Church at Wieuca

Guest (Male): Good morning. We celebrate World Communion Sunday, which is observed on the first Sunday of October. It centers on sharing the communion meal as one body at the Lord's table. To help facilitate this emphasis, I'd like to draw your attention to the insert that's found in your worship guide. You'll find the half-sheet of the hymn, "Keep the Feast."

You have the printed sheet music there for you. This is a newer hymn written by composer Sky Peterson. She really wanted to encourage the church with a simple reminder that the solemn work of Christ is, in fact, cause for much celebration. We forget to remember sometimes that communion is a joyful feast.

This hymn will play a crucial role this morning in connecting all the various elements of our worship today. Because of that, I'd like to teach you the chorus part of the hymn before we actually get started. Think of it as a mini-rehearsal. This is kind of up close and personal as far as a choir rehearsal will go.

The words to the chorus are going to be on the screen there. On your insert, it's the next to the last line there. It starts with, "Take this bread and eat, take this cup and drink, remember how He loved us, rejoice and keep the feast." I'll sing through that chorus just a couple of times and then have you join me.

Dr. Kevin Head: Good morning and welcome to Church at Wieuca today. To those of you who are joining us in this space and those of you who are online, we are glad that you have taken this next hour to worship and sing together and eventually meet at the table to share in the bread and the cup of Christ today.

If you are a guest, we especially want to say thank you for joining us. I hope you've already been greeted by a few of our folks and made to feel welcome. We would love for you to stop by the table that's in the back where our guests are invited to come to meet us and to learn more about the church.

You will have a minister that will be back there to greet you and to get to know you a little bit better. I ask that you join that on your way out to lunch so that we can greet you and say thank you for joining us today.

Guest (Male): Our Scripture reading today comes from 1 Timothy 1:15-17. The words will be on the screen or you can find it in your worship guide this morning. Hear these words.

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason, I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Guest (Male): Hear these words from Romans chapter 8. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Guest (Male): Paul goes on in Romans 11. Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?

And who has ever given to God that he should be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Guest (Male): The hymn writer John Newton wrote, "In Jesus alone is my everything. In Him I have an offering, an altar, a temple, a priest, a sun, a shield, a savior, a hiding place, a resting place, food, medicine, riches, honor, and wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and in short, everything."

Guest (Male): Hello, Wieuca. As we prepare to dedicate our tithes and offerings this morning, I will offer our prayer together. Let us pray.

We praise You, oh God, for Your goodness never fails. Teach us to treasure Jesus above all things. We give this morning, not what is ours, but only what is already Yours.

Bless now, oh Lord, these gifts and their benefits, that they might be received as evidence of Your mercies and multiplied in effectiveness for Your kingdom. Amen.