sermon, "All Your Need Is Love", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Suncook United Methodist Church, August 5, 2012

August 5, 2012
10th Sunday of Kingdomtide
Theme: Fellowship
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 Common English Bible
1 John 4:7-11 Common English Bible
John 15: 12-17 Common English Bible

All You Need Is Love. . .

A reading from the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, verses 12-17 from the Common English Bible. Listen for a word, for you and me, from God. . .

Good morning. . . Well, we have had a wonderful morning this morning in God’s house. We have had a wonderful special music from Rachel this morning. . . we celebrated with Carol as she joined our church. . . and we will shortly be celebrating the Lord’s Table with each other. We are even gathering together after church to have a meal and celebrate our fellowship with one another. It’s a good day in the Lord. . . ! The Bible talks a lot about fellowship and the importance of it. We were made to be in fellowship from the very beginning. . . remember, God said “t is not good for man to be alone...” all the way back in the story of Creation. . . in the book of Genesis.

We are Cruising the Sacred waters of our faith this summer and what and adventure it has been. Last week. . . we talked about worship. . . about how there are different ways of worship. . . about how worship is the human response to God’s goodness and mercy. . . a response to the dance. . . the music of love that comes from the heart of God for you and for me. As we dance the dance of worship we come together. . . as a family. . . as our spirit within us unites with the spirit within others. . . in fellowship with each other. . . fellowship is vital for our walk and for our growth in faith. We learn from one another as we share our pilgrimage stories. . . We share our walk as we fellowship together.

Now you may say . . . ”Pastor Ruth, what is so important about fellowship? I’m all good by myself. . . I am happy just going to church on Sunday and seeing my friends there and going home to get ready for work and then come back next week (or in a couple of weeks) and do it again. Why do I need the fellowship of others?” Well, I am glad you asked that. Let’s see what the scripture from today reveals to us about fellowship. . . being a community together.

The scripture form Ecclesiastes tells us that two are better than one. When we live in fellowship. . . in community. . . with one another we are able to help each other stand strong in our faith. Each Sunday we gather as a faith community in faith. We share our concerns and celebration with each other and we raise our voices together as we pray. We help each other as we pray for one another and situations and we have all seen the miracles that have come out of our fellowship in prayer. We have all come up beside someone and helped them through a tough time. . . even if it is just a listening ear. They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love. . .

Fellowship produces love. From the 1st John this morning, we heard that God is love and love is God and from God. As we begin to “get to know each other” through fellowship. . . truly fellowship. . . not just the surface stuff that looks good when you are around others but the deep down stuff that bonds us to one another. . . we begin to see each other with a different set of eyes. . . God’s eyes. . . the eyes of love. We begin to love just for the sheer joy of it. . . our walk becomes one with a “spring in our step” as we twirl and whirl our part in the dance with God and others. It’s all about love. . . it’s all about relationships. . . worship is not temporal but relational. . . as we worship and fellowship with God and each other a “cord is forged” that is not easily broken. They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love. . .

When we Worship and fellowship with one another we, as the John 15 scripture states, becomes friends of Christ. . . not just a servant but truly friends. Our fellowship with one another helps us to come up beside those around us and work in ministry with one another. . . we want to work together for the kingdom of God. . . we want to be that ambassador for Christ in the world. . . as well as to those that we fellowship with. . . but the bottom line of this relational experience is love. . . without it, just isn’t going to happen. They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love. . .

We are called. . . we are meant to be. . . we need to fellowship with one another. We need to learn with one another. We need to work in ministry with one another. We need to see each other through God’s eyes and not our own distorted vision. We need to seize every opportunity to be that unified body of Christ, serving, learning, growing with the help and guidance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How have you and I lived our faith out loud? Have we stepped up next to others to help or have we expected others to do it instead? Have we spent time with others, learning from each other or have we said “maybe tomorrow”? Have we become part of a Sunday community or are we part of a “Son” day community? Which will we chose as we cruise the sacred waters of our faith each day? Will the light of the world or the Light of the world be our guide? The choice is ours to make. . . which will you chose?

