Our United Outreach Sunday
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, people of God! Come as one, united in purpose and desire to do God’s work faithfully… together. Let’s worship God as one people…with joy and in spirit and in truth.
—Cliff Hudson
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― based on Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. The Lord’s understanding is inscrutable. Come, Family of Faith, and learn and hear more of God as we worship in spirit and truth!
—Cliff Hudson
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The people of God are called to a time of worship. This is our time to listen carefully to God’s voice with our hearts, minds, and spirits and to respond to God’s amazing grace in new and tangible ways. Let’s worship our God with all that we have and all that we are!
—Cliff Hudson
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O God, we come before you bringing our all. We bring all our gifts and all our talents. We bring all our hopes and dreams as well as our sins and debts. We kneel our hearts and minds before you, O God, and praise you because only you are worthy of worship.
—Susan Parker
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All praise and glory to God for God’s perfect plan for each of us.
Praise be to God.
All praise and glory to God for all the abundance of provisions to us.
Praise be to God.
All praise and glory to God for revealing the holy word to us.
Praise and thanks be to God.
Let us worship God.
—Calotta Edsell
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—adapted from Psalm 138:1-3
We gather as one people with hearts filled with gratitude to worship our God Almighty.
Praise be to God.
Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
Praise be to God.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: “Thank you!”
Praise be to God.
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Praise be to God.
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
Praise be to God.
Let us worship God.
—Jeff McMichael
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INVOCATION
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MUSIC (HYMNS, SONGS, ANTHEMS)
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CALL TO CONFESSION
We must bring all of our being to confession… all that we are, and all that we are not. We are not perfect, but we belong to God. We are sinful, but we have been given the great gift of grace. We are not always obedient, but we can still learn to obey God’s commands. In humility, therefore, let us approach God and speak what God already knows: that we need to be forgiven.
—Cliff Hudson
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God is always calling, always beckoning, always urging us to search our hearts and see if there’s a fault or a flaw in us that needs to be corrected. Let’s spend a moment together, telling God what God already knows. We need to confess our sinful condition and we need God’s mercy, grace, and pardon. Let’s do that right now.
—Cliff Hudson
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Our time of confession is a priceless gift. It helps us to look at ourselves honestly and realize just how badly we need God’s grace, guidance, and direction. It focuses us and helps us find the center of our relationship with God. In short, confession is really, really good for the soul. Let’s confess our sins to God in the midst of the family of faith.
—Cliff Hudson
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The grace we receive is so undeserved yet we read in scripture that it is available. We only need confess and ask and we receive. Amazing!
—Susan Parker
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We think we are all knowing, independent and confident people. We often make decisions based upon our own ideas and not ask for God’s holy guidance about serving God. We do not pray, or read God’s word before making up our minds about how we are to conduct our life or serve in the Church. We live in the world and not in God’s kingdom because we think we know best. We are often influenced by others and our own desires to be in control. So let us confess our sins before God.
—Calotta Edsell
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We are called to worship and live our lives with pure hearts. We realize that we are flawed people and our hearts and souls cry out because we have failed. And so, Lord we come to confess our sins.
—Jeff McMichael
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PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, we fail daily to recognize the ways in which you bless us. Some of our blessings are obvious, but others are not. Yet, we know you bless us and provide for us in ways that are visible as well as invisible. Forgive us, Lord, for our ungrateful hearts and stubborn attitudes. Turn us from our self-centered ways so that we may be of good service to you and the people you love and care for. We pray this in the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Lord of all that we are and all that we have, forgive us for our short-sighted thinking and our selfishness. We are tempted to hoard rather than be radically generous. We are tempted to carefully calculate our tithes and gifts and restrict the blessings you would give us. Have mercy upon us, Master, and teach us the joys of giving freely and joyfully. Remind us anew that you gave all of yourself so that we might serve you faithfully with our time, talents, and treasure. This we ask in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Loving God, we admit we have failed to take careful inventory of the ways you have blessed our lives both past and present. We receive your gifts, but we sometimes do not acknowledge them. You provide for us, but we hide and hoard rather than re-direct our blessings lovingly and lavishly. Forgive our timid thoughts and actions, dear Lord! Instead, place within us a portion of your generous spirit, and lead us to a full understanding of our responsibilities as Christians. This we ask in both boldness and humility, for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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When we choose things over people, Lord forgive us.
