14 September 2023 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

You Are Good – W&S 3014

Opening Prayer

Alison Johnson

(adapted from Xhosa, South Africa, An African Prayer Book by Desmond Tutu)

Thou art the great God–the one who is in heaven.
It is thou, thou Shield of Truth,
it is thou, thou Tower of Truth,
it is thou, thou Bush of Truth,
it is thou, thou who sittest in the highest,
thou art the creator of life,
thou madest the regions above.
The creator who madest the heavens also,
the maker of the stars and the Pleiades–
the shooting stars declare it unto us.
The maker of the blind, of thine own will didst thou make them.
The trumpet speaks–for us it calls,
Thou art the Hunter who hunts for souls.
Thou art the Leader who goes before us,
thou art the Great Mantle which covers us.
Thou art the One whose hands are wounded;
thou art the One whose feet are wounded;
thou art the One whose blood is a trickling stream–and why?
Thou art the One whose blood was spilled for us.
For this great price we call,
for thine own place we call.
Amen.

Responsive Scripture Reading

Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18, 20-21 (UMH 135)

Jacqualine Chipongo

Singing: Be exalted, Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
Leader: Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,
All: “I will sing to the Lord, who has triumphed gloriously;
The horse and its rider God has thrown into the sea.
Leader: The Lord is my strength and my song, And has become my salvation;
All: This is my God whom I will praise.
Leader: I will exalt my father’s God who is a mighty warrior, whose name is the Lord.
All: Pharaoh’s chariots and his host the Lord cast into the sea;
And his chosen officers are sunk in the Red Sea.
Leader: The floods cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.
All: Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

Singing: Be exalted, Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Leader: “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
All: You stretched out your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
Leader: In your steadfast love, you have led the people whom you have redeemed;
All: You have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

Singing: Be exalted, Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Leader: You will bring them in, and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
All: The Lord will reign for ever and ever.”

Singing: Be exalted, Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Leader: Then Miriam, the prophet, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing, and Miriam sang to them:
All: “Sing to the Lord, who has triumphed gloriously;
The horse and its rider the Lord has thrown into the sea.”

Singing: Be exalted, Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Hymn

Onward, Christian Soldiers – UMH 575

Scripture Reading – John 3:13-17

Dr. Kevin Newburg

3No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Anthem

“I Choose Love” – Miller

Seminary Choir

Sermon

Dr. Kevin Newburg

Call to Communion

Come, Let Us Eat – UMH 625

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Dr. Kevin Newburg
Servers: Dohee Woo, Marcel Okito

Song

Mercy – Thompson/Miller

V1
Mercy, bread freshly broken
Mercy, deep crimson wine
Mercy, words humbly spoken
Mercy for all, myst’ry divine
Mercy for all, myst’ry divine
V2
Mercy, heartfelt confession
Mercy, truth bravely said
Mercy, willing surrender
Mercy for all, through wine and bread
Mercy for all, through wine and bread
Chorus
O God, pour out your mercy
Rivers of compassion
Hold us close in your keeping
Show us your face
Unending grace
V3
Mercy, holy forgiveness
Mercy, made new again
Mercy, blessed to be blessings
God’s love for all, grace without end
God’s love for all, grace without end