Amen

====
August 13, 2012
Seventh of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme – Fellowship
John 15:12-17 (Common English Bible)
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (Common English Bible)
1 John 4:7-11 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
(John 6:35)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Reception of New Members
(Acts 2:42, 46-47; Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11)
Prayer of Dedication (John 6:24-35)
Hymn – “You Who Are Thirsty” (TFWS #2132)
(Isaiah 55:1, Matthew 5:6, 11-28)
Hymn – “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” (TFWS #2233)
(John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:4-6)
Communion
Message for children
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon – “All You Need Is Love. . . ”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
August 5, 2012
Tenth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
Sixth of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme – Worship
Luke 4:5-8 (The Message Bible)
2 Samuel 6:12-19 (The Message Bible)
Hebrews 12:28-29 (The Message Bible)
Call to Worship (Worship Sourcebook 2004 – Psalm 150:1-2, 6 TP)
Unison Prayer (Worship Sourcebook 2004)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012, 2 see John 6:1-15)
Anthem, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”, by Pastor Ruth Foss
Message for children
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon – “Worship. . . it does a body good”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 29, 2012
Nineth Sunday of Kingdomtide
(I was the liturgist this week)
&
Fifth of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme – Is There Room for God?
Mark 6:53-56 (New Living Translation Bible)
2 Samuel 7:1-14a (New Living Translation Bible)
Ephesians 2:19-22 (New Living Translation Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a)
Anthem, “Ave Maria”, by Diane Mitchell
Message for children
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon – “Where Does God Want to Live?”
http://ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com/2012/07/where-does-god-want-to-live.html
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 22, 2012
Eighth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
Fourth of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme – Do We Worship Only On Sunday?
Mark 6:14-29 (The Message Bible)
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012, Ephesians 1:3-14)
Message for children,
about King David dancing for joy
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon – “Doing It Your Way, Every Day”
by Mary Ann Cioffi
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 15, 2012
Seventh Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
Third of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme - Can we see the big picture?
Mark 6:1-13 (The Living Bible)
Psalm 48 (NRSV)
2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (The Living Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2009)
Unison Prayer
Prayer of Dedication (Mark 6:1-13)
Message for children, only the walking stick (Mark 6:1-13)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon - “Big Picture Followers”
by Kathy Akerman
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 8, 2012
Sixth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
second of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme - Where do we put Jesus in our lives?
Mark 5:21-43 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 130 (Common English Bible)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)(Psalm 130, Mark 5)
Unison Prayer
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/unison-prayer-suncook-united-methodist.html
Prayer of the People
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/prayers-of-people-suncook-united.html
Prayer of Dedication (Mark 5:21-43) (2 Corinthians 8, Mark 5)
(adapted from GBOD 2012 and Abington Worship 2012)
Communion, UMH, page 9
Message for children, “There is Power in a Touch”
http://www.sermons4kids.com/power_in_a_touch.htm
(Mark 5:27-29)
Sermon - What Jesus Means to Me!
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/sermon-what-jesus-means-to-me-suncook.html
by Raymond A. Foss
http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss
Poetry Where You Live
http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 1, 2012
Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
first of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Mark 4:35-41 (Common English Bible)
Jesus stops a storm
Psalm 9:9-11 (NRSV Bible)
Psalm 9:9-20 (NRSV Bible)
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NRSV Bible)
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (NRSV Bible)
Worship Theme: “What’s in a name?”
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Hymn: “It Is Well With My Soul”, UMH #377
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012 (2 Corinthians 6: 1-13))
Message for Children, “A story about some rocks”
David and Goliath
and sermon, ““Who Is Jesus?”
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/who-is-jesus
by Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
June 24, 2012
Fourth Sunday of Kingdomtide

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