When we choose greed over good, Lord forgive us.
When we choose scarcity over abundance, Lord forgive us.
When we choose judgment over justice, Lord forgive us.
When we choose anger over love, Lord forgive us.
When we choose the world over you, Lord forgive us.
Lord forgive us. Amen.
—Susan Parker
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Gracious God, please forgive us and have mercy upon us. Guide us and direct us to do your will on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to listen to you and your teachings and to be faithful servants. Amen.
—Calotta Edsell
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Merciful God, we bow before you in humility because we know that we have not loved the way you have called us to love. We have not forgiven as you taught to forgive. We think of ourselves greater than those whom we are called to serve. Please Lord, forgive our sins and our haughty attitudes, and create in us a pure heart with pure motives. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
—Jeff McMichael
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ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Here’s good news: The apostle John tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. That’s the way forward and upward. Child of God, rise in the knowledge that you are forgiven…and get with the program! Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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― based on 1 John 1:9
Brothers and sisters, here’s some very good news: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is just one of the many wonderful promises of God that we all depend on. Rejoice and thank God that you are indeed forgiven!
—Cliff Hudson
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First God forgives… then God forgets. Our sins, once confessed, are forever erased from the record because of the saving, redeeming power of God through Christ. Take a moment today to thank God for your salvation, made possible by God’s grace. Thanks be to God!
—Cliff Hudson
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Who can forgive these sins? Only Christ. Christ died for us. Christ rose for us. Christ reigns in heaven for us. Friends, Christ prays for us. If he is with us, who can be against us? Thanks be to God our sins are forgiven!
—Susan Parker
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Children of the loving God, be assured of forgiveness and mercy. As promised in the scriptures, our earnest prayers are heard and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our transgressions are forgiven. Praise be to God.
—Calotta Edsell
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Be assured that God has heard your prayer and God’s grace and mercy flows freely to the penitent sinner. Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
—Jeff McMichael
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CHILDREN’S SERMON
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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of all time and for all time: Open our minds so that we may understand your word. Open our hearts so that we may learn of your grace and mercy. Open our spirits so that we may respond to the leading of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Open us, O Lord, to receive your word. Help us to digest the truth with our entire being―mind, body, and spirit. Bless us now as we hear what you would have us hear and understand what you would have us understand. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Open our eyes, Great God, so that we may see the truth. Open our spirits, Great God, so that we may understand what we are about to hear through the power of your Holy Spirit. Open our ears, Great God, so that we may truly hear not only your word, but the message it contains for each of us. Great God, please add your blessing to the reading of your word. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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We ask, O God, that you take the scales from our eyes and the human need from our hearts and help us to hear your word—the word that can instruct our paths and lead us to a life of abundance and peace. Help us, O God, to overcome any resistance to the Holy Spirit entering our hearts and truly commune with you. Amen.
—Susan Parker
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God of all, open our minds that we may understand your word. Open our hearts that we may learn how to be generous. Open our spirits that we may act as a response to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Amen.
—Calotta Edsell
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Almighty God, open our minds that we may understand your word. Open our hearts that our souls may see how your word can change us and our world around us. Send your Holy Spirit to encourage us to respond. Amen.
—Jeff McMichael
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SCRIPTURE TEXTS/SERMON IDEAS
- Suggested title: “Please Stop Giving!” Text: Exodus 35:20-29, selected; Exodus 36:2-7, selected.
In these verses we are told of Moses’ request of the people to provide what was needed to build a suitable house of worship. Because God’s people were inspired, they gave with willing hearts. The generosity so overflowed that Moses was forced to issue a command, saying, in essence, “We’ve more than enough. Please stop giving!”
- Suggested title: “Theft By Diversion.” Text: Malachi 3:8-10
This is a stark, vivid text. In it, we are taught that our circumstances are directly proportional to our willingness to give the Lord what is already, by right, the Lord’s. As Malachi explains, to withhold what is God’s is to commit theft by diversion. Too often, too many people divert what is God’s to any number of coffers. The teaching is plain: when we do, we do so at our own peril and cost.
