We promise to uphold Grace United Methodist Church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness.

Our Prayers: as of August 13, 2020 Cricket Ellis, Judy Murphy, Tori Weathersby, Patsy Miller, Jimmy Adams, Celestia

Weil, Audrey Watson, Martha & Jim McGough, Martha Claire Farmer, Tinka Harper, Rev. Terry Roof, Alan Arnholdt– son in law of Barry & Beverly Whitney

AUH (MCG): Dan (Ann) Rushton Sympathy to: Peggie Ruben in the death of her brother, Richard Andrews

Our Gifts: through August 9, 2020

2020 General Budget Offering received 8/3 - 9 $35,249.00 Budget Needs to date $863,003.84 Offering received year to date $787,741.33

Receipts, Paycheck Protection Program $110,356.17 2020 Budget $1,402,381.00

WORSHIP, SUNDAY SCHOOL, UPCOMING MEETINGS (All observing Grace UMC established COVID-19 protocols)

Worship Schedule:

8:30 AM Gathering Service, Sanctuary 8:45 AM LifeSong Service, Wesley Center 11:00 AM Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary

Sunday School Classes Currently Meeting:

9:45 AM Children, Children’s Wing Youth, Youth Lounge Cokesbury Adult Class, lower level Wesley Center College Adult Class, Family Center Family Foundations classroom

Family Foundations Adult Class, Gym New Life Adult Class, lower level Wesley Center

A Look Ahead:

Sunday Nights Youth Sunday Nights, 6:00 pm, Youth Lounge August 30 Promotion Sunday for Children August 30 Blessing of the Backpacks

Grace United Methodist Church 639 Georgia Ave. | North Augusta, SC 29841

www.gotgraceumc.org | 803-279-7525

Celebrating Worship

August 16, 2020

To mark your attendance at the 11:00 service, please do the following:

1. On your phone, open the Camera App

2. Point it at this QR code 3. Click the link & sign in

Hours 6.5 weekly. Needs prioritized below:

Oversee and implement Livestream Worship Services on Sundays at the 845am LifeSong and the 11am Traditional Services. This positions will include editing and posting to Vimeo with a feed to Facebook.

Post media for advertising and communication to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Assist the Administrator with website flow, design and updates.

Work with volunteers and church staff to create and post short videos and virtual connections as needed.

Rationale: We at Grace UMC have hit a new normal. We have discerned in the Administrative Council a need to have a part time Media person on staff at Grace. We are beginning with 6.5 hours weekly. We know that there are many other media needs in our church, but we are trying now to start somewhere and reevaluate this position at the end of 2020. Over the past several months, we have seen a great increase in our virtual presence through Livestreaming and church videos at Grace and now understand the need for a part time staff person to help lead us in consistent quality virtual experiences.

If you have an interest in this position or know someone who could help us out, please contact Rev. Tommy Wilkes at twilkes@gotgraceumc.org or Jim Stafford (SPRC) Chair at hstafford3@comcast.net

AUGUST SMALL GROUPS

• Wisdom of the Ages Thursdays, 11:00 AM

• Foster Moms Bible Study 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 7:00 PM

• Caring and Sharing Thursdays, 6:00 PM

Will begin pending interest: • DivorceCare Group • Small Group Bible Study on Jacob Armstrong’s “A New Playlist, Hearing

Jesus in a Noisy World” Carol Smith has offered to lead this study, dis-covering how to cut through the distractions of life to hear God more clearly. This class may be offered in person, virtual, or hybrid, according to comfort level of those interested. Contact Carol Smith at clsmith4769@yahoo.com

Small Group Contact: Beverly Blevins, Director of Adult Ministries, beverly@gotgraceumc.org

BEFORE

NOW -and-

(Please refer to the insert for hymn lyrics)

Welcome, Announcements & Opening Prayer Rev. Randall Haase

Voluntary Mark Dickens, organ

Chiming of the Trinity (Please stand when chiming begins)

Call to Worship Rev. Randall Haase Pastor O magnify the Lord with me and let’s exalt God’s name together. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Church And also with you. Pastor Taste and see that the Lord is good. Church We once were broken, but now are whole. Pastor Taste and see that the Lord is good. Church We once were blind, but now we see. Pastor Taste and see that the Lord is good. Church We once were lost, but now are found. All Let’s exalt God’s name together!

