Sunday Pastoral Prayer (May 3/Good Shepherd Sunday) Athens First UMC

[Our church has been hearing about a variety of new folks participating in our worship services since we are now online and you can watch from the comfort of your own home. Bailey, who belongs with the Lee family enjoyed being able to watch yesterday’s worship service. For yesterday’s online service which focused on Jesus as our Good Shepherd, click here.]

O Lord, thank you for this Good Shepherd Sunday in which we are reminded that you are our good shepherd.

It’s now been several weeks in staying at home, and we continue to wonder if we have everything that we need to survive. We have somehow managed to go without some things because of scarcity. And we are discovering that with you as our shepherd, we shall not want.

During this time when our living rooms have been transformed into sanctuaries, we continue to wonder when we will be able to be back in our church building. Thank you for reminding us that for now, we don’t need a church building because you have led us to other green pastures and still waters.

As we watch the news and see that the COVID19 deaths are at the one million mark, thank you for reminding us that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, will will not fear. Netflix and neighborhood walks are helpful, but they are no match for your rod and staff in comforting us during this time.

And we might not be able to gather for our famous church potlucks or sit down at our favorite restaurant, but not to worry because you prepare a table before us and we are satisfied. You provide us with this great banquet in the presence of this invisible enemy.

We might not be able to get the best haircuts while in isolation, but you do anoint our heads with oil.

  

We can’t seem to outrun this virus and get to a point where we get back to normal, but there is hope because surely your goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives.

As we begin to see stores and businesses reopen slowly in these next weeks, and who knows, maybe even our church buildings, don’t let us forget what we have discovered and rediscovered during this time of quarantine. 

You truly are our shepherd, and church building or no church building, we shall dwell in the house of the Lord our whole life long.

As your sheep, we pray together the prayer that the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ taught us to say together…

Sunday (May 3) Online Worship Service Athens First UMC

Welcome to our May 3 online worship @ Athens First UMC!

2 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701

Greeting From Pastor Robert

Call to Worship

L: Do you need a guide?

P: The Lord is our shepherd.

L: Do you need a doorway to new life?

P: The Lord is our gate.

L: Do you need rest?

P: The Lord restores our souls.

L: Do you need care?

P: The Lord is our shepherd.

L: Come, let us worship.

Hymn                          I Come with Joy

Welcome & Passing the Peace

[Bob & Jenny Klein’s very adorable two month old puppy, Oscar invites you to greet one another, not by rubbing noses, but by simply barking, “The peace of Christ be with you!”]

Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance

Lord, Jesus, our shepherd and our gate to new life, we confess that we often neglect to care for our mind, body, and soul. You invite us to follow you to green pastures and still waters, but the cares of the world continue to overwhelm us. Help us to hear and respond to your voice so that we might find fullness of life in you. Guide us into a new season of growth and fruitfulness. Bring out our inner child so that we might take delight in the wonder of your creation. Thank you for being our Good Shepherd who offers us abundant life! Amen.

L: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

P: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

All: Thanks be to God!

Old Testament Lesson -  Psalm 23

                Shelby Martin

[Perhaps the most well known of all the psalms, Psalm 23 is directly related to our Gospel lesson for today because of its reminder that we are sheep and the Lord is our shepherd.]

Gospel Lesson - John 10:1-10

                Kevin Saunier

[In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus is making the case that he is the Good Shepherd. He is even willing to lay down his life for his sheep.]

Special Music  Set Me as a Seal - Rene Clausen (See Below Video for Lyrics)

Minnesota Choral Artists (from the CD, Tonight Eternity Alone) 

Matthew Culloton, Artistic Director

Set me as a seal upon your heart, 

as a seal upon your arm,

For love is strong as death.

Many waters cannot quench love; 

neither can the floods drown it.

Affirmation of Faith      The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. 

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Sermon        The Voice of the Shepherd       
                                                                     Rev. Robert McDowell

Sermon Discussion Questions

Why do you think that Jesus would base his campaign speech on saying that he is the true shepherd, the good shepherd? He says that he is the one who offers us life abundantly. What does that mean to you?

The Gospel of John is known for describing the seven signs of Jesus in showing that he truly is the Good Shepherd, the Savior of the world. Some of these signs or miracles included changing water into wine at a wedding, healing people, feeding 5,000 with just a few loaves and some fish, and raising his friend, Lazarus from the dead.

Which of these signs of Jesus stand out for you? In what ways is Jesus still performing signs or miracles today?

Later in that same passage of scripture, Jesus continues his campaign speech by saying how he is willing to lay down his life for his sheep. He was referring to his eventual death on a cross for the sins of the world.

What does the cross mean to you? How does the cross reveal that Jesus is our Good Shepherd?

Jesus says that he calls his sheep by name and knows his sheep.