- Suggested title: “Salt and Light; Light and Salt.” Text: Matthew 5:13-16
If, as Jesus teaches, we are to be both salt and light to the world, we must take the instructions carefully and willingly. While it is true that we can and should be salt and light as individual Christians, we are far more likely to spread the seasoning and point the beacon if we join together with other Christians in a common cause for the common good. As Cumberland Presbyterian Christians, one of the ways we can do this is by participating in Our United Outreach and making sure our congregations, pastors, and sessions are committed to being that “great city on a hill.”
—Cliff Hudson
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- Suggested sermon title: The Look on Her Face
Using either Mark 12:1-44 or Luke 21:1-4, think about the look on the famous widow’s face as she placed her coin, representing all she had, into the Temple treasury receptacle. She certainly got Jesus’ attention, but was her look one of serene joy or intense pain? Was she smiling as she gave up all she had, or was the look on her face a look of worried desperation? She is, without doubt, one of our greatest heroines in the Bible. Is it possible, though, that she looked angry as she tossed her coin in? Angry because of the way she had been treated by the folks who ran the treasury? Have some fun exploring the possibilities.
- Suggested sermon title: Master of Little, Master of Much
Using the famous Parable of the Talents, found in Matthew 25: 14-28, explore what it means to be a good and faithful steward of that which God has blessed you with. We might consider our church budgets―large, small, or in-between―and ask ourselves whether we are being faithful with what we have. Further, in order to be faithful, it might be worth a few minutes of sermon time to talk about whether or not we are masters of our treasure, or whether our treasure, or lack of it, is mastering us.
—Cliff Hudson
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(With thanks and appreciation to Dr. Harold Jones, Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery)
- Suggested sermon title: “The Wise Bring Gifts”
- Texts: Malachi 3:6-9; Matthew 2: 1-12
Using these two texts, craft a sermon that compares and contrasts the conditions and people in both. Malachi’s challenge was to a people who weren’t looking for anything special from God and acted like it. The “wise men,” as they are called, were indeed looking for something very special from God and when they saw it, they acted upon it. They gave sacrificially and joyfully. The people in Malachi’s time lessened themselves into a lower common denominator of penuriousness, fear, and selfishness. They weren’t hurting God one bit, but they were surely hurting themselves!
—Cliff Hudson
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- Deuteronomy 30:15-20
- Psalm 119:1-8
- 1 Corinthians 3:1-9—The Corinthians are chastised in chapter three because of their lack of working together and Paul reminds them that we are God’s servants and need to work together.
- Matthew 5:21-37—The gospel reading in Matthew lends itself well to expanding beyond the “ought to’s” of our commandments to the abundance of the overflowing love and mercy we have been given.
Several of these scriptures could tie easily into sermons about giving and serving together through Our United Outreach. I would title the sermon: “Living an Abundant Life.”
—Susan Parker
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- Proverbs 3-1-18
—Calotta Edsell
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- Isaiah 6:1-9 – Just like Isaiah we must answer the call – and OUO allows us to be faithful to that call.
- Luke 5:1-11 – The church is to be fishers of humanity and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. OUO is what allows us to do this as Cumberland Presbyterians.
- 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 – Paul reminds us it is life, death and resurrection that we are to preach.
—Jeff McMichael
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SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS (VIDEOS, TAPED SONGS)
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Gracious God, we pause this morning to lift up your Cumberland Presbyterian servants in lands far away from us: in Columbia, Cambodia, and Laos; Guatemala, the Philippines, and Japan; in places kept secret for safety’s sake, your people are living the gospel and spreading your Good News. Make us mindful, Lord, of our responsibilities to those people who feel led to serve you around the globe and in our town. Remind us to be faithful to all the programs and ministries of your church in our prayers and support of time, talent, and substance. Help us and heal us here and now, O God, so that we may work joyfully and serve you with loyalty and vigor. We pray this in the name of Christ. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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God of grace and peace,
we come to you this morning wearing garments of humility and praise.
We are humbled by what we have heard and know of you.
We are compelled to bend our knees and bow our heads
when we consider all that you are and all that you have done for us.
