Sunday January 18th Worship Service

(Image: “Sermon on the Mount”, James, Laura, 2010 Painting, New York, NY, United States)

©Order of Worship for Sunday January 18, 2026

Human Relations Day

For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)

The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am

Prelude.………“Abraham, Martin and John”……………Greg D.
Words and Music: Richard Holler © 1968, 1970 renewed Regent Music Corp.
And Beardsley Tunes
 
Coming of the Light:
 
Greetings:………………………………………………Pastor Liz
 
Announcements:………………………………………..Lorri B.
 
Call to Worship:…… Micah 6:8………………..Diane C.
He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
 
Opening Prayer:………………………………………..Diane C.
As the sun rises, so does our prayer, loving God.
With each new dawn, renew our trust in you,
    our delight to do justice,
    and our gladness to be in your presence. Amen.
 
Opening Hymns: Lift Every Voice and Sing #519, UMH
Words James Weldon Johnson, 1921
Music by J. Rosamond Johnson, 1921
 
1. Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,
ring with the harmonies of liberty; 
let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies,
let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
 
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us; 
sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
facing the rising sun of our new day begun, 
let us march on till victory is won. 
 
2. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, 
felt in the days when hope unborn had died; 
yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
 
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered; 
we have come, treading our path thru the blood of the slaughtered,
out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
 
3. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
thou who hast by thy might led us into the light,
keep us forever in the path, we pray.
 
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee,
lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee;
shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand,
true to our God, true to our native land.
 
Passing of the Peace:………………………………Pastor Liz
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri:…….“Glory Be to the Father”…….#71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, to
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
 
Giving of our Tithes and Offerings:……………………Pastor Liz
AFUMC Online Giving Link: https://aventferryumc.org/give/

Offertory:…………..“A Peaceful Alleluia”……………Choir
Words and Music: Jean Anne Shafferman © 1995 Alfred Publishing Co. Inc.
 
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94 UMH
Adapted © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674, adapted by Gilbert Vieira, 1978
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
 
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Prayer After Receiving:……………………………….Pastor Liz
 
The Prayers of the People:………………………….Pastor Liz
 
Prayer:…………………………………………Phillip J. and Eli A.
We remember the conviction of Martin Luther King, Jr., that
    “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor;
    it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
Therefore, let us pray
for courage and determination by those who are oppressed…
 
We remember Martin’s warning that
    “A negative peace which is the absence of tension”
    is less than “a positive peace which is the presence of justice.”
Therefore, let us pray
    that those who work for peace in our world
    may cry out first for justice…
 
We remember Martin’s insight that
    “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
    We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality
    tied in a single garment of destiny.
    Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”
Therefore, let us pray that we may see nothing in isolation,
    but may know ourselves bound to one another
    and to all people under heaven…
 
We remember Martin’s lament that
    “The contemporary church is often a weak, ineffectual voice
    with an uncertain sound.
    It is so often the arch-supporter of the status quo.
    Far from being disturbed by the presence of the Church,
    the power structure of the average community is consoled
    by the Church’s silent and often vocal sanction of things as                                                       they are.”
Therefore, let us pray
    That neither this congregation nor any congregation of Christ’s people may be silent in the face of wrong,
    but that we may be be disturbers of the status quo
    when that is God’s call to us….
 
We remember Martin’s
    “Hope that dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away
    and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted
    from our fear-drenched communities
    and in some not too distant tomorrow
    the radiant stars of love and brotherhood
    will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating                                                         beauty.”
Therefore, in faith, let us commend ourselves and our work
for justice to the goodness of almighty God. 
          (Quotations from Letter from the Birmingham City Jail by
                                                               Martin Luther King, Jr.)
 
Anthem:……………“Eternal Life”……………Samantha M.
Words: St. Francis of Assisi Music: Olive Dungan Arr. William Stickles
© 1950 The John Church Co.
 
Gospel Lesson: ………….Matthew 5:1-12……Diane C.
The teaching of Christ: Beatitudes
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Hymn of Preparation:…….“Let There Be Peace on Earth” #431, UMH
Words and Music: Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
© 1955 Assigned to Jan-Lee Music
 
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me; 
let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. 
With God our creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. 
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now. 
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: 
to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. 
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
 
Message: …………………………………….Pastor Liz
 
Response to the Word: 
 
Closing Hymn:“Christ Has Broken Down the Wall” #3122 W&S
Words and Music: Mark A. Miller © Choristers Guild
 
1. Christ has broken down the wall,
Christ has broken down the wall.  Let us join our
hearts as one, Christ has broken down the wall.
 
2. We’re accepted as we are,
we’re accepted as we are.  Through God’s love all is
reconciled, we’re accepted as we are.
 
3. Cast aside your doubts and fears,
cast aside your doubts and fears.  Peace and love, freely
offered here; cast aside your doubts and fears.
 
4. We will tear down the walls!
We will tear down every wall! God has called us,
one and all;  Christ has broken down the wall!
 
Dismissal with Blessing:…………………………..Pastor Liz
 
Postlude:…………………………………………………..Greg D.

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