Cranford United Methodist Church

o Prelude
o The Candle Lighting
o Welcome & Announcements
o Call to Worship
Leader: Put away the things you have substituted for God.
Let your worship of the one true God be genuine.
People: We seek to know God and to rejoice before our Creator.
We know that God is beyond all our false images.
Leader: God is not deceived by our solemn assemblies.
Our empty festivals do not impress our God.
People: We want to give joyous expression to a growing faith.
We choose to serve the God whom Jesus revealed.
Leader: Our hope is in God’s grace beyond all judgment.
Our trust is in God’s love, greater than our feeble imitation.
People: We welcome the light God promises us.
We seek to respond with faithful service. Amen.
o Hymn: #122 God of the Sparrow God of the Whale
o Opening Prayer:
God of ages past and days to come, help us embrace both Your ancient wisdom and Your
ongoing guidance. Help us hear anew Your words from years gone by. Open our hearts
and minds to fully embrace what it means to love You, to love ourselves, and to love our
neighbors as You have loved us. With love and gratitude, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
o Affirmation of Faith: UMH #881
o Gloria Patri:
o Prayers of the People
o Hymn: #408 The Gift of Love
o Scripture Readings
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Liturgist: The Word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
o Anthem: 
o Dismissal to Children’s Church
o Scripture Lesson: Matthew 22:15-22
o Sermon: “Love the Lord, Know the Lord”
o Hymn: #432 Jesu, Jesu
o Tithes and Offerings:
o Offertory

o Doxology UMH #95
o Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, bless the offerings of ourselves and our gifts. May they be offerings of love,
for You and for Your people. In loving gratitude, we pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
o Benediction
o Extinguishing of the Candles
o Postlude