United Methodist Church of Vista

August 17, 2008 “14th Sunday after Pentecost” 10:30 am

“We are called to be an authentic and accessible community of God’s love.”

We welcome you to the celebration of good news and the fellowship of this congregation.

We hope that you will be both comforted and challenged by the Word of God for us today.

If you are worshipping here for the first time, we hope you will consider making this your church home.

We welcome the diversity of all God’s children.

SILENT MEDITATION

“The Bible is not only a book which I can understand; it is also a book which understands me.”

--Emile Caillet

GATHERING

PRELUDE “Priere Offertoire” (Deored) -Louise Foss

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

(Please complete the registration card found in the bulletin and place in the offering.

Prayers and comments may be written on the back of the card.)

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: We are called to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.

People: We offer to God our hearts, our souls and our minds in love

and devotion.

Leader: We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

People: We offer our care and concern for our neighbors.

Leader: Our neighbors may be near or far, friends or enemies.

People: All who are created by God are children of God.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

*HYMN OF PRAISE “Wonderful Words of Life” -UMH 600

UNISON PRAYER

O God, who loves us enough to give us guidance for our lives: grant us the wisdom to understand that we are not to worship the commandments but the One who gave them. Help us to love you and care for others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (NRSV) -Lenore Averell

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? … for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

HYMN OF PREPARATION “Thy Word is a Lamp” –UMH 601

SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 15:21-28 (The Message) -Lenore Averell

From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills and pleaded, “Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit.” Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, “Now she’s bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She’s driving us crazy.” Jesus refused, telling them, “I’ve got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. “Master, help me.” He said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” She was quick: “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.” Jesus gave in. “Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well.

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

SPECIAL MUSIC “Be Still, My Soul” (Arr.: Ginny Owens) -Barbara Mitchell

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

THE MESSAGE “Has God Rejected Us?” -Rev. George Hooper

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

OFFERING OUR TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Offertory “Pastoriale (Forest Green)” (Purves) -Louise Foss

*Doxology “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” -UMH 94

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE 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.

GOING FORTH

*HYMN OF SENDING “It is Well With My Soul” -UMH 377

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Marche Religieuse” (Jongen) -Louise Foss

Flowers on the altar are given by Jim and Beverly Wright
in honor of their 51^st wedding anniversary on August 27.

“Open Hearts…Open Minds…Open Doors”

PARTNERS IN MINISTRY

Ministers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Members of the Congregation

Lay Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norm Corwin/Lynda Mounts

Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. George Hooper

Minister of Music of Fine Arts/Facilities Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Frank Hallock

Music Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Mahin

Church Organist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louise Foss

Family Ministries Co-Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Lee/Juna Spitz

Church Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula Amaro

Bookkeeper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murray

Nursery Attendants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cindy Rivera/ Brenda Villalva/Laura Stockdale

Pastors Emeriti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Lanny Arrowsmith/D on Diegelman/Rev. Orlie White

Deaconess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zelle Hammond

Clergy from our congregation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Bill Gordon (PAC-NW)/Rev. Laura Rockwell (OR-ID)

Seminary graduate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaime Kim

The Sanctuary is open after services for personal prayer and meditation.

Church Copyright License 213731

Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.

The Sanctuary is open after services for personal prayer and meditation.

                                                                                                             United Methodist Church of Vista
                                                                                                                               490 S. Melrose Dr.
                                                                                                                         Vista, California 92806
                                                                                                     Phone (760) 726-0442     Fax (760) 726-0428
                                                                                                                              Church Secretary
                                                                                                                                     WEB Master