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Dementia Friendly Chapel Service Online

Wednesday, September 29 | 10:00 am – 10:45 am

Oct 03

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Sunday, October 3 | 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Oct 03

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Sunday, October 3 | 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Bulletins

Worship Bulletin 9.26.21

Download Traditional Worship Bulletin 9.26.21

Traditional Worship Service
September 26, 2021 | 11:00 am

“Where Two or Three Are Gathered In My Name, I’m There With Them”
Last in the series
The First Big Step
Matthew 18:18-20
Dr. Tim Bruster, Senior Pastor

Welcome
Dr. Tim Bruster, Senior Pastor

Prelude: “For the Beauty of the Earth”
Charles Perry, arranger
Peggy Graff, organist
Fifth Street Bells

*Call to Worship
Rev. Lance Marshall, Co-Pastor
One: Sing praise to God who rescues us when we fall!
All: Sing praise to God who walks with us on all our journeys!
One: Even though we fall, God lifts us and places us on paths of peace.
All: Even though we stray, God finds us and brings us back to lives of hope.
One: Thanks be to God, whose love is continually with us.
All: Praise be to God, whose mercy is over us all. AMEN.

*Hymn 154: “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” (vv. 1, 2, 4, & 6)

*Affirmation of Faith 883
Dr. Zhenya Gurina-Rodriguez, Associate Pastor
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the church:
to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Gloria Patri 70
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

**Please be seated

Sacrament of Baptism
Eleanor Kathryn Schmidt, daughter of Lyndsay and Thomas Schmidt

Baptismal Hymn 191: “Jesus Loves Me” (vs. 1)

Congregational Response
With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example
of Christ that Eleanor Kathryn, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.
Faith Like a Child
Mister Mark, Director of Children’s Ministries

*Hymn 384: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (vv. 1, 3)

Scripture: Matthew 18:18-20
God speaks to us through the reading of scripture.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon: “Where Two or Three Are Gathered In My Name, I’m There With Them”

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. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Announcements

Offertory: “Precious Lord”
Arnold Sevier, arranger
Adoramus Chamber Choir
Thomas Williams, director

*Doxology 95
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Benediction
One: Our gathering will soon be ended. Where will we go, and what will we do?
All: We will go out to be God’s people in the world.
One: May grace, peace, hope, love, and joy forever accompany you. Amen.

*Congregational Benediction: “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing”
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The service is ended, O now be extended
the fruits of our worship in all who believe.
The seed of the teaching, receptive souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us
To work for God’s kingdom and answer the call.

*Postlude: “They’ll Know We Are Christians”
Wilbur Held, arranger

Notes from First Church:

Welcome to First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth — we are so glad that you are worshiping with us today!

Please let us know you are here by filling out the attendance pad as it comes by.

Asterisks (*) indicate times when you are invited to stand as you are able.

“Faith Like a Child” is our children’s sermon developed for young worshippers of all ages.

In addition to your regular contribution, every one dollar ($1) bill placed in the offering plate during the month of August will support the sack lunch program.

The Sanctuary flowers are in memory of Jim Kent by Jean Kent and family.

Lance’s Daily Devotional and Prayer Meeting is at 9:00 am weekdays on Facebook Live.

Tim’s Daily Devotional arrives in your inbox early each morning and on our home page at fumcfw.org.

Join us for GROW Bible Study:
Wednesdays
10:00 – 11:00 am
Room 350
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Room 350 & Zoom

To register and for more information click here.

STAY CONNECTED

News
Read FUMCFW news and Stories of Us online and sign up for emails at fumcfw.org/news.

Events
Browse programs and events or search by ministry or keyword at fumcfw.org/events.

WRR Radio
Listen to each previous week’s Sanctuary sermon and music on Sunday mornings at 7:30 am on WRR 101.1 FM.

Media Playlists
Watch past services or sermons or listen to podcasts of sermons, services, and special music offerings at fumcfw.org/media.

For more information visit us online at fumcfw.org, “Like” us on Facebook, and “Follow” us on Twitter and Instagram!

Discipleship is the process of being shaped by the Holy Spirit through spiritual practices to become more like Jesus. Healthy Plate Discipleship uses a variety of practices to help you more faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Try all six areas to grow strong in faithful discipleship. Learn more at fumcfw.org/healthyplate.

Worship
Gathering to focus onGod together

Serve
Being God’s people in the world

Give
Putting God first in all things

Learn
Discovering and understanding who God is

Play
Enjoying the good life God gives

Pray
Talking and listening to God’s direction

Are you new?

If you would like to find your Worship Plus One, we would love to visit with you and help you explore the FUMCFW groups or ministries of special interest to you! Finding your Worship Plus One will help you meet others, build relationships, and grow stronger in your faith.

For details, please email Lisa Helm (lhelm@myfumc.org), Director of Welcoming Ministries or Dr. Mike Marshall (mmarshall@myfumc.org), Associate Pastor of Leadership Development — and be sure to include your phone number in your email!

