11 February 2025 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

“O Come to the Altar” – Words: Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye

Verse 1
Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your life
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling

Chorus
O come to the altar
Creator’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious love of Jesus Christ

Verse 2
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Bridge
Oh what a Savior
Isn’t God wonderful
Sing alleluia Christ is risen
Bow down before God
For God is Lord of all
Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Call to Worship

Crystal James

Adapted from Joanna Harader, Spacious Faith

Leader: Jesus calls us
to praise and prayer,
to song and silence;
All: Jesus calls us to worship.

Leader: Jesus calls us
to hearing and healing,
to service and solidarity;
All: Jesus calls us to love.

Leader: Jesus calls us
to advocacy and action,
to protest and provision;
Jesus calls us to justice.
All: Let us heed the call of Christ.
Let us worship together with joy.

Opening Song

“Where He Leads Me” (UMH #338)
Words: E.W. Blandy, Music: John S. Norris

I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling,
“Take thy cross and follow, follow me.”

Refrain:
Where he leads me I will follow,
where he leads me I will follow,
where he leads me I will follow;
I’ll go with him, with him all the way.

I’ll go with him through the garden,
I’ll go with him through the garden,
I’ll go with him through the garden,
I’ll go with him, with him all the way.
(Refrain)
I’ll go with him through the judgment,
I’ll go with him through the judgment,
I’ll go with him through the judgment,
I’ll go with him, with him all the way.
(Refrain)
He will give me grace and glory,
he will give me grace and glory,
he will give me grace and glory,
and go with me, with me all the way.
(Refrain)

Opening Prayer

Sam Smith

Adapted from Bob Gibson, United Church of Canada

Leader: You call us,
Wanderer of seashores and sidewalks,
inviting us to sail out of our smug harbors
into the uncharted waters of faith
to wander off from our predictable paths to follow You
into the unpredictable footsteps of the kindom;
to leave the comfort of our homes and accompany
You into the uncomfortable spaces and places we usually avoid.

As we wait,
in our simple, yet sometimes complicated,
constantly uncertain lives,
speak to us, Spirit of Grace:
of that hope which is our anchor;
of that peace which is our rock;
of that grace which is our refuge.

All: Amen.

Scripture Reading – Luke 5:1-11

Maeve Perrin

5Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ 5Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ 9For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Leader: The Word of God for the People of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon

“They Left Everything and Followed Him”

Rev. Dr. Alice Kim

Musical Response

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” – Anonymous

1 I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus –
no turning back, no turning back.

2 The world behind me, the cross before me,
the world behind me, the cross before me,
the world behind me, the cross before me –
no turning back, no turning back.

3 Though none go with me, still I will follow,
though none go with me, still I will follow,
though none go with me, still I will follow—
no turning back, no turning back.