This knowledge also causes us to praise you for the chances you give each of us
to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Therefore, we pray for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
We ask your blessings upon all our denominational employees, wherever they serve.
We ask your blessings for all our missionaries, wherever they are.
We ask your blessings upon our entire church―
every pastor, elder, Sunday school teacher, faithful member, and all the rest.
Gracious God, pour out your blessings on the entirety of our church,
near and far, local, national, and international.
This we ask for the sake of Christ Jesus our Savior, Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Today, Lord, this day that you have made, contains both challenge and opportunity for each of us and for your people called Cumberland Presbyterian. We give you thanks for the ministries you have assigned to our Church and we praise you for the challenge and opportunity each of our ministries contain. Just now, Lord, we pray for our missionaries in diverse places and for the good people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support and nurture them. Again, Lord, we pray for all the ministries you have given to us, and the people who implement them. Convince us, Lord, that it is good and valuable service to support the ministries, programs, and agencies of our Church through our gifts to Our United Outreach. Motivate us and empower us, Lord, to see more clearly and give more generously and sacrificially. It is in your name we pray, Lord. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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O God of mercy and grace, we thank you for this day and this hour that we are blessed to be worshipping together. Remind us O God that though we are weak and lacking, because we are your children, our cup overflows. Remind us when we think we have little, we have it all. We ask for light in the darkness when we become like the world rather than your kingdom. We pray for your will to be done in the lives of each of us. But O God, we especially ask today for your blessings on those who are in need of physical, spiritual, emotional or financial healing. We ask for your special blessings on those whose names we speak either aloud or silently now (pause for congregation to voice any names). And we pray now as Christ taught us: (pray together the Lord’s Prayer).
—Susan Parker
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God of Generosity and Giving,
We come to you thankful for the ministries that we are able to do as one congregation—(fill in some of the ministries your church does locally). We realize that we are a single church made up of individuals and we can do great things.
We also recognize and thank you for the fact that we as Cumberland Presbyterians are a connectional Church. And because of that, we are able to do even more when we generously give part of our tithes and offerings to Our United Outreach, the unified budget of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. We know that together with other churches we can send missionaries to global communities to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and build relationships between all Cumberland Presbyterian churches throughout the world. We know that together we are able to publish Cumberland Presbyterian resources including the Encounter so that our people can learn about our unique history, tradition and theology. We know that together we can train ministers and laity through leader development denominationally and can provide funds where there is a crisis. All these things that are done through Our United Outreach are done only because we first give. We learn to give because you O God have taught us how through your most precious gift of your son Jesus Christ. Help us to show our gratitude with our tithes and our offerings and to thank you that we are able to do all we do together with other Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. Amen.
—Calotta Edsell
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God of generosity and giving,
We come to you thankful for the ministries that we are able to do as one congregation—(fill in some of the ministries your church does locally). We realize that we are a single church made up of individuals and we can do great things.
We also recognize and thank you for the fact that we as Cumberland Presbyterians are a connectional Church. And because of that, we are able to do even more when we generously give part of our tithes and offerings to Our United Outreach, the unified budget of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. We know that together with other churches we can send missionaries to global communities to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and build relationships between all Cumberland Presbyterian churches throughout the world. We know that together we are able to publish Cumberland Presbyterian resources including the Encounter so that our people can learn about our unique history, tradition and theology. We know that together we can train ministers and laity through leader development denominationally and can provide funds where there is a crisis. All these things are done through Our United Outreach only because we first give. We learn to give because you, O God, have taught us how through your most precious gift of your son Jesus Christ. Help us to show our gratitude with our tithes and our offerings and to thank you that we are able to do all we do together with other Cumberland Presbyterian churches. Amen.
—Jeff McMichael
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LITANY
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INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The challenge is difficult for many of us. We give, but we seek to retain control over the gift. God’s word teaches differently. The offering should be a celebration of the joy of giving freely; an act of trust that turns over control of the gift to the Lord’s duly authorized agent. As we mingle our dollars with the dollars of others for the greater common good, let us proclaim God’s goodness to a needy world.
