Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 2, 2020

8:30 & 11:00 am

Welcome…Who are the blessed ones of God? For the prophet Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. In baptism, we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving.

Please take a moment to sign in and register your attendance today

with the cards found in the pew rack, or online at mountolivetumc.com.

BELL CALL TO WORSHIP

VOLUNTARY

Be Thou with Me (Bist du bei mir), BWV 508 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

~ The Mount Olivet Ringers

*HYMN #708: Rejoice in God’s Saints HANOVER

*GATHERING LITANY

When we seek justice for the other,

when we love kindness more than ever,

we live as God asks us to live.

When we walk humbly through life,

when we offer mercy to those who hurt us,

we are the blessing God hopes we will be. When we are willing to look foolish by following Jesus,

when we choose weakness rather than power,

we reflect the One who is in our midst.

*PRAYER OF THE DAY

Holy God, you confound the world’s wisdom in giving your kingdom to

the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for

justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in our words and

deeds the world may see the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior

and Lord. Amen.

ANTHEM

Offertory (John Ness Beck)

~ The Mount Olivet Choir

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

Holy God, your blessings are abundant, and your wisdom exceeds our

grasp. Fill us with your Spirit as we hear your word this day, that we

may be justice seekers and peacemakers, sharing your life among those

who are forgotten, weak, or persecuted, and revealing to all your glory.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE:

Matthew 5: 1-12 ~ Page 4 in N.T. section of the pew Bible

The Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God!

CHILDREN’S SHARING

[After Children’s Sharing at the 11:00 service, children age 3—Kindergarten will go upstairs

to Room U4 and children in grades 1-5 will go upstairs to Room U7 for Belief Builders]

SERMON

*HYMN #451: Be Thou My Vision SLANE

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

What have we done to you, dear God?

We dishonor you every time we treat another with disrespect. We shatter

your heart when we find it easier to break our word, then to take the risk

to keep it. We fill your ears with the gossip, lies, and slander we speak

about those around us. You are wise enough to forgive our foolishness;

you are strong enough to overcome our weakness; you are loving enough

to heal the hurt we cause to you and to others. And so you give us new

hope and new life in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

What has God done to us—shown mercy!

What has God done for us—forgiven us!

This is the good news for us.

We will not boast, for it is not our doing.

We will give thanks to God for such grace and hope. Amen.

*SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

(The congregation responds to each petition of “Hear us, O God,” with:

“Your mercy is great.”)

THE PRESENTATION OF GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERINGS

MUSICAL OFFERING

Rock of Ages, Hymn #361 (Donald Busarow)

~ Dr. Steven K. Shaner, organ

*DOXOLOGY #95 OLD HUNDREDTH SM

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.

*THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Musical Setting B ~ Page 18-20 in Hymnal

THE LORD’S PRAYER (in unison)

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.

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION (Marty Haugen)

Lamb of God ~ The Mount Olivet Choir and Congregation

You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

You take away the sins of the world; grant us your peace.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

HYMN #298: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

HYMN #361: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

*HYMN #584: Lord, You Give the Great Commission ABBOT’S LEIGH

*BLESSING

CHORAL BENEDICTION

O Gracious Light (Michael John Trotta)

~ The Mount Olivet Choir

VOLUNTARY

We All Believe in One True God, BWV 680 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

~ Dr. Steven K. Shaner, organ

[You are welcome to be seated or come to the choir area during the Voluntary]

* * *

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign-Up

Wednesday Night Dinner, (Wednesday, February 5, 5:30 pm). Sign me up!

On the menu: Herb Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, Kid’s Pasta, Dessert.

Name: _______________________ Email: _________________________ ____Number of Adult Meals ____Number of Kid Meals

Congregational Prayers

For Healing:

For those battling cancer: Kay Dake, Nancy Hanna, Kate Heavner, Michael

Griggs, Joel Miller, Doug French, Patricia Reed, Carolyn Moore-Kochlacs, Carol

Dommisse, Nick, Ed Desmond, Anne Wetmore, Christina Hershey, Amar Gill,

Sara Beth Howard, Jack Kauflin, Reneé Michel, Ed Desmond, Anne Bailey, Linda

Heinricks, Meredith, Kathe Traynham, Carolyn Brooks, Laura Borak, Amanda

McCormick.

