sunday, January 9, 2022

​Fruitland United Methodist Church
January 9, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

Prelude “Jesus is Lord” by Robert Hughes

Welcome
The lighting of the candles and welcoming the neighborhood to worship.

Interlude “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Ellen Foncannon

*Call to Worship
 Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
​
Calling Song “Be Not Afraid” (Inspired by Isaiah 43)
Be not afraid
I go before you always
come, follow me and I will give you rest
You shall cross the barren desert
but you shall not die of thirst
you shall wander far in safety
though you do not know the way
you shall speak your words to foreign men
and they will understand
you shall see the face of God and live

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest
If you pass through raging waters in the sea
You shall not drown
If you walk amid the burning flames
You shall not be harmed
If you stand before the power of hell
And death is at your side
Know that I am with you through it all

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest
And blessed are your poor
For the kingdom shall be theirs
Blest are you that weep and mourn
For one day you shall laugh
And if wicked men insult and hate you
All because of me
Blessed, blessed are you

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come, follow me and I will give you rest

Responsive Reading from Psalm 29 (The Message)
Leader: Bravo, God. Bravo! All the angels shout, “Encore!”
People: We stand before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power.
Leader: Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him!
People: God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace.

Unison Invocation
Lord of laughter and tears, sit with us this morning and, through the powerful presence of
Jesus Christ, help us experience the peace that is stronger than terrors without names,
questions without answers, pain without relief.
In His name we pray.  Amen.

Message ‘I Have Called You by Name’ The Chosen (Episode 1)
Try to imagine a world where Jesus was relatively unknown. This first episode takes place in such a world. Jesus plays a very small role in this episode. We will meet several people who will play important roles in the life of Jesus. Most of the episode takes place in Capernaum, a village on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Mary Magdalene:
Jesus healed Mary (this healing is reported but not described) of demon possession. Other than Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdala (her home town), is mentioned more than any other female follower of Jesus. Her healing is mentioned in Luke 8:2-3. In each Gospel she is present at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In this interpretation the adult Mary uses the name Lilith or Lil. There is no mention of this in the Bible. During the earliest years of the Christian Movement, Mary of Magdala is called the “apostle to the apostles.”

Nicodemus:
Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish Council (Sanhedrin) and “the teacher of the Jews.” He had significant religious and political power in occupied Israel and was very interested in Jesus. He is aligned with the religious-political party of Pharisees.  Nicodemus is mentioned by name in John 3:1-21 and John 19:39. 

Matthew:
Matthew was a Jew who was awarded a contract to collect taxes for the Roman occupying
force. This made him an outcast among the general population of Israel (including his family) but made him quite wealthy and grudgingly appreciated by the Roman authorities. Matthew was one of the twelve people called by Jesus to be his apostles. He is the inspired author of The Gospel of Matthew. He is identified as “Levi” in the gospels of Mark and Luke. Matthew was his Greek name. Levi was his Hebrew name.

Simon (Peter):
Simon was a commercial fisherman by trade. He lived and worked in the northern province of
Galilee, fishing the Sea of Galilee. Commercial fisherman work hard but, like all who make their living dependent on the natural world, can work hard and wisely and still not be financially secure. This presentation shows him having serious tax issues. Simon (Peter) was known for his natural leadership skills and impetuous personality. He is married but the name of his wife is not mentioned in the Gospels. Here she is named Eden. Simon is nicknamed “Peter” by Jesus but in this episode that has not yet happened. You will find Simon Peter throughout the first five books of the New Testament.  Read Mark 1:16-20 to see one of the first times he is mentioned.

Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth is the preeminent personality of human history. Christians believe him to be
divine, God incarnate. He was born in occupied Israel over 2,000 years ago and was executed while still a young man. Christians believe that his call to follow him is for every person of every generation. In this presentation Jesus calls Mary by her name and she is changed. He knew her although she did not know him. He knows us as well.  He wants us to be whole, complete, who we were created to be. 
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Commitment Song “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” UMH 348
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.

Refrain:
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me. [Refrain]

O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me. [Refrain]

Unison Benediction
​May the peace of the Lord Jesus go with you wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

Postlude “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” by Daniel B Towner
Thank you for Worshiping with us today!

(CCLI License #1552544)​ 

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