—Cliff Hudson
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Our faithful God calls us to faithfully give. Our call to give is for our own good because by giving we learn to put others first and always before ourselves. The great blessing of God-ordained giving makes us full partners in what God wants to do in us, through us, and around us. Let’s bless God and others by contributing our faith-filled gifts.
—Cliff Hudson
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Why do we give, anyway? Some give because they believe they are supposed to. Some give generously and others give grudgingly. Many others have come to know the sheer joy and pleasure of joining with God and God’s people in combining dollars together to do God’s work. While the work of God takes many, many forms, there is great satisfaction for those who give of their time, talents, and treasure faithfully and systematically. Let’s worship God through our giving.
—Cliff Hudson
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Often the reason we do not give is because we do not have. But often it is not money we do not have to give. Often it is because we see our lives and our wealth as lacking. We fail to see the abundance of our lives in God’s kingdom. We fail to see that by giving we receive. We fail to open our lives to the overwhelming, unending possibilities that God has for us as individuals, as a church, and as a group of churches who call themselves Cumberland Presbyterians. A group of people who dare say, “Yes, together we can do it!” Whatever God has for us, we can accomplish. Let’s worship God with our tithes and offerings.
—Susan Parker
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As everything we have is a provision of our Creator, may we give back at least a tenth to the church as we are told to do in the scriptures. We are taught that giving is a blessing, and we know that we can never out-give God. Let us give of our tithes and offerings with cheerful hearts.
—Calotta Edsell
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All great gifts come from God. Everything we have is God’s first. The Lord instructed us to give a tithe from our blessings as an offering, a sign of faith in the one who is the great provider.
—Jeff McMichael
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OFFERTORY PRAYER
Generous God, we turn over some of our dollars to you. We give them freely. We give them up joyfully. We ask that you bless, approve, and use this offering to accomplish your will in this world. We pray this, grateful for a chance to be a part of all that you are doing in us, through us, and around us, in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Faithful God, it is right to give you thanks for the blessings you have bestowed upon us and the never-ending opportunity to be part of the solution and not a part of the problem. Make our free-will offerings acceptable to you! We relinquish control of our gifts to you and the people and organizations responsible for them. O Lord, put our dollars to work doing your will! Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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Thanks to you, Mighty God, for giving us another opportunity to invest a proper proportion of our resources to the work you command us to do and to support. We acknowledge the many ways you bless us constantly and ask that this offering be acceptable in your sight. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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O God, for these and all the gifts given, we are thankful. We are thankful for all the ministries and missions that we work together to accomplish. In Christ’s name we give thanks, Amen.
—Susan Parker
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Gracious God, as you bless us with such an abundant supply, every need met and with our cups overflowing, we thank you. Please accept our tithes and offerings so they may be used for the building of your kingdom on earth. We ask that you show us the ways that we can best serve you and use these gifts to glorify you. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
—Calotta Edsell
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Gracious God, we give these tithes and offerings as an act of faith, knowing you can use the gift and the giver to bring glory to your holy name. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Jeff McMichael
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CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Children of God, go forward from this place of worship secure in the knowledge that you are loved and blessed by God so that you may love and bless God’s people. Go then, in peace, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen!
—Cliff Hudson
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We have heard God’s word and sung God’s praises, but we cannot remain here. The gracious gospel compels us to go, go, go… out into God’s world as God’s faithful stewards, proclaiming God’s grace to all who need to hear and believe. Go in peace in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen!
—Cliff Hudson
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The God who blesses us also challenges us: go forward from this place, count your blessings, but use them wisely. Go then, blessed child of God, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
—Cliff Hudson
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And now may the love of Almighty God,
the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus,
the joy of the Holy Spirit go with each of you.
And may your cup run over and spill abundance on everyone you meet. Amen.
—Susan Parker
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As a child of God,
Go from this place filled with the Holy Spirit
and be mindful of God’s perfect plan for your life.
Be all that you were created to be
and may the light of Christ shine through you
in all that you do, say and think each and every day. Amen.
—Calotta Edsell
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As a child of God,
Go from this place filled with the Holy Spirit
and be mindful of God’s perfect plan for your life.
Be all that you were created to be
and may the light of Christ shine through you
in all that you do, say and think each and every day. Amen.
—Jeff McMichael