Processional Hymn Wonderful Words of Life

Passing of the Peace (Congregation greets one another in the name of the Lord) Minister: The peace of the Lord be always with you People: And also with you

Gloria Patri

Prayer of Confession Rev. Dr. John Newell God of call and new birth, sometimes we are so filled with awe at your presence that we think we are unworthy of you. Help us remember that you are the God of love— the one who has birthed us again and again into new life as adopted sons and daughters. Forgive us when we doubt our identity. Forgive us when we shrink from your call or feel inadequate as your children. Forgive us for not understanding your full identity as the one who creates us, calls us, loves us, saves us, inspires us, sustains us. Help us say Holy, Holy, Holy, and know that you are three in one. We pray in the forgiving name of Jesus. Amen.

Words of Assurance God so loved the world, and not just the world, but each and every one of us, that God sent Jesus into the world to bring the message of love, forgiveness, and salvation. Know that you are loved and treasured beyond measure as a true child of God.

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Children’s Message (Children may come forward if comfortable, then they will be dismissed to go to the BLAST program)

Anthem/ Offertory Here I Am, Lord Joe Lusk & Beverly Blevins

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

Hymn of Preparation Softly and Tenderly

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 65: 17-25

Response Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Fill me with joy and gladness; Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Gospel Reading John 3: 11-18

Sermon Before and Now Rev. Randall Haase

Hymn of Commitment Hymn of Promise

Affirmation of Faith for New Life We believe in God, the Creator Almighty. We believe all creation is being born and reborn, created and re-created, eternally moving from life to death to newness of life, eternally waiting for God’s breath to bring new life. We believe in Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. We believe Jesus calls us to newness of life, and invites us to share in the transfiguration of rebirth and renewal. We believe Jesus calls us ever forward into what is new, away from our old, broken self and into the rebirth of our new being in Christ. We believe that to be born anew is the work of the Holy Spirit. We believe that in God’s good time, we shall come to newness of life, continually reborn from the old and into the new, following the one who is the resurrection and the life into the kingdom and into the inheritance of eternal life. Amen. © 2000 by Judson Press, Valley forge, PA. CCLI# 1133262.

The Blessing Choral Benediction The Irish Blessing Chancel Choir & Congregation

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May the sun shine warmly on your face. May the rain fall softly on your fields.

And until we meet again, until we meet again May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Please stand as you are able

Music used by permission: Church Copyright License No. 1133262 For the hearing impaired we have assisted listening devices available from

our Ushers for your use during our worship services.

Altar Flowers for Sunday, August 16 The flowers on the altar are to the Glory of God and in honor

of the 35th wedding anniversary of Pam and Rodney Rawlinson by Zachary, Michelle, Stuart and Elizabeth Rawlinson

(Please refer to the insert for hymn lyrics)

Welcome & Announcements Wayne Waldrop, Lay Servant

Call to Worship Wayne Waldrop Pastor O magnify the Lord with me and let’s exalt God’s name together. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Church And also with you. Pastor Taste and see that the Lord is good. Church We once were broken, but now are whole. Pastor Taste and see that the Lord is good. Church We once were blind, but now we see. Pastor Taste and see that the Lord is good. Church We once were lost, but now are found. All Let’s exalt God’s name together!

Opening Hymn Wonderful Words of Life

Passing of the Peace (Congregation greets one another in the name of the Lord) Minister: The peace of the Lord be always with you People: And also with you

Prayer of Confession God of call and new birth, sometimes we are so filled with awe at your presence that we think we are unworthy of you. Help us remember that you are the God of love— the one who has birthed us again and again into new life as adopted sons and daughters. Forgive us when we doubt our identity. Forgive us when we shrink from your call or feel inadequate as your children. Forgive us for not understanding your full identity as the one who creates us, calls us, loves us, saves us, inspires us, sustains us. Help us say Holy, Holy, Holy, and know that you are three in one. We pray in the forgiving name of Jesus. Amen.

Words of Assurance God so loved the world, and not just the world, but each and every one of us, that God sent Jesus into the world to bring the message of love, forgiveness, and salvation. Know that you are loved and treasured beyond measure as a true child of God.

Pastoral Prayer, Offertory Prayer, Lord’s Prayer Offering Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host;

praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

Hymn of Preparation Softly and Tenderly

Gospel Reading Matthew 4: 18-25

Sermon “Come Follow Me” Wayne Waldrop

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

Hymn of Commitment Nothing But the Blood

Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed

The Blessing

Dee Dee Carn, Pianist