Ayden United Methodist Church

We will gather once again on Sunday evening, June 7 at 5 pm in the field outside the church for worship. This outdoor gathering (weather permitting) will be our practice until we feel that we can safely bring worship indoors again. This Sunday we will be celebrating Holy Communion using individual self-serve communion cups. Hymns will be printed and distributed before the service, but we ask that you download and print the order of worship, or view it on your mobile devices. We look forward to seeing you there.

An Order for Evening Praise June 7, 2020

Welcome and Invocation

       Leader:       No one has ever seen God

       All:         but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is perfected in us.

Opening Prayer

       God of all creation, we gather today as your covenant people. We are loved by you and called by you to this house of worship. Thank you for the living presence of Jesus Christ who transforms our human attempts at worship. Thank you for your Spirit who empowers our prayer and praise. All glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hymn:    Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (UMH 89)  

Confession and Pardon

Gloria Patri

Prayers of the People

Offerings of Thanksgiving (Doxology)

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13

Sermon:  …and live in peace

Holy Communion*

Hymn:   Holy, Holy, Holy  (UMH, 64)

Dismissal with blessing

 

* Individual communion cups will be distributed by ushers. 

 

PROTOCOLS FOR GATHERING

 

We give thanks for the sustaining power of God in these difficult times, and as we begin to gather together for worship once again, we ask that you follow these simple guidelines: 

• If you are attending in your car, please enter on 3rd street or from MLK street and park behind the cones.
• If you are bringing lawn chairs or blankets, please park in the normal parking lot and find one of the marked spots in the field. Each physically distanced spot is denoted by a circle and spaced out from other spots. We ask that you remain in these spots for the duration of the service.
• We know the urge to gather closer, shake hands and give hugs is strong. In order to steward the health of those others gathered we ask that you refrain from any physical contact with one another outside family units. Greet one another with a friendly wave.
• Masks are appropriate and encouraged, particularly when there is congregational singing.
• There will be no collection of tithes and offerings at this service, but we do encourage you to continue to support the ministry of this church by giving online at www.aydenumc.org or by mailing offerings to PO Box 335, Ayden, NC 28513. Your support has been vital and appreciated.  

 

 

Dear United Methodist friends,

Today, Monday, June 1, 2020, we join an expansive Day of Lament as we remember 100,000 persons who have died as a result of COVID-19 and as we remember the violent murders of Black persons, most recently Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.

In these days of anxiety, grief, violence and fear, let us hear afresh the first verses of the Bible, appointed for Sunday, June 7.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,
and the earth was without form, and void. . .
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good. . .

Thus begins the story of creation and God’s repeated assurance of the goodness of all that God made. This goodness is God’s intent for every person in the human family. This goodness remains our calling and our destiny in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

We must be brave to walk in the light, the beautiful light of Christ. This beautiful light will lay bare the reality of white socialization to blindness of white privilege. This beautiful light will open to all the tragic history of enslavement and racism. This beautiful light will evoke repentance and the fruits of repentance – the dismantling of prejudiced, unjust systems. This beautiful light will reveal all people as a human family deserving of respect, safety and all that promotes wellbeing.

Today, we lament every place of resistance and denial of God’s powerful light. And then, we invite the beautiful light into every place of sickness, loss, grief, violence and pain.

Walk in the light, beautiful light,
Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.
Shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus, the Light of the World.*

With gratitude for your partnership in ministry,

Welcome and Invocation

          Leader:       Holy Spirit, rain down on this place.

          All:         Let our souls drink your goodness.

          Leader:       Let our hearts overflow.

          All:         Holy Spirit, rain down on this place!

 

Opening Prayer

          O Great Spirit, whose breath gives life to the world, and whose voice is heard in the soft breeze; we need your strength and wisdom. Cause us to walk in beauty. Help us to be wise so that we may understand what you have taught us. Make us always ready to come to you with clean hands and steady eyes, so when life fades, our spirits may come to you without shame. Amen.

 

Hymn:    Amazing Grace (Click link for music)

Confession and Pardon

Affirmation of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed

Prayers of the People

Scripture: Acts 2:1-12

Sermon: All Together in One Place

Hymn:   What a Friend We Have in Jesus  (Click link for music)

Dismissal with Blessing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROTOCOLS FOR GATHERING

 

We give thanks for the sustaining power of God in these difficult times, and as we begin to gather together for worship once again, we ask that you follow these simple guidelines: 

 

• If you are attending in your car, please enter on 3rd street or from MLK street and park behind the cones.

 

• If you are bringing lawn chairs or blankets, please park in the normal parking lot and find one of the marked spots in the field. Each physically distanced spot is denoted by a circle and spaced out from other spots. We ask that you remain in these spots for the duration of the service.

 

• We know the urge to gather closer, shake hands and give hugs is strong. In order to steward the health of those others gathered we ask that you refrain from any physical contact with one another outside family units. Greet one another with a friendly wave.

 

• Masks are appropriate and encouraged, particularly when there is congregational singing.

 

• There will be no collection of tithes and offerings at this service, but we do encourage you to continue to support the ministry of this church by giving online at www.aydenumc.org or by mailing offerings to PO Box 335, Ayden, NC 28513. Your support has been vital and appreciated.  

As we navigate the first stages of worshiping together in one place again, and try to adapt and respond to the realities of COVID-19, we have decided that rather than rushing back indoors this Sunday we will continue to worship outdoors until we feel we can safely move back inside the sanctuary.

This means we will hold another outdoor worship service this Sunday 5/31 at 5 pm in the field beside the church.

There will be physically distanced spaces designated by circles in the grass. Worshipers can bring lawn chairs or a blanket or join us in your cars by parking behind the orange cones and rolling down your windows. There are plenty of shady spots for everyone.

An order of worship and additional information will be available (posted on the church website and sent out by email) on Friday 5/29.

Also, as I understand not everyone is able to or comfortable with gathering for worship at this time I will also continue to post video sermons weekly on YouTube.

 

-Pastor Jim