What are some ways that you seek to listen to Jesus’ voice? What is Jesus, our Good Shepherd saying to you now?

Hymn             Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us          

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer

Church News

[The following announcement slides below are to help us stay connected as a church especially since we are unable to gather in our church building for weekly worship. Please scroll down through the announcements, and our online service will continue with another video.]

Offering Our Gifts

Thank you for your gifts!!!

“Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all.” – 1 Chronicles 29:12

The Sacrament of Holy 

[Pastor Robert will invite us to partake of the bread and the juice.]

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Shepherd God, thank you for preparing a table before us and for inviting us to your holy meal of renewal and new life. Our hearts are full and our cup overflows. Thank you for leading us to green pastures and for allowing us to rest by still waters. Your abundant life is more than enough! In gratitude we offer this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Closing Hymn    Lord, Dismiss us with Thy Blessing

Benediction

[A big thank you to Shelby Martin and Kevin Saunier for reading the scripture lessons for our online service today. Shelby and Kevin have been attending our church while students at Ohio University. Pastor Robert will be officiating at their less than ten people wedding in June. They are a beautiful couple!]

Join us back here next Sunday (May 10) for our online worship service.

[For previous online worship services, click here.]

Sunday Pastoral Prayer (April 26/Music Sunday) Athens First UMC

[Our church is delighted to announce that Dr. Bradley Naylor will be our Director of Music during Dr. Peter Jarjisian’s sabbatical year which begins this summer. Bradley has served since 2017 as Director of Choral Activities at Ohio University, a position previously held by Peter. There, Bradley teaches courses on choral music and conducts the OHIO University Singers and The Singing Men of Ohio. A native of Houston, Texas, he lives in The Plains with his wife, Elizabeth and their children Abby and Luke, who attend Morrison Gordon Elementary School. Bradley is excited to join Pastor Robert, Jeff Daubenmire, and the music ministry team at Athens First in building and supporting the church’s mission through music. Welcome to Athens First, Bradley! Speaking of music, for Sunday’s online Music Sunday worship service which includes a recognition of our graduates, click here.]

O God, even though our church buildings continue to be closed, our singing continues. On this Music Sunday, we are singing many different songs; songs of praise, songs of lament, songs for justice, songs of hope. From Italian balconies to recorded online worship service music, people all around the world are finding music to be a way that you are uniting us and reminding us that we’re all in this together.

O God, we may be finding it difficult to know what day of the week it is, but this day is different. This day reminds us to sing our faith. Thank you for the music ministry of our church, and as the Apostle Paul tells us in our scripture reading this morning, for psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 

As these weeks get longer and as patience begins to wear thin, give us songs to sing, O God. When we feel overwhelmed by the daily death toll of this virus, give us songs to sing, O God. When we become anxious with what the new normal might look like, give us songs to sing, O God. When we become frustrated with people’s responses to the crisis, give us songs to sing, O God. And as our high school and college graduates contemplate their future plans during this time of uncertainty, give them songs to sing, O God.

And give us songs to sing as we meet a new neighbor during a walk, as we spend more time planting flowers, as we call on friends and family to see how they are doing, and as we discover new ways of being the church away from the building. O God, thank you for giving us songs to sing in this new way of living out our faith.

O God, this is why we can sing that it is well with our soul. It is well with our soul because you have given us psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. We offer our songs to you in the name of the Lord Jesus who taught us to pray saying…

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.

Online Worship (April 26/Music Sunday) Athens First UMC

Welcome to our (April 26/Music Sunday) online worship @ Athens First UMC!

2 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701

Greeting from Dr. Peter Jarjisian, Director of Music

Opening Music Sing Me to Heaven - Daniel Gawthrop (Music) Jane Grindr (Lyrics)

Susquehanna Chorale - Linda L. Redford, Artistic Director, Founder, Conductor

In my heart’s sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poet’s gloss.

Words alone are vain and vacant and my heart is mute.

In response to aching silence memory summons half-heard voices,

And my soul finds primal eloquence and wraps me in song.

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby.

If you would win my heart, sing me a love song.

If you would mourn me and sing me to God,

Sing me a requiem, sing me to heaven.

Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure,

Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion, pain and pleasure.

Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem.

Love me, comfort me, bring me to God:

Sing me a love song, sing me to heaven.

Call to Worship

L: O Lord, open our lips,

P: and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

L: It is god to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O most high,

P: to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

L: Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

P: Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Hymn                Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above

Welcome & Passing the Peace

[Mary Rizzardi and Kat Hammond’s dog, Penny welcomes you to our online worship service today. Mary sings in our Chancel Choir and will be offering a solo in one of our anthems today. Penny invites you to greet one another, not by rubbing noses, but by simply barking out, “Praise the Lord!”]

Prayer

L: Creator God, because you make all that draws forth our praise and the forms in which to express it,
P: we praise you.

