WELCOME TO WORSHIP
THE LORD’S PRAYER 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.
THE SERENITY PRAYER God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference.
(Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST • SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 • 11:00AM
CANTICLE Grant Us Thy Peace — Felix Mendelssohn Grant us thy peace, almighty Lord, thou source of every blessing! Feeble and frail, trust we Thy word, all things in Thee possessing. In Thee is our hope and safety.
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS Welcome to worship at Centenary! We are a church for everyone. As you prepare for worship, we invite you to greet your neighbor and share the love of Christ. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Prayers You’ll Want to Pray: The Serenity Prayer”
GREETING INTROIT
Nothing Can Trouble — TAIZÉ Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten, those that seek God shall never go wanting. Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten, God alone fills us.
CALL TO WORSHIP Come, people of God, let us walk in the light of the Lord. For His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. In a world that often feels dark and uncertain, God’s truth guides us. We come seeking the light that never fades, the Word that leads us home. Let us open our hearts to the voice of the Spirit, Who speaks through the Word and forms our lives. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #529 How Firm a Foundation — FOUNDATION
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WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY Peace Like a River — Mack Wilberg I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. I’ve got faith like a river in my soul. I’ve got hope like a river in my soul. I’ve got love like a river in my soul. DOXOLOGY #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th 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.
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
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GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father — GREATOREX Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
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PRESENTATION OF BIBLES We rejoice in this step in your journey with God. We pray God will guide you, your family, and us as you use this Holy Bible in your home, in your church school classes, and in our worship. We will learn together and grow in our love for God’s word. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
KINDERGARTEN RECIPIENTS
THIRD GRADE RECIPIENTS
Chase Beehler Rosalind Burke Rhett Clark Ridge Dwiggins Nathaniel Edwards Champ Ernst Virginia Mae Ernst Prestley Johnson Carter Karpinski Madi Belle Mabe Price McNames Miller Munnelly Mary Haskell Pitt Callie Smith Grant Suttle Cal Turner Jane Young
Ellie Atkinson Henry Boehnlein Wyatt Church Presley Clark Boone Coan Sloan Conrad Emery Elliott Louise Henderson Owen Isom Tucker Jones Fletcher Lousie Lambert Ellen Lawrence Madeline Maggs Holt Mebane Charlotte Pierce Hattie Reid Scarlet Saxon Harry Seymore Worth Stanley Watson Terry
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
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We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE — John 14:27
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next.
HYMN
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#377 It Is Well with My Soul — VILLE DU HAVRE
BENEDICTION
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE Amen (from Geistliches Lied, Op. 30) — Johannes Brahms
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POSTLUDE
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Thank you for joining us in worship today.
PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Lara “Willis” Greene Senior Minister LITURGISTS Tammy Pollock Director of Youth Ministries MUSIC Jonathan Emmons Director of Music & Arts Joshua Sobel Organist
CRUCIFER Matthew Lycan TORCHBEARERS Thomas Lycan Thomas Saxon FLOWERS The Chancel Flowers are given in memory of Mr. James A. Gray, Norwood and Pauline Gray Robinson, Bahnson Gray and Anne P. Gray by their families.
The Chancel Choir The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.