11 AM Worship Bulletin

11 AM SERVICE

11AM Order of Worship

A bulletin you can print at home

CONNECT CARD

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GIVE

An expression of gratitude to God

WELCOME TO WORSHIP | sunday | september 14, 2025

a diverse, inclusive church experiencing and reflecting the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ

to each other and our community.

PRELUDE
Set Down, Servant | arr. Marilynn Ham
Wes Kassulke, piano; Doug Friend, percussion

WELCOME | Pastor Cathy Johns

WAYS TO CONNECT | christchurchfl.org/ways2connect
Please see below.

WELCOME ONE ANOTHER

* CALL TO WORSHIP | Jeanne Deinken, liturgist
Come, beloved of God, we gather today as children of truth,
Called to walk in love, just as we have been loved.
The commandment is not new, but it is ever urgent:
That we love one another, from the heart and in action.
In a world of shifting voices, we hold fast to the word.
In the light of Christ, we find our way and our witness.
Let us rejoice in the truth that lives within us.
And let us worship the God whose love never fails.

* GATHERING HYMN
Come, Christians, Join to Sing | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 158 (verses 1,2,3)
Come, Christians, join to sing: Alleluia! Amen!
loud praise to Christ our king: Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice, before his throne rejoice;
praise is his gracious choice. Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high: Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky: Alleluia! Amen!
He is our guide and friend; to us he’ll condescend;
His love shall never end: Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet the Lord again: Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain: Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore his goodness we’ll adore,
singing forevermore: Alleluia! Amen!

Austin Cole Lovelace & Christian Henry Bateman | © words: public domain | music: 1964, 1995 Abingdon Press | CCLI License # 487103

* OPENING PRAYER
God of endless love, we rejoice today that you have called us to walk in the truth of your word. You have shown us what love is in Jesus Christ, and you invite us to live out that love with one another. Keep us steadfast in your teaching, so that we do not wander from the path of life. Guard our hearts from distractions and false voices, and guide our steps in the way of Christ. Shape our lives so that others may glimpse your love through us. Teach us to love as freely, as fully, and as faithfully as you have loved us. Let our worship today be a reflection of your enduring love and a renewal of our commitment to live as you have taught us. Amen.

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God above us, creator of all things, sustainer of all life. God calls us to love and care for one another and all things that God has made.
We believe in Jesus, The Christ beside us, companion and friend, redeemer of all the broken pieces of our universe. He invites us to love boldly as his hands and feet in the world today.
We believe in Spirit deep within us, advocate and guide. The Holy Spirit moves among us to teach and strengthen us in our daily walk and lives within us eternally.
We believe in God’s work of resurrection in the created world, where all things are restored, and all creation fits together in vibrant harmonies.
We believe in God above, beside, within: God yesterday, today and forever.

* GLORIA PATRI
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.

Henry W. Greatorex | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Blake and Jessica Johns present their daughter for Christian Baptism.
Sophie Renee Johns | August 26, 2024

To the parents

On behalf of the whole church, I ask you:
Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin? I do.

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves? I do.

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races? I do.

Will you nurture Sophie in Christ's holy Church, that by your teaching and example she may be guided
to accept God's grace for herself, to profess her faith openly, and to lead a Christian life? I will.

To the congregation

Do you, as Christ's body, the Church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ?
We do.

Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include Sophie now before you in your care?

With God's help we will proclaim the good news
and live according to the example of Christ.
We will surround her with a community of love and forgiveness,
that she may grow in her service to others.
We will pray for her,
that she may be true disciple
who walks in the way that leads to life.

...

To the congregation

Now it is our joy to welcome our new sister in Christ.

Through baptism you are incorporated by the Holy Spirit
into God's new creation and made to share in Christ's royal priesthood.
We are all one in Christ Jesus. With joy and thanksgiving,
we welcome you as a member of the family of Christ.

Members of the household of God, I commend these persons to your love and care.
Do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love.

We give thanks for all that God has already given you
and we welcome you in Christian love.
As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation
of The United Methodist Church,
we renew our covenant faithfully to participate
in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence,
our gifts, our service and our witness,
that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

God Claims You
(refrain) Sophie, Sophie, God claims you, God helps you, protects you and loves you too.
1. We this day do all agree a child of God you’ll always be. (refrain)
2. We are here to say this day that we will help you on your way. (refrain)

MUSIC MINISTRY
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus | Nichole Nordeman, Christ Stevens & Matt Maher
Connie Bookholt, alto

SCRIPTURE
2 John 1:4-8 | New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
⁴I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. ⁵But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment but one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. ⁶And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.

⁷Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! ⁸Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for but may receive a full reward.

These are the words of God for us, the people of God. Thanks be to God

MESSAGE
The Anatomy of Love | And the Truth Shall Set You Free | Pastor Cathy Johns

OFFERING | Pastor Doug Johns
worshiping through the offering of our lives and gifts

· Place offerings in the plates or wooden boxes

· Give online at christchurchfl.org/give

· Text GIVE to 954.880.3885

· Mail a check to Christ Church, 4845 NE 25^th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Connect cards may also be placed with your offering.

Christ Church is a congregationally supported ministry. We thank you for your faithfulness as we reflect the love, hope and joy of Jesus to our community.

MUSIC MINISTRY

The Greatest Gift is Love | Mark Hayes
Chancel Choir
Though I speak with tongues of angels, though my voice is touched with gold, without love each word is discord, clanging brass and cymbals bold. Though I know as much as prophets, though my faith is strong and sure, without love these are as nothing, neither words nor works endure. Though I give my goods to others, and my flesh I give to burn, without love each gift is worthless, till the gift of love I learn. Love is always kind and patient, neither jealous, boastful, rude; neither selfish nor conceited, but with every grace imbued. Love releases all resentment, takes no pleasure in the wrong; love finds truth delightful always and endures what comes along. Though not easily offended, love is eager to forgive, always trusting, always hoping, precious love will always live! In a world that is imperfect, many gifts will pass away; faith and hope and love are endless; these and these alone will stay. To a world where all is changing comes this promise from above: faith and hope will last forever, but the greatest gift is love.

* DOXOLOGY
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.

Bourgeois & Ken | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MORNING 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, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

* HYMN OF COMMITMENT
They’ll Know we are Christians | The Faith we Sing Hymnal No. 2223 (verses 1,2,3)
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

(refrain) And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand.
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. (refrain)

We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride. (refrain)

* SENDING FORTH

* RESPONSE
Spirit Song | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 347
O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love.
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
O let him have the things that hold you, and his Spirit like a dove
will descend upon your life and make you whole.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

MUSIC FOR CLOSING
They'll Know we are Christians by our Love | arr. Lani Smith
Chuck Stanley, organ

Lani Smith | © 1966, 1970 F. E. L. Publications, Ltd., 1925 Pontius Ave., Los Angeles CA 90025 | arrangement © 1981 F. E. L Publications, Ltd. | all rights reserved
used with permission under One License #A-726973

* please stand in body or spirit.

Join us next Sunday, as we conclude the series, The Anatomy of Love, with the message Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing, based on 1 John 4:7-8, 16-21.

For a complete list of all the ways to conect click here