. First United Methodist Church

Welcome! We are a Congregation Caring For and About God’s Community

January 31, 2021 – 10:00am - ONLILNE WORSHIP

Fifth Sunday in Epiphany

GATHERING AND PRAISE

Prelude: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Indian Folk Melody, arr. David Paxton and Robert W Thygerson

Welcome and Announcements

*Opening Hymn: “How Great Thou Art” UMH #77

For those who need to see the full music, it is attached at the end of this document

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1) O Lord my God!

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds

Thy hand have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout

The universe displayed.

Then sings my soul,

Refrain: my Savior God to thee;

2X thru How great thou art!

How great thou art!

2) When through the woods

And forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook,

And feel the gentle breeze; [Refrain]

3) And when I think that God,

His Son not sparing,

Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross,

My burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died

To take away my sin; [Refrain]

4) When Christ shall come

With shout of acclamation

And take me home,

What joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim,

My God, how great thou art! [Refrain]

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

Opening Prayer

Almighty God we come to you this morning, not in the sanctuary of our church, but

in the tabernacle of our homes and private spaces. Lord, it has been a challenging

time not being able to gather to see one another’s faces, to speak an encouraging word

and to lift our voices together in praise. We have been in this time of separation for

almost a year. It has been a wilderness experience for us like the children of Israel

wandering in the dessert. Yet during this time, O Lord, you have provided for us. As

you sent manna and water for the Hebrew people, we have seen provision too. We

have food to eat, clothes to wear, homes to live in and some opportunities for

fellowship with others. We praise you, O God, for these gifts. Yet we know that many

have suffered with sickness, many have had little contact with friends and family and

some have passed away during this epidemic. We pray for those who are alone, who

are sick and who need comfort. We ask, O God, that you might lead us through this

wilderness time and bring us into a new place of opportunity, of healing and

prosperity. We ask that you do a new thing this year and allow us to be your

instruments of grace in a hurting world, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Chorus: “Spirit of the Living God” UMH #393

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Time of Silent Meditation

Pastoral Prayer lifting Celebrations and Concerns

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.

Living Our Gratitude

♫ Please continue to support your church family during this time

of “social distancing”. Enjoy the musical selection as a time

to give thanks to God for all with which you have been blessed.

Use the QR code to the right or give online here:

https://www.firstumcsaginaw.org/give/

Offertory: “Jesus Calls Us” -William Jude, arr. Raymond H Haan

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Generous God, we thank you for the ways you have blessed and guided your church

this past year, in spite of all the difficulties we’ve faced, and we ask you to bless the

gifts we have given this morning or mailed in this week. Use these gifts to continue

to build your church in this place, and your Kingdom on earth, in the name of

Christ who goes before us and beside us, we pray. Amen.

Special Music: “God Has Work For Us To Do” Mark A. Miller

Bryan Latimer, Piano/Vocals

1) Til' all the jails are empty

and all the bellies filled;

'til no one hurts or steals or lies,

and no more blood is spilled:

Chorus:

God has work for us to do,

God has work for us to do,

'til God's will is done

and all things are made new,

God has work for us, work for us to do.

https://www.firstumcsaginaw.org/give/

2) 'Til age and race and gender

no longer separate;

'til pulpit, press, and politics

are free of greed and hate. [Chorus]

3) By praying through our doing,

and singing though we fear,

by trusting that the seed we sow will

bring God's harvest near. [Chorus]

Scripture Lesson: Deuteronomy 8:7-16 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with

springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley,

of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land where you

may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron

and from whose hills you may mine copper. 10 You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your

God for the good land that he has given you. 11 Take care that you do not forget the Lord

your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am

commanding you today. 12 When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live

in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is

multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the

Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who

led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes

and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, 16 and fed you in the wilderness

with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end

to do you good.

Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 43:19 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a

way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Response to the Word

L: This is the Word of God for the people of God

P: Thanks be to God!

Sermon “GOD IS DOING A NEW THING” Pastor J.D. Landis, guest preacher

WE GO AS WITNESSES FOR CHRIST IN THE WORLD

*Closing Hymn: “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” UMH #344

1) Lord, you have come to the lakeshore

Looking neither for wealthy

nor wise ones You only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain: O Lord, with your eyes you have searched me

And while smiling

have spoken my name

Now my boat's left

on the shoreline behind me

By your side I will seek other seas.

2) You know so well my possessions My boat carries no gold and no weapons

You will find there my nets and labor.

Refrain

3) You need my hands full of caring

Through my labors to give others rest

And constant love that keeps on loving.

Refrain

4) You, who have fished other oceans,

Ever longed for by souls who are waiting

My loving friend, as thus you call me.