L: Because you make artists of us all, awakening courage to look again at what is taken for granted, grace to share these insights with others, vision to reveal the future already in being,
P: we praise you.

L: Because you form your Word among us, and in your great work embrace all human experience, even death itself, inspiring our resurrection song,
P: we praise you. Yours is the glory. Amen.

Children’s Moments     Kathy Mangen

Graduate Recognition     

Presenters: Kathy Mangen, Pastor Robert, & Peter Jarjisian

Scripture Lesson - Colossians 3:12-17   

           Peter Jarjisian, Director of Music

[The Apostle Paul writes that we are to “clothe ourselves” with love. He then tells us that one of the ways we can express our gratitude to God is through offering hymns and spiritual songs to God.]

Special Music        It Is Well With My Soul

Kevin & Eryn Dael (June 23, 2019)                                    

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer

Special Music   Meet Me Here - Craig Hella Johnson

Mary Rizzardi, Soloist

[Peter Jarjisian’s Introduction of Song]

Church News

[The following announcement slides below are to help us stay connected as a church especially since we are unable to gather in our church building for weekly worship. Please scroll down through the announcements, and our online service will continue with another video.]

Special Music  Hymn for Our Time - John Ness Beck

Athens First UMC Chancel Choir, Ohio Brass, Jeff Daubenmire (Nov., 2018)

[Peter Jarjisian introduces this closing anthem.]

Offering Our Gifts

Thank you for your gifts!!!

“Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all.” – 1 Chronicles 29:12

Closing Hymn            Sing With All the Saints of Glory

Benediction

Blooper from the Graduate Recognition Presentation

Join us back here next week (May 3/Holy Communion) for our online worship!

[For previous online worship services, click here]

Sunday Pastoral Prayer (April 19/Growing Tree Pre-school Sunday) Athens First UMC

[Sunday’s online worship service featured our Growing Tree Preschool and included a fun puppet skit about Easter surprises. Our church is so grateful for our Growing Tree Preschool children and families as well as our very dedicated teachers! Our preschool director and teachers have as much fun as the children! The online service also includes other fun videos along with the concluding sermon of “The Twelve Disciples of Jesus” featuring the disciple, Thomas. Click here to watch the online worship service.

God of the resurrection, we join the disciple, Thomas in naming our doubts. We know that doubts are what help us to grow deeper in our faith. In addition to Thomas, we think of the many Psalmists who shared there doubts with you. Thank you for giving us permission to share our doubts with you.

We pray for each other during this challenging time of distance learning, online worship services, wondering if we have washed our hands enough, adapting to a new way of using our time, getting used to wearing masks, living with the unknown of when life will get back to normal and what the new normal will look like. O God, we name our doubts that are on our hearts and minds as we worship this day.

God of the resurrection, during this unsettling time, we continue to lift up those who are feeling lonely and disconnected, those who are ill, those who have lost loved ones, those who are doing many different kinds of essential work on our behalf like medical personnel, nursing home staff, grocery workers, truck drivers, and researchers and scientists. We lift these persons to you for strength and protection.

As we conclude our eight-week series on the twelve disciples of Jesus, help us to hear you call each of our names to follow you and be your disciples. Teach us what it means to be in a growing relationship with you by having a loving faith, a learning faith, and a living faith.

And on this Growing Tree Preschool Sunday, we especially lift up to you all our preschool children, their parents, and our teachers. Thank you for this ministry, which has been blessing our church and community for over twenty years. Like a growing tree, help all of us to grow in our faith, to grow in our love of you and one another, and grow in being the people you have called us to be. May we all be a growing tree with deep roots of faith, hope, and love. We pray this in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray together saying…

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.

[Our Growing Tree preschool children are always learning and growing!]

Online Worship Service (April 19/Growing Tree Preschool Sunday) Athens First UMC

Welcome to our (April 19/Growing Tree Preschool Sunday) online worship @ Athens First UMC!

2 S. College St., Athens, OH 45701

Greeting From Kathy Mangen, Director of Growing Tree Preschool

Growing Tree Preschool Highlights

Call to Worship

L: Bartholomew, Simon, James the Lesser, Thaddeus, Andrew, Phillip, James the Greater, Judas, Peter, John, Matthew, and Thomas, these are the first disciples of Jesus.

P: Lord, we want to be your disciples, too!

L: Like those first disciples, we struggle with doubts and questions about our faith.

P: Lord, we want to be your disciples, too!

L: Take heart! The Risen Christ is with us!

P: The Risen Christ is with us, indeed! 

Hymn          Easter People Raise Your Voices

Welcome & Passing the Peace

[On this Growing Tree Preschool Sunday, Rooney who belongs to Mrs. Strycker and Daisy, Roxy, & Sassy who belong to Mrs. Drake offer a special welcome to our preschool families who are joining our online worship service today. They invite you to greet one another in your homes, not by rubbing noses, but by simply barking out, “The peace of Christ be with you!”]

