April 27, 2025

– Earth Day –

First United Methodist Church

5481 Hickory Grove Road, Stanley, NC 28164

704-263-2691 www.FumcStanley.org

Pastor Brian’s e-mail: belwell@wnccumc.net cell# 919-609-5943

Our Mission

Grow in Christ and share the goodness of God to all people

Worship

Sundays 10 am inside until May

Streamed @ YouTube

Welcome

This Worship Gathering

is hosted by

First United Methodist Church - Stanley!

Our neighbors have told us that they have experienced God in surprising ways

Here on CommonGround.

It is our Prayer & Mission is that you

experience God’s tangible EMBRACE,

and connect with your neighbors,

as you discover the Abundant Life you were created for.

So whether you join us in-person or online,

make yourself at Home; you are Family.

From Spring thru Fall, we move our Worship Outdoors

under the Majestic Canopy of the CommonGround Forest.

Connection

Let us know you are here by

filling out an online Connection Card.

Children

Children of all ages are welcome in Worship

and often lead in our worship.

There is a volunteer-staffed Nursery provided in the Life Center.

Giving

Consider Partnering with what God is doing on

CommonGround & Beyond through your Giving:

Baskets on Hospitality Table & Altar
Bill-Pay through your online banking app
Mail to FUMC, 5481 Hickory Grove Road, Stanley, NC 28164
Online just scan the QR Code

The Order of Worship

Gathering Music Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell

– Call –

Call to Worship

Leader: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
In the empty void and crushing darkness, God spoke light into being.
All: Creator God, bring light into our darkness.

Leader: In the beginning, God took eternity and formed time and space,
seasons, days and years.
All: Creator God, fill and shape the time you have given us.

Leader: In the beginning, God took land and sea and filled them with life of every kind.
All: Creator God, help us find our place within your diverse creation.

Leader: In the beginning, God spoke his very image, and the returning echo formed humanity.
All: Creator God, open our eyes to see you reflected in every human face.

Leader: In the beginning, God created,
All: and it was good.

Opening Prayer

The Peace

At this time greet your neighbor in Christian love.

You may greet them with a simple welcome, “May the peace of Christ be with you.

Song of Welcome The Garden Song words and music by Dave Mallett

Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rain comes tumblin' down

Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own
'Cause the time is close at hand

Grain for grain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature's chain
To my body and my brain
To the music from the land

Plant your rows straight and long
Temper them with prayer and song
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her love and care

Old crow watchin' hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree
In my garden I'm as free
As that feathered beak up there

Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground

And inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rain comes tumblin' down

Sharing our Joys and Concerns

At this time let us share our concerns,

and may we also tell how we’ve seen God’s glory.

Giving our Gifts

You can give either through the basket at the front or back.

Or you can give digitally through scanning the QR code.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

– Word –

The Children’s Moment Gavin Burton

The Old Testament Reading

An Adaptation of Psalm 148

Special Music The Soil Commissioned by the BTS Center for Convocation 2021

Music and lyrics by Pax Ressler

The soil holds the past. It shows us where we’ve been

The soil unfolds our history and knows where we begin

The soil nurtures life. It grows all that we need.

The soil unfurls a mystery and grows a sacred seed.

God, let it grow in me. Send down your rain and light.

And with your help we’ll be the soil

To bring the world to life

Bring us to life

The soil knows what will come. It’s known it all along

The soil can hear the distant hum of restoration’s song

The soil contains our hope. It pushes out green shoots

The soil proclaims the antidote is growing deeper roots

God, let it grow in me

Send down your rain and light

And with your help we’ll be the soil to bring the world to life

God let it grow in me

Send down your rain and light

And with your help we’ll be the soil to bring the world to life

Bring us to life

Scripture Reading

Sermon

– Response –

Prayer of Confession

Leader: Lord, when we have taken your creation for granted;
All: Forgive us, gracious Father.
Leader: When we have abused its resources and polluted its purity;
All: Forgive us, gracious Father.
Leader: When we have not fulfilled our calling to steward your earth;
All: Forgive us, gracious Father.

You are invited to receive God’s forgiveness.

Leader: May we work with you in the renewal of creation;
All: Empower us, Holy Spirit
Leader: May we speak and act for the good of your planet.
All: Inspire us, Jesus Christ.
Leader: May we value and share the good gifts you provide;
All: Encourage us, Father of creation. Amen.

Call to Action

Come forward and receive a blessing.

After receiving your blessing take the seed packet and plant a piece of God’s beauty.

— Sending —

Hymn of Thanks Beautiful Things Lisa Gungor, Michael Gungor CCLI #5665521

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change
At all

All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground
At all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found
In You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new You are making me new
You make me new You are making me new
You make me new you are making me new

You make me new you are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Blessing and Benediction

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Our Mission:

Grow in Christ and share the goodness of God to all people.

Our Values:

Stewarding God’s Holy Ground

Welcoming to all

Embracing one another in love

Being a caring people

Extravagant service and outreach to our community

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This Week’s Happenings

Nursery this Week

The nursery is available for parents to use.

Sunday Worship Beginning May 4th

-9:00 am- Outside in the Worship Circle

-11:00 am -Inside Family Life Center

Livestream Feed: YouTube

Sunday School for all ages @ 10am

Children– Room #1 Nursery

Adult Class w/Pastor Brian-Food pantry

Wesley Class– Room #4&#5

Our Zoom info for all meetings and Services that use zoom

Kids Connect And Youth -

4:30pm

Earth Day

Sunday, April 27

10am

Outside

Guest speaker-Jonathon Bray

Church providing bbq

Please bring sides

Kids Konnect & youth will be selling desserts

Young @ Heart

MAY 14 , 2024

12-noon to 2:00 pm

Please RSVP to the Church Office @ 704-263-2691 by May 11 if you plan to attend or see a greeter

Greeting Cards Needed: Please bring any unused greeting cards that you have lying around that you are not using to Johnny Norton

Senior Stretch and More!

Stretching, weight-bearing exercises and balance activities to promote active living for seniors. Come and fellowship with new & old friends in a fun filled environment working at your own pace. Hope to see you there! Mondays and Thursdays at 10am in the Family Life Center

Prayer Requests

The Family of Dwight Saunders, Lace Fredell, The family of Nancy Wilson (Karen Smith’s mother), The family of Eddie Stewart, The family of Charles Johnson (Julie Norton’s brother-in-law), Patrick Breslin (Cindy Trobaugh’s nephew), The family of Cornelia Sweezy, Ronald Carcova (cancer), Steve Lineberger, Margaret Robbins, Audrey Henley (Susan’s mom), Carol Dow, Michael Capurso, Janet Kaufman, Mark West, Teresa West, Jeaniene & Paul Bibble, Judy & Danny Graves, Lance & Sheila Blocker, Christine Rudisill, Angela Henderson, Kevin Woods (friend of Karen Smith), Johnny Norton, Lackey (Julia Norton’s brother), Lisa Murray, Larry Birchfield, Mike White (Phylis Burton’s brother), Jane Summey, Nicole Tyson, Susan Henley, Susan Burris (Macrae’s mother), Chris Jones (friend of Pastor Brian), Frances Hambright (Maria’s friend), Richard & Judy McDaniel, Gary Plattenberger, Billy Brandon (friend of Maria), Mark Calwell, Laura Ballard (heart issues), Wayne Stamey (Maria’s brother-in law's brother), Ms. Terri Coleman