For Cindy Newcomb, who is recovering from knee replacement

surgery.

For Loretta Cochran, Cindy Newcomb’s mother, who is

recuperating from a fractured femur.

For Bonnie Fowler, who is recovering from surgery on her femur.

Sympathy

For the family and friends of Bette Godding, who died on

January 19.

For Beverly Brumbaugh and her family, as they grieve the death of

her brother, Wilmore Leffell last week.

For the Merkel family, friends and neighbors of the Fairweather’s,

as they grieve the death of Jerry Merkel, husband, father, and

grandfather.

Prayers for the World:

For the families of the more than 100 people in China who have died

from the corona virus. We pray for the thousands of people in China

that have fallen ill and for those who have fallen ill in the U.S.

For the farmers in East Africa as the worst outbreak of desert locusts

in 70 years has seen hundreds of millions of the bugs swarm into

Kenya from Somalia and Ethiopia. The locusts are destroying

farmland and threatening an already vulnerable region with

devastating hunger.

For the Church of the Brethren as it grieves the death of Rev. Lawan

Andimi, executed by Boko Haram, a terrorist organization based in

northeastern Nigeria. Andimi was an ordained minister in Ekklesiyar

Yan’uwa in Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), a

district leader of the Church of the Brethren, and a leader of the

ecumenical movement.

For the delegates to the United Methodist General Conference who,

in May, will consider proposals to reorganize the Church.

For peace and environmental justice around the world.

To activate our prayer chain, please contact Carmen Clipper at

carmenstewartclipper@gmail.com

Participants in Today’s Worship Services:

Preacher: Rev. Teer Hardy

Acolytes: Jacob Myers, Sam Richardson (11:00)

Children’s Sharing: Linnea Carlson (8:30, 11:00)

Choirmaster/Organist: Dr. Steven K. Shaner

Choirs: The Mount Olivet Choir; The Mount Olivet Ringers

Percussionist: Thomas Joyce, timpani

Communion Steward: Sharon Walker

Mount Olivet United Methodist Church is committed to loving God and

loving neighbor with our whole selves—heart, mind, soul, and strength.

We believe that all persons are of sacred worth and dignity as part of God’s

creation, as demonstrated by the ministry of Jesus Christ. We therefore

welcome all persons into the life and ministry of our congregation regardless

of race, culture, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or

socioeconomic status, education, politics, physical or mental ability or health,

or faith history.

MOUNT OLIVET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1500 North Glebe Road Arlington, VA 22207 703 527-3934

Email: contactus@mtolivet-umc.org; website: mountolivetumc.com

* * * While worshipping here today it is our hope that you will. . .

Sign in and register your attendance on either the members/friends or guests/visitors

cards found in the pew rack or online at mountolivetumc.com.

Feel free to use the nursery and childcare, located on the main level to the left of the

sanctuary. You will be given a pager for your infants and/or toddlers.

Ask an usher for a large print bulletin, a large print hymnal and/or an assisted listening

device.

Join us for refreshments and fellowship in the Gathering Space following worship.

Please stand, as able, for those acts of worship marked with an asterisk*.

Words in bold type indicate a congregational response with God and each other.

If you cannot come forward for communion, our serving team will be glad to serve you in

your pew. Simply motion to one of the ushers who will be moving about the sanctuary.

Need a ride to church? We are happy to provide transportation. Please call the church office

by noon on Wednesday.

If you have any questions, speak to someone with an “Ask Me” ribbon or visit our

Information Wall in the Gathering Space.

Mount Olivet records and live streams its 8:30 worship service on the internet so that those

beyond our walls are able to worship with us. While the camera’s frame is restricted to the

chancel area, if you are sensitive to this, the pews in the rear and balcony of the Sanctuary are

the least likely to be in the camera’s frame; or you may wish to attend the 11:00 worship

service.

Mount Olivet is a “green” church, please recycle your bulletin.