Refrain

*Benediction:

L: As you go out to be a living witness and to show God's love active in the world, go

knowing that God goes with you, sharing the laughter and the hope, the fears and the

tears; and may the grace of God, the love of Jesus, and the inspiration of the Holy

Spirit be yours this day and always.

P: Amen! We go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!

*Postlude: “I Will Follow Him”

-From Sister Act, by Del Roma and J.W. Stole, adapted by Bryan Latimer

* You are invited to stand if you are able

First United Methodist Church 4790 Gratiot Road, Saginaw, MI 48638-6242; (989) 799-0131; Fax (989) 799-4240

e-mail: firstumsag@aol.com website: http://firstumcsaginaw.org

Senior Pastor ....................................................................................................... Rev. Amy Lee Brun Terhune

............................................................. pastoralbt@outlook.com / (989) 274-6363 (cell phone)

Office Administrator/Treasurer ..................................................................................................... Dina Draper

Custodian .........................................................................................................................................Tina Castle

Director of Music & Chancel Choir ................................................................................................Rod Bieber

Organist ..................................................................................................................................... Bryan Latimer

Bell Choir Director ......................................................................................................... Catherine McMichael

Praise Band Director ......................................................................................................................Lance Coyle

Nursery Supervisors .......................................................... Diane Maturen, Aimee Priem, & Carolyn Rottiers

Audio Visual Technicians ........................................ Nic Courier, Brian Hatch, Andy Sharrow, Izzy Terhune

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Follow us on Social Media!

YouTube: Saginaw First UMC Twitter: FirstUMCofSaginaw

Instagram: saginawfumc Facebook: First United Methodist Church of Saginaw

Even virtually, be sure to check in on Facebook! The more of us that do so, the more people learn about

who we are!

OUR SYMPATHY TO: Catherine McMichael and family on the death of her father Robert

McMichael last Sunday, and Pastor Amy Terhune and family on the death of her father Rev. Wes

Brun on Tuesday.

PLEASE HOLD IN YOUR PRAYERS: Mark Abbe, Connor Ashmall, Marilyn Ashmall, Ed

Babinski, David Barker (now at Hoyt Rehab), John & Myrna Cammin, Jim Cloud (now at Hoyt

Rehab), Bill Cowdry, Bonnie & Pat Dole, Chris Everett, Esther Cavendish Fisher, Glenn Hinds,

Barb Kropp, Walt & Joyce Maltman, Camille Marek, David & Cheryl Marks, John Mertz, Merlyn

Mondol, Bob & Sharon Mueller, Dave & Jean Nelson, Ron Perry, Al Reichard, Anne Ruffle,

Eugenia Shek, Rev. Jim Smith (now at Hoyt Rehab) and Louise Yeager. Also, please pray for

UMCOR, healing from the Covid-19 Virus, and a way to peace and equality for all humankind.

THANK YOU to Rev. J.D. Landis for graciously stepping in this week to lead us in worship and offer

God’s word from the pulpit while Pastor Amy is away.

TAIZÉ WORSHIP will take place online this Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 7:00pm

LIMITED IN-PERSON WORSHIP will begin again for Lent this year, starting with Ash Wednesday

2/17 and each Sunday/Wednesday following. YOU MUST SIGN UP to attend Sunday worship or

NOW/Taizé services in person. MASKS REQUIRED. Call the church office at (989) 799-0131 or

SIGN UP ONLINE HERE. VIEW THE RE-OPENING PLAN HERE.

FOUR WEEK BOOK STUDY – is not happening tonight, as Pastor Amy is away. It will resume next

week at 1:00pm, in order to be over well before the superbowl.

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL FOR 2021 is now being compiled. Original Reflections, Poetry, Artwork,

and photographs may be submitted to Pastor Amy at pastoralbt@outlook.com by February 3, 2021

around the themes of Grace, Growth, Prayer, God’s Presence in Difficulty, Strength, and Jesus’

Love for Us. Children and teens encouraged to participate.

ASH WEDNESDAY is February 17. We will livestream a worship service at 7pm, and also allow

limited in-person attendance. Sign-up to attend worship above. In addition, you can receive ashes

on your forehead and a time of brief prayer from Pastor Amy in a drive-thru format under the front

portico at the church. Pastor Amy will be offering Ashes using a clean Q-tip for each individual in

the morning from 8:00-9:00am, over lunch-hour from Noon-1:00pm, and after the worship service

from 8:00-8:30pm. Please wear a mask (Pastor Amy will also be wearing a mask) when under the

portico. You will also be able to pick up your Lenten Devotional during the drive thru times.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044DAFAC2BA0FD0-worshiphttp://www.firstumcsaginaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Covid-19-Re-Opening-Policy-2021.pdfmailto:pastoralbt@outlook.com

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSEOpening PrayerTime of Silent MeditationPastoral Prayer lifting Celebrations and Concerns