This was our second Saturday service.  It came about when I attended our Sunday service at the beginning of the week.  I met a gentleman from our congregation who had recently started attending our church, Will Weimmer.  He plays the guitar and sings.  I asked him if he would consider singing a few songs for our next Saturday service.  He agreed.  I was standing with a group of people outside the church and one of them was the person in charge of advertising.  I asked her if she could get something in the newspapers before Saturday.  She said she would do her best and asked what I wanted to say.  It struck me that this next Saturday service would be a Sermon in Song service. . . Nothing but music.

Throughout the week, Will was in contact with me a number of times.  He decided he wanted to do a couple of songs that he had written himself.  I thought that would be great.  He was a little nervous and wanted to make sure that he was not giving the sermon. 

When Saturday evening rolled around, I had the bulletins prepared - 12 pages with all the words to all the music we were going to use.  Will arrived an hour early that evening and we went over the service outline.  He was stressed.  He had a tough week at work and home and did not get the chance to practice.  He was not sure he could go through with the service.  I assured him that he did not have to play and that I would figure something out.  We talked for a few minutes, then he said he would like to walk around and strum on his guitar for a while.

By the time we went through the beginning fellowship and refreshment portion of the service, Will had done a complete turn around.  I had listed Will as playing the first song for entering the sanctuary.  He was ready. . . He was great.

McMichaels United Methodist Church

Saturday Evening

Service

Sermon in Song

November 13, 2004

Where you are always welcome!

Welcome!

I love to listen to most Christian music, the old, traditional hymns and the new, contemporary praise and worship songs.  So often, I hear a song and can visualize a whole sermon in just a few minutes of music and words.  Many of these songs have a greater message than a 20-minute sermon could ever contain.  There is power in the Word set to music.

A single song was the inspiration and basis for an entire weekend retreat.  Everything revolved around that one song.

This evening’s service is a series of sermons in song.  Get lost in the melodies, but listen to the words.  They tell us of God’s grace, love and mercy and show us the path to a peace that can only come from God.

There is truth in these songs; if we only open our hearts to the message each one gives us.

Art Yetter, Lay Pastor

 

Please pass this bulletin on to someone else when you are through.

Let others know that there is a place for them.

Saturday Service Outline

(Subject to change, revision and additions as directed by the Spirit)

Refreshments and Fellowship.

Entering the Sanctuary.  “Light of the Lord”: Will Weimmer

Come, open the door,

Reach out your hands to the poor

And help them to stand.

It's His plan for us;

To be one, live as one.

Come, open your eyes.

Reach for the truth. Let Satan's lies

Be shattered by proof that the truth

Is found in the Word of the Lord.

Hand Jesus your pain.

He will explain, He'll make you whole.

Come, walk in His reign, He'll cleanse your soul.

His love to behold.

Come, witness the flower.

Watch how it grows, for it shows

The power of God,

How He showers His people with love.

Come, open your heart.

Reach for His love, become part

Of the Light from Above.

For His love is found in the word

Of the Lord.

Become one in the Light of the Lord.

Lighting of the Candle.

Welcome message.

Song:  “God is great”:  by Will Weimmer

God is great. God is good.

Teaching His children to live and love as they should,

Shining His blessings down from Heaven above.

For God is light, God is love.

All of His sons call on His name,

Jesus, Mohammed, all one in the same.

Standing together as one kneeling to pray.

For God is the truth, God is the way.

Breaching the darkness, His hand is reaching for you,

With patience and passion and a love forever true.

Lost in the shadows of sin, His love is your guide.

When all friends desert you, He stands at your side.

For God is God, God is King.

Master of Heaven and earth and all living things.

His words hold the answers we're all dreaming of.

For God is life, God is love.

God is love.

Sermon in Song: “One Faith”, John Michael Talbot

He is the Good Shepherd,

And He’s laid down His life for His Sheep.

So, out of many nations,

He’s gathered one fold in one place.

And He has built His church,

On the rock foundation of faith,

On Apostles and Prophets

Who shepherd the people in His place.

There is one faith, one hope and one baptism,

One God and Father of all.

There is one church, one body,

One life in the Spirit

Now given so freely to all.

And He gave to Simon Peter

And to all of the twelve,

The keys of the kingdom

So darkness should never prevail.

But some of the shepherds,

Pastured themselves on their sheep,

So, He has come out against them,

And scattered His people of faith.

But there still is one faith, one hope and one baptism,

One God and Father of all.

There is one church, one body,

One life in the Spirit

Now given so freely to all.

In the pasture, He will shepherd His people

On the mountaintop, He feeds His sheep.

He will leave the poor and afflicted;

To the prisoner bring relief.

So, there is one faith, one hope and one baptism,

One God and Father of all.

There is one church, one body,

One life in the Spirit

Now given so freely to all.

Yet He’ll not forsake His people.

He’ll claim His sheep for His own,

He’ll send out His word to the nations

And gather His people back home.

