Call to Worship

Song:         “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”        UM Hymnal No. 400

Litany:
Gracious, giving God, You have blessed us with every gift, and especially with the gift of Jesus, who came that we all might have abundant and eternal life.
We give You our hearts and our lives! We seek to follow You through Jesus Christ and to extend his mission by the way that we live.
We give You our passion, our concerns, and our resources – the first and the best of what You have entrusted to us. We also seek to use the rest of what You have given according to Your priorities for all Your creation.
We dedicate ourselves to You, O God, that we may embody Your love for future generations, as well as our own.
Wesley preached the Gospel and put his faith into action. He reached out to those in need, leaving a legacy to transform the lives of people in generations to come. In the same way, we seek to commit ourselves to Your work through the gift of our resources for ministries beyond this lifetime.
May our gifts plant and nurture Your Gospel in future generations. May we continue to be a model of stewardship, so that others may follow in faith. This we pray through Your grace shown us in Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Naming Our Dreams for Future Ministries

Song:        “Pass It On”                        UM Hymnal No. 572

Prayer:
Glowing Cloud and Pillar of Fire, You raise up in each age leaders with a burning vision to guide Your people toward the land of promise.
We remember before You now those who have gone before us, who have left us a legacy of faith. [The people may say aloud specific names.] They have given us bedrock of values and resources with which to serve You throughout our lifetime.
We thank You also for those who have committed themselves to sharing Your vision with those who will come after us. We consecrate our lives to You, that we may share the greatness of life with You with the generations to come.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.