CHURCH CONFERENCE WORSHIP 2015 New England Annual Conference United Methodist Church Theme: Circles of Hope: Powered by Witness and Service ENTERING GOD S PRESENCE CALL TO WORSHIP I hereby call the Church Conference of [church name] into session and ask for your response. We are here as a United Methodist community of God to account for our ministries, order our life together, and to resolve that in the year ahead we will answer the call of Jesus Christ to his disciples, leading this church into active ministries of love and justice. Let us pause to open ourselves to the power of God s abiding presence as we sing together: SONG Circle of Hope v.s 1 [sing twice to the tune The Gift of Love, UMH #408] Circle of Hope circle of light guiding our days guarding our nights sustaining love thru dim and bright Circle of Hope, Circle of Hope. WE HEAR GOD S WORD SCRIPTURE Isaiah 62 (selections) Reader 1: For Zion s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem s sake I will not rest, Reader 2: until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. Reader 3: You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, Reader 4: Go through, go through the gates, 1
prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, Reader 5: clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. They shall be called, The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD ; Reader 6: and you shall be called, Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken. SUNG RESPONSE Wonderful Words of Life UMH #600 [vs. 1 sung] Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life, Let me more of their beauty see, Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty. Refrain: wonderful words of life. GOSPEL LESSON Mark 4: 32-34 [The Message] "How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It's like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it." With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots. The Word of God for the people of God! Thanks be to God! SUNG RESPONSE [vs. 2 sung] Christ, the blessed One, gives to all Wonderful words of life; Sinner, list to the loving call, Wonderful words of life; All so freely given, wooing us to heaven. Refrain: 2
SHARING: CIRCLES OF HOPE wonderful words of life. SUNG RESPONSE [vs. 3 sung] Sweetly echo the Gospel call, offer pardon and peace to all, Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever. Refrain: wonderful words of life. CHURCH CONFERENCE Having been reminded that we are all called to ministry together, lay and clergy alike, let us enter into the business of your Church conference. 1. Election of Secretary 2. Lay Leadership/Nominations Report and Election of Church Leaders and Trustees 3. Examination and Recommendation of Candidates for Church Related Vocations. 247:10 4. Reaffirm Candidates for Ministry and Lay Servants 5. Paper Ballot for any New Candidate for Ministry 6. Staff Parish Relations Report: Approval of Pastoral Compensation, And Other Staff Appointed By The Bishop 7. Retired Pastor or Extension Ministry Report 8. Trustee Report 9. Year-to-date Finance Report 10. 2014 Audit/Fund Balance Report 11. Membership Report and Remembrance of the Saints 12. Any other Business and/or any Additional Remarks INVITATION TO COMMUNION Superintendent: All are welcome to this meal of bread and cup of communion who desire to live in the love and peace of Jesus Christ that draws us into care for each other and all the world. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Superintendent: Let us be honest before God: All: Holy Living God, you call us to be wonderful words of life to all, creating circles of hope through our witness and service. But sometimes we draw our circles too small, afraid to open our lives and our hearts to those in need. Silent Reflection 3
Forgive us, we pray. [ Circle of Hope vs 2, sung twice] Threads of our lives. tattered and torn woven together now we are one Strength of the whole, young and the old threads of our lives, Circle of Hope. All [spoken]: Give us strength, give us courage. Call us again to tell stories of hope, and to be stories of hope. Remember that Jesus promised to be with us always through the Spirit. Be assured of his presence now! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God! Amen! As forgiven and called people, I invite you to pass the peace of Christ with each other and to make a circle (around the table/around the sanctuary) for our communion prayer. Please take your bulletin with you. If standing is difficult for you, please find a place to be seated where you can be part of the circle. THE LORD S SUPPER The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give you thanks and praise! It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth [the presider continues] Along with all of creation, and along with all the company of heaven, we hear the chorus of saints in every time and place praising you! Holy, holy, holy! All creation witnesses to your holy name! Blessed are all who serve for your glory! Hosanna in the highest! Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ [the presider continues] And so, we offer ourselves to you, O God, for we are the witnesses to these things: 4
All: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again! You are invited to place your right hand on the shoulder next to you, connecting us all in this circle of hope. [the presider continues] COMMUNION PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING Let us sing our closing pray together: [ Circle of Hope vs 3, sung twice] Safe in God s Love, now we must go, sharing the Word: Love is for all. Reach out our hands, the Circle grows; safe in God s love, Circle of Hope. SONG You Are Called to Tell the Story [Tune: Angels from the Realms of Glory] You are called to tell the story, passing words of life along, then to blend your voice with others as you sing the sacred song. Christ be known in all our singing, filling all with songs of love. You are called to teach the rhythm of the dance that never ends, then to move within the circle, hand in hand with strangers, friends. Christ be known in all our dancing, touching all with hands of love. You are called to set the table, blessing bread as Jesus blessed, then to come with thirst and hunger, needing care like all the rest. Christ be known in all our sharing, feeding all with signs of love. May the One whose love is broader than the measure of all space give us words to sing the story, move among us in this place. Christ be known in all our living, filling all with gifts of love. 5
FORMAL MOTION TO ADJOURN THE CHURCH CONFERENCE As our time together comes to an end, I declare this Church Conference adjourned. We are grateful for all that has transpired and we look to the future filled with God s possibilities for our ministry! BENEDICTION The love of God; the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; the power of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forevermore. Amen. Circle of Hope Words by Deb McBride. Used with permission. Wonderful Words of Life words and music by Philip P. Bliss. You Are Called to Tell the Story words by Ruth Duck. 6