The Giving of God’s Tithes and Our Gifts
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Offertory
*Doxology # 95 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all
Creatures herebelow;praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son,and HolyGhost. Amen.
*Singing Our Faith # 354“I Surrender All”
*Blessing and Dismissal The Rev. Scott Davis
*Postlude
We Scatter to Serve God & Neighbor
We welcome The Rev. David Burch to our pulpit this morning. Rev. Burch served Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church from 1991-1996. He is now serving Vision of Hope United Methodist Church in Harrisonburg, VA. Rev. Burch, and his wife, Valerie reside in Mt. Sidney.
Stewardship Thought
I think we would all agree that this is a mystifying passage. How on earth do we understand the ethics represented here? I have a copy of Ralph Kovac's painting of "The Laughing Jesus." Could it be that Jesus is saying, "For goodness sake, if you must elevate wealth in your lives, at least handle it competently. If you really can't do that, make sure that you benefit someone else who needs it in the end." The verses from 10-13 help us to put the story in proportion. It invites us to reflect on both faithfulness in handling wealth and the importance we give wealth. Even if we are not personally wealthy, you would have to say that the whole world these days revolves around global dealings related to wealth and raises huge ethical and political questions for us.
Chestnut Hill
United Methodist Church
Celebrating 65 Years
Making disciples of Jesus Christ
for the transformation of the world.
You are welcome at Chestnut Hill UMC.
4660 Fort Avenue ~ Lynchburg, Virginia 24502
Church: 434-239-8423
Pastor’s Cell: 434-258-2934; Pastor’s Home: 434-319-5646
Email Pastor Liz:
~ on the web at chestnuthillumc.net
Find us on Facebook: Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church
Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church
10:30 a.m.~ September 18, 2016 ~ 18th Sunday after Pentecost
~ Homecoming ~
We Gather to Worship God
We invite you to share in our ministry of Hospitality by registering your attendance
as the registration pad is passed to you. Please give us your name, address or email or phone. Thank you for silencing your cell phone as we gather to worship God.
Gathering Music
Welcome and Ministry Announcements
Welcome in the name of Christ our Lord. Please register your attendance,
printing your name, address, phone, and email, when the pew pad is passed to you.
Thank you for silencing cell phones as we gather to worship God.
Invocation
Prelude The Acolytes enter with the light of Christ.
*Call to WorshipFrances Unruh
A community of faith conveys God's good news of love,
And leads its members along pathways of faith.
It sows seeds of life in the soil of our hearts,
Causing faith and hope to sprout in our souls.
This congregation has been a vehicle of God's grace,
Shining God's marvelous light across the years;
A place for growing in relationship with the Lord,
For living, loving, and forgiving in the spirit of Christ.
We celebrate the many members of this family of faith,
Who have walked with the Lord through their years.
We remember how they have blessed us so richly,
Conveying God's gift of love from their hearts to our hearts.
We celebrate the gift we are to one another,
As we learn and grow along this spiritual journey.
It is a day of great joy in the life of this congregation,
As we celebrate the many lives it has already touched.
We give thanks for the body of Christ that we are today
And for what God will inspire us to become tomorrow.
In light of all that God has given us through the gift of this community of faith,
We joyfully dedicate this Anniversary of Chestnut Hill United Methodist
to the glory of God. Amen and Amen!
*Singing Our Faith # 98 “To God Be the Glory”
Morning Prayer The Rev. Vernie Barrow
O Loving God, we know that you have made us for yourself and that our hearts are restless until they rest in you. As we pray those ancient words from the early church, be with us now. Gather us this morning trusting that you have made us for yourself. On this Homecoming Sunday still our restless hearts. Bring us home to you once again so that we might truly rest in you. Gather us now as we sing your praise. Amen.
Introduction of Guests Elaine Clarke
History of the Church Kathleen Baker
Choral Anthem
Prayer for Illumination
Let the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
Scripture LessonGenesis 12:1-5; 18:1-2, 9-15
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
*Singing Our Faith# 2025 “As the Deer”
The Good News “Happening Upon Grace!” The Rev. David Burch
Special MusicEstelle Holt, Judy Lease
The Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
Thywill 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 thineis thekingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
DIRECTORY OF CHESTNUT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Young Jin Cho / Richmond Area Resident BishopScott Davis / Lynchburg District Superintendent
Liz Ecklund / Minister
Vernie Barrow / Minister Emeritus
Monica Campbell / Administrative Assistant
Will Sperrazza / Director of Music Ministry
Judy Martin / Bookkeeper
Elaine Clarke / Lay Leader
Jody Underwood / Lay Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Chris Glass / Lay Youth Ministry Coordinator
**This Week’s Calendar**
Sunday, 9/18 / 11:45 a.m. / Anniversary/Homecoming Luncheon4:00 p.m. / Kingdom Kids @ Fort Hill UMC
Volunteers needed to help prepare/serve dinner on Sunday, Sept. 25th, and on Sunday, Oct. 16th. Contact Jody Underwood for more information.
