United Methodist Church of Merced JUNE 6, 2021 WELCOME AND

United Methodist Church of Merced JUNE 6, 2021

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN Great Is Thy Faithfulness Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see: all I have needed thy hand hath provided-- Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

OPENING PRAYER REV. VICTORIA SCHLINTZ

CALL TO WORSHIP REV. VICTORIA SCHLINTZ Please respond to each proclamation with, “Let us be a reflection of God’s love.” However we can, we come again today, to gather, to worship, to say, 2

“Let us be a reflection of God’s love.” The testimony of our words speaks to wisdom from above. “Let us be a reflection of God’s love.” And the testimony of our lives is God’s Word in action. “Let us be a reflection of God’s love.” We are called to be witnesses to what we have seen and heard and known. “Let us be a reflection of God’s love.” We are blessed and called to be a blessing. “Let us be a reflection of God’s love.”

We are given time and talents, treasures and testimony, an abundance of ways to witness amazing grace, and to be witnesses through speaking what we believe and living what we know to be the way of God’s incredible, outlandish love. With wisdom from above, assurance from mercy, and fruit of the Spirit, we can live the testimony of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. We can be overcomers and encouragers. “Let us be a reflection of God’s love.” Amen.

GOSPEL READING Mark 3:20-35 20 and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.

21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." 23 And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come.

27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

28 "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can 3 never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"-- 30 for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

31 Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.

32 A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." 33 And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34 And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

PRAYER

HOMILY

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture- "I believed, and so I spoke" --we also believe, and so we speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.

15 Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

HYMN GIVE THANKS Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One; 4 give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’, let the poor say ‘I am rich’, because of what the Lord has done for us; and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’, let the poor say ‘I am rich’, because of what the Lord has done for us. instrumental

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son. Give thanks.

PASTORAL PRAYER REV. VICTORIA SCHLINTZ 5

…May we carry on as people with testimony of an awesome God, even as we joyfully and confidently lift our voices in the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

WHY ALL MEANS ALL MATTERS JEN MANILAY

INVITATION TO STEWARDSHIP

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

BENEDICTION AND SENDING FORTH

SONG OF PRAISE WE BELIEVE

In this time of desperation When all we know is doubt and fear There is only one foundation We believe, we believe

In this broken generation When all is dark, You help us see There is only one salvation We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father We believe in Jesus Christ We believe in the Holy Spirit And He's given us new life We believe in the crucifixion We believe that He conquered death We believe in the resurrection And He's comin' back again, we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems Greater than the songs we sing And in our weakness and temptations We believe, we believe

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised In the here and now, let love invade Let the church live loud, our God we'll say We believe, we believe And the gates of hell will not prevail For the power of God, has torn the veil Now we know Your love will never fail We believe, we believe

He's comin' back again We believe We believe

ANNOUNCEMENTS: UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF MERCED JUNE 6, 2021 7

SUNDAY JUNE 6, 2021 COME WORSHIP WITH US SUNDAYS 10AM

HOW TO WORSHIP WITH UMCM: Outdoor Worship Please park in back parking lot facing the school, or side parking lot Please bring your own chairs and remember to wear face coverings at all times. Temperatures will be checked on arrival and hand sanitizer will be provided. Maintain 6+ feet of social distancing from other householders entry and exit. Please arrive early so that our ushers can seat you.

Please Note: Paper bulletins will not be handed out. You will be able to access the Order of Worship at umcmerced.org under the Worship tab. Print your own copy or access it from your device during the service.

Zoom Worship You may join live at 10 AM via Zoom using the process below: Open the Zoom desktop application or go to join.zoom.us in your internet browser. Enter the Meeting ID: 850 7239 3214 Enter the Passcode: 795250 Direct Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85072393214?pwd=d21qWkxxQ3duQS94YW5JK1JPRzAyQT 09

Online Recorded Service recordings will continue to be posted on umcmerced.org under the Worship tab, in the same way as before. They will be made available the following Monday by 12PM.

FOOD PANTRY UPDATE: THE FOOD PANTRY IS ON A 2 WEEK BREAK. THE NEXT DISTRIBUTION DATE IS JUNE 17TH. UMCM, along with many community volunteers, are preparing 700 boxes for the next distribution. We need help to build boxes! We ask volunteers to work a 2 hour block of time. If you want to help, call the office, Jenni Durbin or email [email protected] .

Do you need food? Do you know anyone who needs food? UMC will distribute boxes of food Thursday, June 17th, at noon. Thank you to all who are called to serve, called to feed, called to love. This is a witness of welcoming all, serving all, and working with all. Thank you

6 WEEK SPOUSAL GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP TUESDAYS AT 10 AM via Zoom. Currently, this group is on break until July 15th. To register for the next sessions, , please contact [email protected], or call 209 722 5777.

MONDAY BIBLE STUDIES VIA ZOOM every Monday at 4pm! Call for details.

PASTOR VICTORIA WILL BE PREACHING JUNE 27TH, during our regular service as UMCM pastors will cover both UMCM and Dos Palos on that day.

HELP UMCM STAY ACTIVE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT! If you have a heart for reaching the community, advocating for justice, mobilizing the church into action; if you are excited about UMCM’s witness in community and want to be a part, and would be interested in chairing the committee of Social Justice and Community Engagement please contact Pastor Ella.

YOUR GIFTS HELP US meet financial obligations, produce programming, provide ministry and grow the church. Your tithes, offerings, and gifts make a difference! Tithes and gifts may be: • Presented in person during outdoor worship • Electronically submitted at: umcmerced.org/donations • Mailed to: 899 Yosemite Parkway Merced, CA 95340

THE FIRST ANTIRACISM BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP –has been completed! 11 persons came together with candid talk, safe space and a desire to personally grow in understanding and individual accountability completed the book. One of the fruits of this first discussion group, is an introduction of “Why All Means All makes a Difference” moments of sharing with the congregation.The next book will begin in 7 weeks: Me and White Supremacy, by Layla F. Saad To register: call 209 722 5777 or email: [email protected]

SUMMER FAITH FORMATION and CONFIRMATION CLASSES: If your child is 11 or older, and ready to go deeper into faith in preparation for confirmation, please contact our offices to enroll them into Confirmation Class. We’ll plan timing and timeline, according to the students.

FAITH FORMATION, BAPTISM INFORMATION, AND MEMBERSHIP SESSIONS are available. Please contact Pastor Ella at: [email protected] or (214) 606-2774.

KIDS THEATRE CAMPS WITH PLAYHOUSE MERCED AT UMC BEGINS NEXT WEEK! We’ll have lots of children and young people on site during the week for 9 weeks! Some of the participants, will be our very own! If you come on site during the summer, PLEASE HONOR SIGNAGE for access points. For more details, email Adam or Pastor.

UMCM WELCOMING AN AMERICORPS MEMBER COMING SOON. Sometime this month, Americorps will be sharing one of their members with us to serve in addressing food insecurity. This member will be dedicated to helping us with the Food Pantry’s organization, processes, volunteer recruitment and reporting, providing 20 hours of service weekly. Look for further details as we get closer to the date.