of despair, growth out of difficulty. We thank you that you do not leave us alone but labor to make us whole. Help us to perceive your presence in the unfolding of our lives, and to attend to the gentle guidance of your Spirit, that we may know the joy you give your people. 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.
Word and Reflection
Children’s Time
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.
Hymn #581: Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
Scripture Reading – Mark 12:38-44
Sermon: Duty – Rev. Bill Pattison
Responding
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?
Offertory: “Angélus” (from Sand Salvator) by Henri Mulet
Hymn #408: The Gift of Love
Benediction
May we serve God through love as we fulfill our duty in service to all we meet.
Amen.
Postlude
Finale from Variations on “The Gift of Love” by Janet Linker










