August 25, 2019 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m.

New Worship Service – Due to increased worship attendance in the fall, a third traditional service is being offered in the gymnasium at 9:45 a.m. until we return to the sanctuary. Help spread the word and consider attending this new worship service.

GATHERING OPENING VOLUNTARY I Love to Tell the Story Anna Laura Page GREETING

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING † HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, For the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given. For that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Raleigh Grant, child of Edy and Gibbons Addison (8:30 a.m.) Marion Ellis, child of Devon and Ellis McKnight (11:00 a.m.) Ada Gage, child of Erin and Zach Jopling (11:00 a.m.)

Pastor to congregation: Do you, as Christ’s body, the church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ? We do.

Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include this family, now before you, in your care? With God’s help we will proclaim the Good News and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround this family with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others. We will pray for them that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE all sing (Child’s first and middle name), God claims you, God helps you, protects you, and loves you too.

We this day do all agree, a child of God you’ll always be. (Child’s first and middle name), God claims you, God helps you, protects you, and loves you too.

OUR SHARED LIFE The flowers are given to the glory of God and in memory of Vern Wright by his wife and family.

The votive candles are in memory of Sheridan Harris, Lt. Col. Phil St. Amant, and Chuck Voelker.

PRAYER AND 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. 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.

Children are invited to the altar for the children’s sermon.

† HYMN Wounded World that Cries for Healing Wounded world that cries for healing here we hold each other’s pain, Wounded systems, bruised and bleeding bear the load, the scars of strain; Dollars ration our compassion, hard decisions rule the day, Jesus of the healing Spirit, free us to another way! Honor those whose loving spirit nurses hope, restores and heals, Towel and basin used in service like the Christ who comes and kneels; In the tending, in the mending may we see the right and fair, In our common quest for wholeness heal each other by our care.

CHILDREN’S SERMON (8:30 and 11:00 a.m.)

† PASSING OF THE PEACE Ancient words of greeting and forgiveness may be used when Passing the Peace to those around you, saying either: “The peace of God be with you” or “The peace of Christ be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS Please register your attendance on the Connect Card, located in the black basket at the end of each row. Place your card in the offering basket.

OFFERTORY Lord, Here Am I John Ness Beck Master, Thou callest, I gladly obey; only direct me, and I’ll find Thy way. Teach me the mission appointed for me, what is my labor and where it shall be. Master, Thou callest, and this I reply, “Ready and willing, Lord, here am I.” Willing, my Savior, to take up the cross; willing to suffer reproaches and loss; willing to follow if Thou will but lead; only support me with grace in my need. Living or dying, I still would be Thine. Yet I am mortal while Thou art divine. Pardon, whenever I turn from the right; pity, and bring me again to the light.

† DOXOLOGY Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

† PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

† GOSPEL LESSON Luke 13:10-17

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

SERMON The Great Physician Reverend Whitton and Amanda Lyons Set Sunday Free Reverend Greg Toney (9:45 a.m.)

INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP † HYMN Lord of the Dance I danced in the morning when the world was begun, And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth. At Bethlehem I had my birth. Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he. I danced on the Sabbath when I cured the lame, The holy people said it was a shame; They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high; And they left me there on a cross to die. Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he. They cut me down and I leapt up high, I am the life that’ll never, never die; I’ll live in you if you live in me; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. Dance, then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

Classes, Events & Mission Opportunities

Welcome to First United Methodist Church

SENDING FORTH

† BENEDICTION CLOSING VOLUNTARY Recessional Michael Larkin

LEADING TODAY’S WORSHIP

Preaching Reverend Brady Whitton, Senior Pastor (8:30 and 11:00 a.m.) Reverend Greg Toney, Associate Pastor (9:45 a.m.) Liturgist Reverend Dr. Jane Riecke, Associate Pastor Crucifer Chris Perez (8:30 a.m.); Joseph Serpas (11:00 a.m.) Acolytes Will Stout (8:30 a.m.); Philip Underwood (11:00 a.m.) Lay Reader Lee Ann Lockridge (8:30 a.m.); Mark Goodson (11:00 a.m.) Musicians Jamey Wright and Taylor Stricklin, Soloists (8:30 and 9:45 a.m.) Chancel Choir (11:00 a.m.) Richard Webb, Music Associate/Piano Lamar Drummonds, Director of Music and Worship Children’s Sermon Karen Spencer Soundboard Rick Waldrop (8:30 a.m.); Tripp Fairly (11:00 a.m.)