 

                           Rooney                Daisy, Roxy, Lucy, & Sassy

Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance

Our Lord and our God, like the disciple Thomas so long ago, it is sometimes difficult for us to believe in new life and resurrection. Even though we were not present at the empty tomb on that first Easter morning, help us to believe. Turn our doubts into vibrant faith and empower us to be your faithful disciples. In the name of the Risen Christ, we pray. Amen.

L: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

P: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

All: Thanks be to God!

New Testament Lesson - Acts 2:14a, 22-32

Kaitlyn Drake, Growing Tree Pre-school Teacher

[After Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, the disciples wasted no time in proclaiming the good news of Christ’s resurrection.]

Gospel Lesson - John 20:19-31

 Angela Stryker, Growing Tree Preschool Teacher

[This scripture is usually read on this 2nd Sunday of Easter because it was on this day that the disciple, Thomas was able to see Jesus’ in his resurrected body for the first time. Upon seeing Jesus, Thomas offers one of the most profound statements of faith in all of the Bible by exclaiming, “My Lord and my God!”]

Skit   Easter Surprises   Holy Hands Puppeteers 

Special Music       O SONS AND DAUGHTERS, LET US SING

 Arranged by Robert Shaw & Alice Parker

O sons and daughters, let us sing!

The King of Heav’n, the glorious King

O’er death today rose triumphing.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

When Thomas first the tidings heard,

How they had seen the risen Lord,

He doubted the disciples’ word.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

“My pierced side, O Thomas, see:

My hands, my feet, I show to Thee;

Not faithless, but believing be.”

Alleluia! Alleluia!

No longer Thomas then denied,

He saw the feet, the hands, the side:

“Thou art my Lord and God,” he cried.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Sermon  The Twelve Disciples: Thomas

                Rev. Robert McDowell

Sermon Discussion Questions

When has a time of doubt led you to a deeper faith? What are some doubts that you have about your faith now?

Share where you have seen God’s kingdom being built in our community and world?

We concluded our series on the twelve disciples of Jesus by focusing on four things that the disciples teach us about being followers of Jesus today: These include 1) Jesus calls each of us by name. 2) We need each other as we live out our discipleship. 3) We are never done growing in our faith. 4) We are each called to share the good news of Jesus in our own unique ways.

Which of these four aspects of being a disciple of Jesus stands out for you? 

Hymn                Spirit Song

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer

Church News

Offering Our Gifts

Thank you for your gifts!!!

“Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all.” – 1 Chronicles 29:12

Closing Hymn                     I Sing a Song of the Saints of God

Benediction

[We appreciate the Lee family for serving as puppeteers for our puppet skit today! They also wrote the script. Alex and MacKenzie are Growing Tree Preschool alum. Thank you, Lee family!]

Join us back here next week (April 26/Music Sunday) for our online worship!

[For previous online worship services, click here]

Sunday Pastoral Prayer (April 12/Easter) Athens First UMC

[Even though our church building is not accessible during the pandemic, our church’s toys still manage to find their way to our sanctuary every time we record our children’s moments. They have been learning about the twelve disciples of Jesus just like we have over these past several weeks. Based on the feedback we’ve been receiving, they have been a big hit for our online viewers. For our Easter Sunday online service, click here.]

God of new life, it is so weird that our sanctuaries are empty on this Easter Sunday morning. I can even hear the emptiness of my own voice as I speak this prayer. This sanctuary seats six hundred people and yet nobody is here. No greeters. No ushers. No organist. No smell of coffee. 

Just these Easter lilies and this note that says, “He is not here. He is risen!” You have somehow turned this empty sanctuary into an occasion for rejoicing. Only you could pull something like this off. You took that shameful instrument of death, the cross and turned it into a symbol of victory, a symbol of Nikos! What at first seemed empty, like this sanctuary has become the occasion for rejoicing and singing, Alleluia! 

On this Easter morning, take the emptiness of our hearts and fill them with your praises! Take the emptiness of our souls and replace them with new life and hope. Take the emptiness of our bodies so vulnerable to sickness and disease and fill them with a renewed trust in your goodness. Take the emptiness of our hands and fill them with a willingness to serve you and others. And take the emptiness of our lips and fill them with a message of salvation for the world.

O God who rose Jesus from the dead, just as you were able to take an empty tomb and change the world, take this empty sanctuary and any emptiness that we may be feeling today and fill us with the joy of Easter. Fill every house, every living room, every assisted living facility, every hospital, every food pantry, every health department, every homeless shelter, every AA group, every rehab center, every jail, every prison, every overcrowded ER, and every single person watching this online service with the good news of your resurrection. 

For we pray this in the name of Jesus who died for our sins, who rose for our sake, and who taught us to pray together saying…

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.