Seasons of Worship

A Year in the Life of the Church

Each Sunday in Sanctuary Worship, you may have noticed that the matching color of our pulpit cloth and clergy stoles represent the “Liturgical Season” of the Christian calendar in which we are worshipping. (You’ll also see reference to this season next to the date on the bulletin.) For many, this is a mystery they hesitate to ask about, so here’s the short course:

The United Methodist Church follows a “liturgical calendar” — in our case, we follow the Protestant Church Calendar — which divides the year into various seasons. The Church year begins in December with the joyous anticipatory season of Advent just as the secular calendar year is winding down, and ends with Kingdomtide, also known as “Ordinary Time” that stretches though summer and fall. Here’s a quick rundown of each Season of Worship in our Liturgical Calendar and what each means.

Advent

The first season is Advent, which includes the four Sundays before Christmas Day. In Advent, worship centers on preparing to celebrate the comings of Christ — remembering his birth, recognizing his continual presence, and anticipating his final victory. Traditionally, this season, with its emphasis on preparation, culminates in the celebration of Christmas Day. Our secular celebrations ignore the preparatory significance of this time and skip to celebration. This is certainly understandable! Yet, the Church calls us to use this time to reflect on our heart’s yearning for God to break into our lives and our world once again with the surprising good news of salvation and grace — and once this yearning is recognized, we are more apt to be in a position for genuine celebration and joy. The color used in worship for this season is either Purple or Royal Blue.

Christmas

This is the shortest season in the church calendar. It includes Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and continues until the Day of Epiphany (often, the first Sunday in January). It is a season of joy — a time for praise and thanksgiving in worship for the profound (if not familiar) notion of God becoming incarnate in Jesus. Often, there is only one Sunday between Christmas Eve and Epiphany Sunday which, traditionally, includes a Covenant Renewal Service (an opportunity to renew our vows of faithfulness to God through Christ and our commitment to following the ways of Christ in our everyday lives). The color used in worship for this season is White.

Epiphany

The celebration of Epiphany is more ancient among Christians than Christmas or Advent. It begins with the Day of Epiphany (which is the traditional day celebrating the coming of the Wise Men) and is followed by what is officially called the “Season After Epiphany.” It is the season which recognizes the Incarnation (God coming to us in the “carnal” or flesh) and Baptism of Jesus. We have traditionally included a “Remember Your Baptism” service during this season. Although much less recognized by most people, this season calls us to pay attention! Epiphanies are manifestations — God present with us in ways that are often unnoticed, overlooked, or simply taken for granted. In some traditions, the Day of Epiphany is a huge celebration intended to include much laughter and play. The color used in worship for this season is Green.

Lent

This season of forty days (not including Sundays) is another season of preparation (re: Advent). Lent is a time to prepare for the celebration of Easter and invites us to a more somber time of self-reflection and an honest accounting of the ways we have fallen short in our faithful following of the ways of Jesus. However, because we are still an “Easter people,” we engage this season always with a recognition of God’s grace and an attitude of hope. This season begins with Ash Wednesday — a day that asks us to confront our mortality and confess our sin as we also remember our baptism and our reassurance the grace of salvation. It concludes with Holy Saturday (the day before Easter Sunday) and includes the services of Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. For many, Lent and the services of Holy Week are the most profoundly moving services of the Christian year. The color used in worship for this season is Purple.

Holy Week & Easter

Easter Sunday begins this most joyous season of the Christian year. The season of Easter lasts from Easter Sunday to the Day of Pentecost, which is called the Great Fifty Days because of its intentional emphasis on joy and celebration. It focuses on Christ’s resurrection and ascension. It is interesting to note that the ancient name for this time was called “Pasch,” which is derived from the Hebrew word “pesah” (meaning deliverance or passover) which connects the Resurrection to the Exodus, freedom from slavery and freedom from sin and death the primary themes of each. The color used in worship for this season is White.

Pentecost

The Day of Pentecost falls fifty days after Easter and ends the season of Easter. This is the day celebrating the Church’s receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Kingdomtide or Ordinary Time

The season following the Day of Pentecost is known as either Kingdomtide or Ordinary Time and it lasts through the Summer and Fall ending on the first Sunday of Advent. It is, therefore, the longest season on the Christian calendar. The term “Kingdomtide” was first used in 1937 as a means of encouraging churches to emphasizing Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom of God during these months. It is no longer used by any denomination except the United Methodist Church and has been shortened to the first 13 to 14 weeks within the season of Ordinary Time. The Sundays of this season are more commonly referred to in reference to the number of weeks after Pentecost (example: July 14, 2013 is the Eighth Sunday After Pentecost). Ordinary Time is not a reference to a blasé time in the life of the church but is based on these “numbered” Sundays (“Ordinals”). The colors used in worship for this season are Red (Pentecost Sunday and, if desired, the weeks in Kingdomtide) and Green.