2015 World Community Day

Our Journey Together

© 2015 “Companions on a Journey” supporting text—Psalm 139: 1-3.

Sponsored by Church Women United 475 Riverside Dr. #243, New York, NY 10115, 212-870-2347

www.churchwomen.org, cwu@churchwomen.org.

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

2015 World Community Day

Our Journey Together

Our 2015 theme focus is bringing Christian women together from different cultural backgrounds to share stories from their Christian journey. The goal of this worship is to unite the faith community in a time of praise and worship that demonstrates Christ’s reconciling love to the community, the country, and the world.

Thoughts from artist Linda Rumpf Church Women United is a group I am attracted to because it is a women's group focused on prayer and good works, which is interdenominational, intercultural, interracial, and open to either gender as well! At this time it is also specifically a Christian organization, but I feel the next step worshipful women of all nations need to take is toward a sisterhood with other women of God. Whether we call Him by the name Allah (Muslim), Yahweh (Jewish), or Jesus Christ (Christian), we need to recognize each other as a family of believers. The saying goes: Be the change you want to see in the world. Therefore, in this image, I have tried to represent, hand in hand and arm in arm, women of different cultures and faiths, moving up a golden mountain path, representing our mutual journey toward Godliness.

Order of Worship (Option I)

The Call to Worship

Invocation

Song - On Our Journey Words by Lois LaFon, CWU Member Tune: St. Anne (O God Our Help in Ages Past)

1) Be with us on our journey, Lord, 3) To see your world at war, Dear Lord, Wherever we may go. Your heart must nearly break. We trust that you both steer and lead, In all our daily journeys help That’s all we need to know. Us make peace for your sake.

2) For those whose loved ones need their care, 4) Our language may be different, Lord. We pray for strength and rest. We may not look the same. Guide those who would support them, Lord, But as we share a common faith, To know what help is best. We journey in your name.

Litany

Welcome/Occasion Women’s Ministry Leader/President, Pastor, and CWU President

Song

Prayers of the People

Offering and Offertory

The World Community Day offering supports the Church Women United National Movement. Please help CWU to continue making a difference in this world. Checks may be made to Church Women United.

Awards and/or Recognitions

Song

Breaking Open the Word Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 2:1-4 New Testament Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Our Journey Together

Introduction of the Speaker/Bible Study Facilitator

Presentation by Speaker/Bible Study Facilitator

Opportunities Time of Reflection and Commitment

Call to Action

Song

Closing Benediction

Order of Worship (Option II)

The Call to Worship (Psalm 103:1-2, 19-22 NKJV) Leader: Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! People: Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Leader: The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. People: Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Leader: Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. People: Bless the LORD, all His works, In all places of His dominion. All: Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Invocation: Oh God, our helper, our strength and our redeemer, we your people are gathered to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. You created all of us, yet we are different. We were all created in your image, yet we are different. Thank you for our differences. Thank you for bringing us to together despite our differences. Thank you for allowing us to give praise and honor to you in our differences. Bless our worship time together and allow this time to be the beginning of many more worship experiences together. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!

Song : “On Our Journey” Words by Lois LaFon, CWU Member Tune: St. Anne (O God Our Help in Ages Past)

1) Be with us on our journey, Lord, 3) To see your world at war, Dear Lord, Wherever we may go. Your heart must nearly break. We trust that you both steer and lead, In all our daily journeys help That’s all we need to know. Us make peace for your sake.

2) For those whose loved ones need their care, 4) Our language may be different, Lord. We pray for strength and rest. We may not look the same. Guide those who would support them, Lord, But as we share a common faith, To know what help is best. We journey in your name.

Litany (Ephesians 2:17-22) Right: He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near Left: For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Right: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers Left: But fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household Right: Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Left: With Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Right: In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord All: And in Christ you, too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Welcome/Occasion

Song: “Trust and Obey” Words - John H. Sammis

Music - Daniel B. Towner

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)

3) But we never can prove the delights of his love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor he shows and the joy he bestows Are for them who will 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)

Prayers of the People

Offering and Offertory The World Community Day offering supports the Church Women United National Movement. Please help CWU to continue making a difference in this world. Checks may be made to Church Women United.

Awards and/or Recognitions

Song: “Here I Am, Lord” Words and Music: Daniel L. Schutte

1) I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in deepest sin my hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

2) I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them, they turn away. I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

3) I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them, my hand will save. Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

Breaking Open the Word: Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 2:1-4 New Testament Reading: Acts 2:42-47

Introduction of the Speaker/Bible Study Facilitator

Presentation by Speaker/Bible Study Facilitator

Opportunities Time of Reflection and Commitment

Call to Action

Song - “Christ Our Companion” Words: Steve Garnaas-Holmes Traditional Tune: Be Thou My Vision

1) Christ you companion us, walking his road. Hearing our stories and sharing our load. Though we don’t see you or know you are here. Still our hearts burn for they sense you are near.

2) Unseen companion you tend to our fears. Bend to our grief with compassionate ears. Walking beside us you help us to live. Bearing the peace and the healing you give.

3) Through darkest valleys you shepherd your sheep Giving us courage when pathways are steep. Christ, whom we follow and trust and adore. You lead us always where you’ve been before.

4) Christ, you who feed us your life as our bread. Love that is food for the journey ahead. Send us in joy to embody your grace. Walking with you Lord, in each time and place.

Benediction “And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes” (Jude 1:24-25 –The Message)

Meet the Authors

Reverend Kay Huggins, recently moved from the Southwest to the Washington, DC, area. She writes adult

educational materials for the Presbyterian and United Methodist publishing houses and serves as Interim

Associate General Presbyter, National Capital Presbytery. Kay is grateful for many years and many friends

shared with the Albuquerque, New Mexico chapter of Church Women United. As a retired Presbyterian

Church U.S.A. clergywoman, she uses her gifts of preaching, teaching, writing and music as they are

welcomed. Retirement is planned for fall 2015 with a move to a quieter setting. Kay's husband, George T.

Huggins, is concluding his service as Director of Information Technology at Indian Health Service in Rockville,

Maryland.

Reverend Carolyn McCrea McCullough, of Dallas, TX, is married to the Rev. Reverend Rodney J. McCullough,

Senior Pastor at Outland Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Fort Worth, Texas, where she serves as his assistant.

She also serves Church Women United as member of CWU National Board and Regional Coordinator for the

CWU South Central Region. Carolyn served as 2008-9 President of CWU in Dallas and is a current Board

member and Correspondence Secretary for her local unit. She served on CWU State Assembly and has been

CWU Young Church Woman Representative for her state.

For information about Church Women United and its programs

go to www.churchwomen.org.

To order CWU printed materials contact

www.CWUpublishing.org.

Church Women United

475 Riverside Dr. #243, New York, NY 10115, 212-870-2347

www.churchwomen.org, cwu@churchwomen.org.