Eighth Sunday after Pentecost July 19, 2015

* Please stand as you are able

Prelude “It is Well With My Soul” by Philip P. Bliss, arr. Victor Labenske

Welcome, Announcements, Joys and Concerns

*Song of Praise UMH #176 “Majesty, Worship His Majesty”

*Call to Worship Leader: Come away and rest for a while.

Leave behind your busyness to be fully present to God. People: We have come for relief from life’s turmoil.

God gathers us as a shepherd gathers his sheep. Leader: God’s steadfast love surrounds us here.

We are reminded of God’s enduring faithfulness. People: This is God’s house, and we are God’s children.

God invites us to feel at home in this place. Leader: We have a covenant with our Creator.

This is a time for renewal of our promises. People: God calls for righteousness and justice.

God offers us goodness and mercy all our days.

*Hymn TFWS #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center”

*Unison Prayer Merciful God, Just God, Faithful God, God of blessing and God of our most difficult times, we come to you for a moment of quiet in our self-made busyness. We come to you for energy in our weariness. We come to you for challenge when we are willing to settle for our own small plans and dreams. We long for the peace of your presence, even as we are afraid of the urgency of your call. Enter, Spirit of God, into each of our lives and enliven us; enter, Spirit of God, into our community and enable us to love and serve you and all your children. Amen.

Children’s Time

Hymn Sing 2

Christmas In July is once again being celebrated! We are asking for do-nations to help with our budget. The Christmas tree is up with tags of things the church can use. The tree will be up all of July to get a tag & bring your items. If you want to start shopping here are some sugges-tions:

Toilet Paper (double rolls work the best) Scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner Toilet bowl cleaner Air Fresheners (mild fragrance; no plug-ins, stand alone preferred) Facial tissue 20#, white, 8.5” X 11” paper for the copy machine & printer #932 & #933 printer cartridges Magic Tape Rolls of postage stamps Cash/gift cards to purchase items as needed (gasoline for lawn mow-

ers, small parts to make minor repairs, etc.)

Hope you have fun helping the church in this way in addition to your reg-ular giving. If you have questions, see Debbie McCloney.

Driver needed on Saturday, Nov. 7th: a driver is needed to pick up In-Gatherng kits for the Iowa Nigeria Partnership in Greenfield. Please con-tact Beverly Nolte, 515-266-4186 or beverly.nolte@gmail.com for more information.

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Attendance last week: 49 Calendar for this week: Sunday, July 19: 9:45 a.m. UMC Worship (Food Pantry Sunday) 11:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School & Coffee Hour 11:30 a.m. Bhutanese Nepali Truth Church worship 8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous in Fellowship Hall Tuesday, July 21: 7:00 p.m. SPPRC in Conference Room 7:00 p.m. AA in Fellowship Hall Thursday, July 23: 7:30 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous in Fellowship Hall Friday, July 24: 5:00 p.m. BNTC in Youth Room 8:00 p.m. AA in Fellowship Hall Saturday, July 25: 10:00 a.m. SHARE in Fellowship Hall 2:00 p.m. BNTC in Youth Room 4:00 p.m. Community Meal in Fellowship Hall 7:00 p.m. NA in Fellowship Hall Sunday, July 26: 9:45 a.m. UMC Worship 11:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School & Coffee Hour 11:30 a.m. BNTC worship 8:00 p.m. AA in Fellowship Hall Prayer Concerns: Ft. Des Moines UMC, it’s programs and leaders; the Bhutanese Nepali Truth Church, it’s programs and leaders; those home bound and their care-givers; and those we especially name: Dorothy Bequeaith, Jerry Swigert, Floyd Bresee, Fred Drew, Donna Ness and Jean Volz.

Today is Food Pantry Sunday! Donations of cash, non-perishable food items, diapers, formula and brown paper grocery bags will be received.

Congregational Picnic and Family Fun Day will be held on Sunday, Aug. 2, following the worship service. Bring your own table service, a dish to share, and a hearty appetite! This is for all members, their families, friends, and our neighbors. See Pam Schisel or James Simmons with questions.

Part-time Office Manager/Administrative Assistant: Immanuel UMC in Des Moines seeks a flexible self-starter who enjoys taking on a variety of tasks and working with people to facilitate connections among a caring, Christ-loving group of people. Experience working with Microsoft Of-fice products, comfort managing financial records, and skills in database management are required. Experience with electronic media a plus. Sala-ry range is $22-25K, 32 hours per week, Monday-Thursday. Please send a cover letter and resume to sprc@immanueldsm.org no later than Wednesday, July 29, 2015.

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Scripture Readings Responsive Reading: Psalm 23 (NRSV) L: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. P: He makes me lie down in green pastures; L: he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. P: He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. L: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; P: for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. L: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; P: you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. L: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, P: and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

New Testament Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22 (NRSV) So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also 3

members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

*Hymn UMH # 378 “Amazing Grace”

Gospel Reading: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 (NRSV) The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Sermon “You Who Were Once Far Off ” Rev. Kathy Sides

Call to Prayer UMH #472 “Near to the Heart of God”

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy

kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 4

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offering “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” Traditional, arr. Phillip Keveren

Doxology UMH#94

Prayer of Dedication Receive our best, gracious God, as we offer ourselves along with these tokens of thanks. Strengthen us so we may be your faithful witnesses. Send us where you need us most. Use our gifts to spread your love. Be to us a watchful Parent, and teach us to live as sisters and brothers who find you in one another and respond in love to each other’s needs. Amen.

*Hymn TFWS #2223 (vs. 1-3) “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”

*Sending Forth Leader: Live with hope, for God is with us every day.

We are citizens with the saints in God’s family. People: We are one in Christ, who died for us.

We are one in the Spirit who creates community. All: We commit ourselves to help as God gives us

strength. Amen.

*Response TFWS #2223 (vs. 4) “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”

Postlude “Wonderful Peace” by W. G. Cooper

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Welcome! We are a community of faith in worship and action,

open to all in the spirit and love of God.

Please sign the friendship pad in the pew. Everyone is welcome to stay for refreshments and a time of visiting with your church family follow-ing the service.

We welcome children in our worship service. However, if necessary, we do have a nursery and cry room on the second floor. It is unattend-ed so you will need to remain with your child. The cry room is located to the left at the top of the stairs and a nursery is located to the right (4th door on your right) at the top of the stairs.

Worship Assistants Liturgist - Greg Brain

Choir Director - Pamela Schisel Ushers - Jim Keller Sound - Rod Kent

Staff Rev. Kathy Sides, pastor

Laurie Jenkins, Church Musician Jane White, Administrative Assistant

Chris Wulf, Custodian

Sunday Schedule Worship at 9:45 a.m.

Coffee Hour at 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion is generally celebrated

the first Sunday of the month

Sunday School (11:00—11:45) Classes will run through May 17, 2015.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost July 19, 2015

Fort Des Moines

United Methodist Church 6205 SW 9th St. Des Moines, IA 50315-5516

Office phone: 515-285-6545 ftdsmumc@qwestoffice.net (Jane)

kathysides@hotmail.com (Pastor Kathy) web site: www.fdmumc.org