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A Wesleyan Summons
to Stewardship of Resources |
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Call to Worship (L = Leader, P = People)
L: Happy the multitude
(But far above our sphere)
Redeemed by Jesus’ blood
From all we covet here!
P: To him, and to each other joined,
They all were of one heart and mind. (Charles Wesley)
L: In this spirit, let us worship God.
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| Hymn “Which of the Christians Now” Charles Wesley |
| Tune: DARWALL’S 148th, The United Methodist Hymnal, #715 |
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1. Which of the Christians now
would their possessions sell?
The fact you scarce allow,
the truth incredible:
that saints of old so weak should prove
and as themselves their neighbor love.
2. Of your abundant store
you may a few relieve,
but all to feed the poor
you cannot, cannot give,
houses and lands for Christ forego,
or live as Jesus lived below.
3. Jesus, your church inspire
with apostolic love,
infuse the one desire
to store our wealth above,
with earthly goods freely to part
and joyfully sell all in heart.
4. With your pure Spirit filled,
and loving thee alone,
we shall our substance yield,
call nothing here our own,
whate’er we have or are submit
and lie, as beggars, at your feet. |
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Act of Praise, Psalm 10:12-18 (NRSV) |
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L: Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
P: Why do the wicked renounce God,
and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account?”
L: But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,
that you may take it into your hands;
P: the helpless commit themselves to you;
you have been the helper of the orphan.
L: Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
P: seek out their wickedness till you find none.
L: The Lord is [Ruler] for ever and ever;
P: the nations shall perish from [God’s] land.
L: O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek,
you will strengthen their heart;
P: you will incline your ear
to do justice to the orphan and the oppressed,
so that those from earth may strike terror no more. |
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The Wesleyan Heritage Speaks to Stewardship of Resources |
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| Reader 1: |
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The Scripture for reflection is Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35: |
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“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands and houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” |
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Reader 2: |
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Charles Wesley read once read these words from Acts and wrote the following: (These lines continue from the opening Call to Worship). |
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1. His blood the cement was
who died on Calvary,
and fastened to his cross
they could not disagree:
One soul did all the members move,
the soul of harmony and love.
2. Their goods were free for all,
appropriated to none,
while none presumed to call
what he possessed his own;
the different base of thine and mine
was lost in charity divine.
3. No overplus, or need,
no rich or poor were there,
content with daily bread
where all enjoyed their share;
with every common blessing blessed
they nothing had, yet all possessed. |
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Prayer and Benediction |
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© 2007 S T Kimbrough, Jr. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Units of United Methodist Women may reproduce this liturgy for use in their own programming without further permission. Any print, electronic, or other form of reproduction by parties other than United Methodist Women may be made only by written request to the holder of the copyright. |
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