For he is the Good Shepherd,

And He’s laid down His life for His Sheep.

So, out of many nations,

He’s gathered one fold in one place.

There is one faith, one hope and one baptism,

One God and Father of all.

There is one church, one body,

One life in the Spirit

Now given so freely to all.

There is one faith, one hope and one baptism,

One God and Father of all.

There is one church, one body,

One life in the Spirit

Now given so freely, given so freely to all.

Prayer Time.  “A whisper away:” by Will Weimmer will be the introduction song to          prayer.  Please be prepared to offer the first name of anyone that you feel could             benefit from prayer during the ringing of the bell.  Please don’t forget yourself          or your family.

Walking with Jesus, we walk hand in hand.

Talking with Jesus, I understand.

I talk with Jesus everyday,

Walking with Jesus, showing the way.

Just a whisper away,

Bring Him glory and praise.

May God speed the day

When I walk with Him.

Talking with Jesus, walking along,

Listening to Jesus, singing His song.

Walking with Jesus through the darkest of night,

Talking with Jesus, walking into the light.

Just a whisper away,

Fall on your knees in praise.

God will show me the way

When I talk with Him.

Walking with Jesus, we walk side by side.

Talking with Jesus, I've got nothing to hide.

Walking with Jesus, never alone.

Talking with Jesus as He's walking me home.

Just a whisper away,

Bring Him glory and praise.

God will show me the way

When I walk with Him.

Talking with Jesus, as He's walking me home,

Walking with Jesus, never alone.

- - - o - - -

Ringing of the Bell.

Amen.

- - - O - - -

Bible Reading: Psalm 62:1-8 (NIV) 

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

2He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3How long will you assault a man?

Would all of you throw him down--

this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

4They fully intend to topple him

from his lofty place;

they take delight in lies.

  With their mouths they bless,

but in their hearts they curse.

5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

6He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him,

  for God is our refuge.

Sermon in Song: “Only In God”, John Michael Talbot

Only in God is my soul at rest.

In Him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock,

My strength and my salvation.

My strong-hold, my Savior,

I shall not be afraid at all.

My strong-hold, my Savior,

I shall not be moved.

Only in God is found safety,

When the enemy pursues me.

Only in God is found glory,

When I am found weak and found lowly.

My strong-hold, my Savior,

I shall not be afraid at all.

My strong-hold, my Savior,

I shall not be moved.

Only in God is my soul at rest.

In Him comes my salvation.

Freewill Offering: Song: “Now and Forever:” by Will Weimmer. (Sorry, but we                    must support this ministry somehow. Please only give if you feel moved to                     give.  And, please only give what you can.)

Now and forever alive in Your love,

As bright as the stars from Above,

Nurtured and safe within Your embrace.

Ever alive in Your love.

Rescued from death by words ever true,

The words that were spoken by you.

The burdens of Man, relieved by Your hand,

You'd sown Heavens seed, and love grew.

Blessed be the souls at Your command,

Each as a friend in Your world without end.

Now and forever at peace at Your side,

With a love that cannot be denied.

Encompassing all, the great and the small

In Faith, hand in hand, we abide.

Now and fore'er by Your side.

Prayer of Thanksgiving.  “Thank You”, Ray Boltz.

Song: “I Know:” by Will Weimmer

I'm gonna die some day, gonna fly away to Heaven.

And I will learn that day of the mysteries untold.

But I know God can see me,

'Cause I know only God can free me.

You pay a heavy toll for the times you've been mistaking,

And you can lose your soul turning deaf ears towards the Word.

But I know God forgave me.

'Cause I know only God can save me.

Glory be the day I lay eyes upon the Master,

And He will light my way leading me back home.

For I know God forgives me.

'Cause I know only God can free me.

'Cause I know only God can see me.

And I know God loves me.

Ending and Blessing. “God Alone is Enough”, John Michael Talbot.

  Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you,

For everything passes, but God will never change.

Patient endurance, will obtain everything.

Whoever has God, wants for nothing at all.

God alone is enough. God alone is enough.

Whoever has God, Wants for nothing at all.

God alone is enough. God alone is enough.

Whoever has God, Wants for nothing at all.

So let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you,

Everything passes, but God will never change.

Patient endurance, will obtain everything.

Whoever has God, wants for nothing at all.

God alone is enough. God alone is enough.

Whoever has God, wants for nothing at all.

God alone is enough. God alone is enough.

Whoever has God, wants for nothing at all.

Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you,

Everything passes, but God will never change.

Patient endurance, will obtain everything.

Whoever has God, wants for nothing at all.

Thanks for coming.

Throughout the service, very little was spoken.  The music and the words were the message.  At the end of the service, during the playing of the last song, Will leaned over to me and whispered that this was the best worship service he had ever attended.  His stress was gone and he was at peace with the Lord.  .  .  God does do amazing things when we let Him!