Childcare is available during all services for children ages 6 weeks through Kindergarten. Check-in is located in the Conference Center. FUMC offers Sunday morning groups for children and youth from 9:40-

10:40 a.m. Let us assist you in finding a group by visiting the Check-in table located in the Conference Center. New to First Methodist? Stop by Café 930 in the Conference Center for coffee

and tea, and meet people who have a genuine love for the church. Café 930 is open every Sunday from 9:30-10:50 a.m. and following the 11:00 a.m. service. While sanctuary worship is being held in the gymnasium, Sunday morning

activities normally taking place in the gymnasium (coffee, refreshments, event registrations, mission items) will be held in the Conference Center.

The Welcoming & Inviting Ministry will offer a church facility tour today at 10:00 a.m. and again at 12:00 p.m. Please meet at the Information Station located near the Conference Center. Grab a cup of coffee, sign-in, and join us!

Find fellowship this fall: Our next supper club event will be held on October 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Ory Parish Hall. Join us and connect with a group of 6 to 8 people who will share meals and grow together in friendship and faith. Register online or email kmilioto@firstmethodist.org.

Believe and Belong is your opportunity to talk with the pastoral staff about why following Jesus is so important and how we follow Jesus in the Methodist tradition. This event will be held on September 10 and 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Zea’s Rotisserie at Town Center (dinner is included). To register, email Reverend Dr. Riecke at jriecke@firstmethodist.org or Sonia Fealing, Director of Inviting and Welcoming, at sfealing@firstmethodist.org.

Are you (or a loved one) experiencing the pain of separation or divorce? You may feel isolated and have lots of questions about issues you've never faced before. Starting September 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., a DivorceCare group will meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Please register online at https://firstmethodist.org/connect-groups.

Looking for something meaningful and different for your family vacation at Mardi Gras? First United Methodist Church is planning a Friends-and-Families Mission Trip to Costa Rica Mission Projects, February 22-29. For more information, contact Judy Foust at jpfoust@ccr.brcoxmail.com.

The Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal will begin on Wednesday, September 4 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served in the Children’s Dining Room.

We Celebrate Today’s Birthdays Mark Boudreaux

Lynda Brooks Kate Brown

Debbie Carline Skylar Gagliano Monica Hadlock

Tommy Humphreys Kyle Keegan

Cheryl Kirchoff Lorraine Kirk Bert Kouns

Alison Lagarde

Maci Mannina Amelia McNeal Jeanne Mixson Lucas Murry Mike Oubre Britney Piner

Adeline Plaisance Jill Rehn

Patsy Richmond Monica Searcy

Carmel Wasemiller Henry Yorn

Generations Sanctuary Renovation Update On August 5, work began to replace the underlayment beneath the Spanish tile roof on the entire sanctuary building. The Building and Grounds Committee has decided to install a sprinkler system in the entire 1926 sanctuary building (lower level, sanctuary, administrative offices, and classrooms) as part of the sanctuary renovation. Installation at this time makes financial sense while scaffolding is in place in the sanctuary and the general contractor is on site.

Casavant Organbuilders has extended an invitation to tour their shop, witness their craftspeople in action, and hear our organ for the first time. A trip is being arranged from November 5-9 to visit Montreal, Quebec City, and the Casavant workshop. Brochures are available in the church office. If you are interested in knowing more, email Lamar Drummonds at lamar@firstmethodist.org. Join us and enjoy beautiful Canada and cool weather!