May 18, 2025

MAY 18, 2025 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER BISHOP SANDRA STEINER BALL ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP REV. DR. RENEE MIKELL ORGANIST & CARILLON BELL CHOIR DIRECTOR - JAMES ROSS * Please Stand If Able Prelude - Praise to The Lord!-Anna Laura Page (Stone Carillon Bell Choir) Welcome & Announcements *Call to Worship Pastor: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the Ruler of glory may come in. People: Who is the Ruler of glory? Pastor: The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! People: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the Ruler of glory may come in. Pastor: Who is this Ruler of glory? People: The Lord of hosts, the Lord is the Ruler of glory! *Prayer of Reconsecration Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a day of rejoicing. We have come together to reconsecrate this building of Stone United Methodist Church. Let us open our hearts and minds to receive God’s Word with faith. May our blessed communion, born of one baptism and nurtured at one table of the Lord, become one temple of the Holy Spirit as we gather in love. People: We present this building to be reconsecrated for the worship of God and the service of all people. Bishop: Dear friends, rejoice that God so moved the hearts of people that this house has been built for praise and prayer…Now, O God, sanctify this place, for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the dominion, and you are exalted as head above all. *Opening Hymn – “We Are the Church” UMH #558 *Unison Prayer Eternal God, we thank you that Christ your living Word speaks to us through the words of Holy Scripture, written of old by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit and proclaimed today by the anointing of the same Spirit. When your Word is read and preached purify the lives and lips of those who speak here, that your Word alone may be proclaimed and your Word alone may be heard and obeyed. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, our Rock and our Redeemer, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Children’s Chat Scripture – Mark 9:30-37 Pastor: The Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God Message: “Confronted by God” Confirmation - The Baptismal Covenant I #33 Tithes and Offering Offertory - A Joyful Alleluia-Cynthia Dobrinski (Stone Carillon Bell Choir) *Doxology – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #94 Prayers of the People - Joys and Concerns *Prayer Hymn – “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” UMH #557 Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer *Closing Hymn – “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” UMH #57 Action Steps and Benediction Postlude - A Trumpet Tune-Denis Eliot This service is recorded and is subject to change upon the movement of the Holy Spirit. The flowers on the altar this morning are given to the glory of God and in honor of this beautiful church upon our 200th anniversary by Anne Finney. Thank you for sharing in this worship service. Please continue to stay in touch through our website (stoneumc.org) and/or by following us on Facebook (Stone UMC). If you have joys or concerns that you would like lifted up in prayer, please fill out the Prayer Card in the pew, on the website, or share them by contacting us at 814-724-6736 or [e-mail]