Tuesday, 9/20 / 9:00 a.m. / Prayer Breakfast
11:00 a.m. / Salad Smorgasbord @ Forest Rd. UMC
For information, flyers have been placed in the Commons.
7:00 p.m. / Girl Scouts
Wednesday, 9/21 / 10:30 a.m. / Bible Study ~ “Gospel of Luke”
We will look at the Gospel in its context and try to discover what it says for our lives.
Thursday, 9/22 / 6:15 p.m. / Bell Choir
7:00 p.m. / Choir
** Looking Ahead on the Calendar **
Sunday, 9/25 / 3:00 p.m. / United Methodist Women Annual MeetingHeritage UMC
Monday, 9/26 / 11:00 a.m. / Top of the Hill
Bring a sandwich. Drinks and dessert provided.
Wednesday, 9/28 / 6:00 p.m. / Merry Martha’s Picnic
Glass Farm (1244 Terrace View Rd., Goode)
Thursday, 9/29 / 7:00 p.m. / Missions Committee
**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
Home: Margaret Hicks, Gene & Connie Harris, Kitty Burgess, Phyllis Caldwell, Cliff Taylor, Betty Wilkins, Braelyn Underwood, Arthur Snodgrass, Edith Barley, Thelma Hamilton, Beverly Franklin,Pat Wood,Heather Stanzini (420 Stafford St., Lynchburg, VA 24501), Greyson Glass, Al Wood, Bob & Kitty Boswell, Barbara Dunlop, Hylton & Sylvia Glass, Kyle & Jeanette Cyrus, Chris Balderson, Carl Hardwick, Helen Fleck, Shirley Johnson, Ken Wood,Doris Finch,Judy Johns, Victor Barrow,Susan Tedder, Charles Moore, Milton Sowell, Rhonda Dunn, Shayh,Alice Lovelace, Edna Wyatt, William Hicks, VernelleRoupe,Jeanette Almond,AsaFredell, Violet Ellis,Tucker Cole, Rhonda Wilkerson, Joseph Johnson, Lloyd Smith, Lloyd Smith, Jr., Chestnut Hill UMC, Military & Families
Runk & Pratt at Liberty Ridge: Rose Morris
Bentley Commons at Lynchburg: Frances Callaham
Heritage Green, Daybreak: Delma Scott
Runk & Pratt of Forest: Emily Morris, Shirley Wood
Oakwood Manor (Bedford):Robert Bennett
Valley View Retirement: Virginia “Ginger” Roberts
Please join the clergy of the Lynchburg Downtown Cluster in a covenant to pray for God’s blessing on the mission and ministry of our United Methodist Churches and local mission and ministry endeavors – Peakland, Centenary, Christ Community Fellowship/Fairview, Fort Hill, Chestnut Hill, Forest Road, Jackson Street, Heritage, Boonsboro, Mead Memorial, Cove, Park View Community Mission (PVCM), the Society of St. Andrew, the Henry Fork Service Center, and The Garden of Hope (Washington, D.C.)
Children and Their Safety are Important at Chestnut Hill UMC
We rejoice that as a church we are able to offer carefully planned, age appropriate care and activities for our children and youth.
All children ages 4 and above will stay in the sanctuary for worship today.
Nursery is provided for infants and toddlers. The Nursery is located in Classroom 101 (exit through the right side door at the front of the sanctuary, pass through “the Commons,” gothrough the double doors to the Education Building and follow the hallway to the Nursery at the end of the hall on the left).
Mission & Ministry Opportunities
In the Grocery Cart This Month
Donations in September: Peanut Butter, Toilet Paper, Diapers (sizes 5 & 6)”.
This will assist people through Park View Community Mission.
Please place donations in the grocery cart, located in the Commons.
A CD of our CHUMC Music Program is Available
A CD featuring the music program of Chestnut Hill UMC is available as a gift to our visitors in worship. Please exit worship through the front of the sanctuary and The Commons and request your CD from a choir member.
Homecoming/65th Anniversary Donations
We are accepting your donations. Please mark checks for “HOMECOMING”, or place cash in a pew envelope marked the same and place in the offering plate.
Meals on Wheels ~ Route 6
Monday, September 19~Wallace Nuckols, Scottie Nuckols
Tuesday, September 20~Dan Robertson, Judy Robertson
Wednesday, September 21~Jane White, Betty Taylor
Thursday, September 22~Linda Wright, Helen Snow
Friday, September 23~Frances Unruh, JoellaEdgreen
Read Ahead from Pastor Liz
For September 25, 2016, the Scriptures are Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, Luke 16:19-31 & Psalm 91. The sermon text is 1 Timothy 6:6-19 and the message is “Fight Fiercely For Faith”.
**If you know of changes that need to be made to the prayer concerns, please contact Monica in the church office.