3/29/20 Worship Online

Welcome!
Today is our second online service. We've worked out a few more bugs, and we're looking at what other pieces we can do. We’re glad that you’re worshiping today! While we worship online, my hope is that this isn’t a passive experience.

Because of that there are a few recorded videos, but also I’m inviting you to share in worship. There are places where you can offer a prayer, read scripture out loud, give your joys and concerns, and even sing. The great part of worshiping at home is that even if you feel weird and awkward while doing it, your family or the others that have gathered with you already know it. You aren’t going to surprise them with that, so give it a shot. Most importantly, since we can’t be together in worship, we can still share and participate in worship. And know that we are still the church, even if our pews look a lot like couches, and I look very tiny on your computer screen.

You can follow along in this bulletin for the service. If you are on a computer, phone, or other mobile device, then you can click on each of the videos as they come up. If you are able, and don’t want to try and share a laptop with your family and you have a smart tv or streaming device connected to your tv, we have good news! We have a YouTube channel. Go to the YouTube app on your TV, search for Marceline UMC. You can subscribe to our channel (which will make it easier to find in the future) and when you do, go to playlists. Every Sunday We’ll have a new playlist set up with prayers, songs, and a message. As you come to each of those in the service you can play that video. With a playlist, as soon as one finishes, the next video starts so that all you have to do is hit pause until you’re ready to play again.

​My prayer is that even in this format, we can worship together, and still see God at work.

Peace,
Pastor John

The video that comes next is a welcome, has a few announcements, and an opening prayer.

Continue to watch your email and our Facebook page for more information. We will be having opportunities to volunteer and different ways of supporting each other. We will still be doing some things, just in a different way. Watch your email for links. As always, you can call the church at 660-376-2444 for more information, or me directly at 816-520-7841
Mon: Online Office Hours 10am-12pm
Zoom: Link | To Call In: | Meeting ID 282-682-698

Tues: Online Office Hours 3pm-5pm
Zoom: Link | To Call In: | Meeting ID 723-576-715 

Tues: 5:30pm Online Prayer Group
Zoom: Link | To Call In: | Meeting ID 844-482-383

Wed: 6pm Online Bible Study
Zoom: Link | To Call In: | Meeting ID 224-317-967

To join any zoom meeting by phone, call: (312)626-6799 and then enter the Meeting ID

If you would like to help answer phones at the church, or volunteer in any way, contact Pastor John for more information or text @marcvolunt to the number 81010 to get on our volunteer list

Please join in singing our first song for today, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"

Joys & Concerns
We will continue to share our joys and concerns, as well as our prayer requests. Simply follow the link below and fill out the form. If you need to add more, you can fill the form out again. These will be shared with the congregation via email on Monday morning.
Share a joy, concern, and/or prayer request

Prayer
Start the next video, and enter into a time of prayer.
When directed, take a few moments of silent prayer. Please lift up our community as we continue in our cancellations, shut downs, and the challenges they bring. There will be a pastoral prayer, then you are invited to join in the Lord's Prayer.

Children's Message
Start by singing the following song with your kids, then ask them the following questions and visit with them about how things are going.

Questions
1. How big is God? (Answer: bigger than everything else, including submarines and the universe)
2. Does that mean God is hard for us to know? (Answer: Nope, God may be big, but he still loves each and everyone of us)

Even though God is so big, he still reaches out to us and cares for us. He does that even in times when we're scared and afraid. Because God is so big, he can care for all us and we can all feel close to him.

Prayer
Dear God
Help us remember
that you're really big
And that you love all of us
​Even in hard times
Amen

Offering
Even though we aren’t meting together our offerings are still important. They are an important part of what we do as Christians, and not just what we do to keep the church open. If you are able to give, please use the envelopes that were sent out, or you can mail a check to the church at:

Marceline UMC
321 N Kansas Ave
Marceline, MO 64658

If you use online banking you can use your bill pay to send a check from your account directly to the church. You can even set it up so that it will be sent weekly or monthly. Your continued support will help us continue to be in ministry, even during this time.

If you can't contribute monetarily to the church, that's okay. We're entering into a very different time. There are still many ways that you can give that help build God's kingdom by reaching out to others. Look for different ways that you can make a difference.
 
Before going on to the scripture reading, read the following prayer out loud
Consoling God of comfort and love, we cried out to you out of the depths of our despair, embraced in worry and fear, so that we failed to hear your answers of compassion and hope. Later, we saw that you were there with us, willing to help us with strength and support. We bring more than our gifts and tithes today; we bring ourselves as an offering – ready to use our arms, hands, and feet to be your comforting and strengthening presence to others. We make this offering joyfully and faithfully in the name of Jesus, our rock and redeemer. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING John 14:1-7 (Click the link for the full chapter)
Read the scripture passage out loud to share with one another

1“Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. 2My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? 3When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. 4You know the way to the place I’m going.”
5Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you have really known me, you will also know the Father. From now on you know him and have seen him.”
 
Reader: This is the word of God, for the people of God
Everyone Else: Thanks be to God!

Please join in singing our next song "Above All" After the song, continue on to the sermon in the following video.

Before continuing on to the final song for today. Take a moment to pause and reflect on what has been said, and on where we are today.
Where do you need to remember that God is bigger than us?
How can you help others find faith in God?

Please join in singing the final song "My Hope is in You Lord" after is it is finished, play the benediction.

Go in peace, and may God be with you through this next week, Amen.