(Image: “What Wondrous Love Is This” Moyers, Mike, 2014, US)
©Order of Worship for Sunday July 26, 2026
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here Link (Link opens in a new window)
Prelude:“Through all the Changing Scenes of Life”..Greg D.
Coming of the Light:……………………………………….
Greetings:………………………………………..…Pastor Liz
Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
Call to Worship/Opening Prayer: ……………..Robin C.
In defiance of corruption and falsehood,
we commit to truth and integrity
and we pray for honesty and uprightness
to increase in our world.
In defiance of apathy and hatred,
we choose to be proactive in love
and we pray for understanding and peace
to increase in our world.
In defiance of skepticism and cynicism,
we embrace the mystery of faith
and we pray for humility and wonder
to increase in our world.
In defiance of self-interest and human arrogance,
we celebrate God’s salvation
and we pray for compassion and faith
to increase in our world.
In defiance of all that would oppose God’s purpose among us,
we choose again to follow Christ,
and we continue to pray,
not just now, but at all times. Amen.
John van De Larr
Opening Hymn: “Through all the Changing Scenes of Life”
Words: Tate and Brady, Music: George Thomas Smart, Public Domain
1. Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.
2. Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt His name;
when in distress to Him I called,
He to my rescue came.
3. The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliverance He affords to all
who on His succor trust.
4. Oh, make but trial of His love,
experience will decide
how blest they are, and only they,
who in His truth confide.
5. Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you His service your delight,
your wants shall be His care.
Passing of the Peace:………………………………..Pastor Liz
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Giving of our tithes and offerings ………Pastor Liz
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
Offertory:………Hymn: “Begone, Unbelief”……..Congregation
Words: John Newton Music: Franz Joseph Haydn
1. Begone, unbelief, my Savior is near,
and for my relief will surely appear;
by prayer let me wrestle, and He will perform;
with Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.
2. Though dark be my way, since He is my Guide,
‘Tis mine to obey, ‘Tis His to provide;
though cisterns be broken, and creatures all fail,
the word He hath spoken shall surely prevail.
3. His love, in time past, forbids me to think
He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink:
Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review
confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through.
4. Why should I complain of want or distress,
temptation or pain? He told me no less;
the heirs of salvation, I know from His Word,
through much tribulation must follow their Lord.
5. How bitter that cup no heart can conceive,
which He drank quite up, that sinners might live!
His way was much rougher and darker than mine;
did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?
6. Since all that I meet shall work for my good,
the bitter is sweet, the medicine, food;
though painful at present, ‘twill cease before long,
and then, oh, how pleasant the conqueror’s song!
Offertory Response:
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #95
The United Methodist Hymnal
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”
Prayer After Receiving:………………………………Pastor Liz
Prayers of the People:………………………………..Pastor Liz
Epistle Lesson:……..Romans 8:26-39……………Robin C.
Nothing can separate us from God’s love
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?
As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hymn of Preparation: It is Well with My Soul #377, UMH
Words: Horatio G. Spaffor, 1873, Music: Phillip P. Bliss, 1876
1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
it is well, it is well with my soul.
2. Thou Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
it is well, it is well with my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the
cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord,
praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
it is well, it is well with my soul.
4. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall
resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is
well with my soul.
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Sermon:…………………………………………………..Pastor Liz
Response to the Word: Holy Communion
Musical response: TFWS #2257-a-b-c-d
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Liz: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Liz: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Liz: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Liz: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Liz: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Liz: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor Liz: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Liz: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Closing Hymn: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #557 UMH
Words: John Fawcett, 1782 Music: Johann G. Nageli
1. Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
2. Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts
and our cares.
3. We share each other’s woes, our mutual burdens bear;
and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
4. When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; but we shall
still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
Dismissal with Blessing:………………………………….Pastor Liz
Postlude:…………………………………………………………Greg D.
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Sunday July 26th Worship Service