9th Sunday after Pentecost

Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas

July 25, 2021 / 10:45 a.m.
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CHIMING OF THE HOUR

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Carness Vaughan

OPENING VOLUNTARY When Morning Gilds the Skies arr. Jason Payne
Scott Montgomery, organ

* CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 113:1-3, NRSV) Dr. Steve Pulliam

Pastor: Praise the Lord! Praise O servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.
People: Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.
Pastor: From the rising of the sun to its setting,
People: the name of the Lord is to be praised.

* OPENING HYMN 181 Ye Servants of God HANOVER

1. Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim;
and publish abroad his wonderful name;
the name all-victorious of Jesus extol,
his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
2. God ruleth on high, almighty to save,
and still he is nigh, his presence we have;
the great congregation his triumph shall sing,
ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.
3. "Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!"
Let all cry aloud and honor the Son;
the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
4. Then let us adore and give him his right,
all glory and power, all wisdom and might;
all honor and blessing with angels above,
and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (The Apostles’ Creed)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

* GLORIA PATRI 70 MEINEKE

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.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Thomas Theodore Roblee & Chase Cypert Roblee

 CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ,
that these children, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith,
and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.

ANTHEM God of Grace and God of Glory Austin C. Lovelace

Chancel Choir

CALL TO PRAYER Dr. Steve Pulliam

Our Lord Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.”
And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
With this instruction from God, let us now go to him in prayer.

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O God, our Instructor and Guardian, you have led us from the busy world into the quiet
of your house. Grant us grace to worship you in Spirit and in truth, to the comfort of our
souls and the upbuilding of every good purpose and holy desire. Enable us to do more
perfectly the work to which you have called us: to love you with all of our being, and to
love all of our neighbors as ourself. We do this so we may worship you not only with our
lips at this hour, but in word and deed when we leave this place. It is through Jesus
Christ our Savior that we strive to accomplish these tasks, which you have committed
to us. Amen.

PASTORAL PRAYER

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.

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT Choral Scholars

GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERING

OFFERTORY Some Day arr. Kenneth W. Louis

Ethan Godfrey, tenor

* DOXOLOGY 95 OLD 100th

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON Nehemiah 1:4-11

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of
heaven. Then I said, O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of
unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and
see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes,
even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees,
and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your
servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me
and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will
bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ “The people you rescued by your
great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of
those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to
me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.
This is the Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
 SERMON “BEFORE WE GET STARTED…” Rev. Carness Vaughan
The Nehemiah Prayer

* CLOSING HYMN 467 Trust and Obey HURSLEY

(Verses 1, 2 & 4)
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. (Refrain)
4. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do, where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. (Refrain)

* BENEDICTION

* CLOSING VOLUNTARY Postlude in C Henry Smart

Scott Montgomery, organ (1813-1879)

(*) The asterisk indicates to please stand, as you are able.

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WORSHIP LEADERS
Rev. Carness Vaughan, Senior Pastor; Dr. Steve Pulliam, Executive Pastor
Dr. Frode Gundersen, Director of Music & Worship; Scott Montgomery, Associate Music Director & Organist
Amy Hardin, Lawson Templeton, Lukas Croson, A/V; David Lee, Techincal Director

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
Today marks the last Sunday for two of our talented Choral Scholars after two years of faithful service.
Both have completed their Master of Music in Vocal Performance degrees from the University of Arkansas,
and will be moving next week. Ethan Godrey, tenor, will be returning to his home in Atlanta, Georgia.
Staceé Lyles, soprano, will be moving to Greensboro, North Carolina. Their talent and commitment to
Central’s music program has blessed our congregation beyond measure. We wish God’s richest blessings
on Staceé and Ethan as they continue in their music careers.

ALTAR FLOWERS
The altar flowers are given in honor of Thomas Theodore Roblee and Chase Cypert Roblee
in celebration of their baptisms this morning. The floral arrangements are provided by their family.

BAPTISM
Holly and James Roblee present their sons, Thomas Theodore Roblee and Chase Cypert Roblee,
for baptism this morning. Julie and Rick Roblee are the paternal grandparents,
and Karla and Tommy Hilburn of Little Rock are the maternal grandparents.

NEW SCHEDULE BEGINS NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

9:15 AM (Contemporary Worship) 10:00 AM (Life Classes) 11:00 AM (Classic Worship)