World Communion Service
Liturgy for GCFA
World Communion Hybrid Service
October 2, 2024
Lead Pastor: Rev. Carlos Uroza,
Lead Pastor at Woodbine United Methodist Church
Liturgist: Rev. Fabiana de Oliveira,
Associated Pastor at Woodbine United Methodist Church
Guest Musician: Ms. Jane Thompson
PRELUDE by Ms. Jane Thompson
GREETING, INTRODUCTION AND OPENING PRAYER By
Rev. Appadurai Moses Rathan Kumar, General Secretary & Treasurer
​
CALL TO WORSHIP by Rev. Carlos Uroza and Rev. Fabiana de Oliveira
Leader: (Spanish)
Hoy nos reunimos como un solo cuerpo, recordando que alrededor del mundo, la mesa de Cristo está abierta para todos.
(Today we gather as one body, remembering that around the world, Christ’s table is open to all.)
People:
We come from different places, but we are one in the Lord.
Leader: (Portuguese)
Neste Domingo de Comunhão Mundial, celebramos a diversidade de culturas, línguas e tradições, unidas em Cristo.
(On this World Communion Sunday, we celebrate the diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions, united in Christ.)
People:
With one faith and one love, we share the bread and the cup.
Leader:
May the Holy Spirit guide us,and may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts as we sit together at the Lord’s table.
People:
Amen. Glory to God!
HYMN: “For the Healing of the Nations” UMH # 428
1. For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word,
help us rise and pledge our word.
2. Lead us forward into freedom;
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase,
fear will die and hope increase.
3. All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span,
may we hallow life's brief span.
4. You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find,
earth its destiny may find.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: - “The World Methodist Social Affirmation”
We believe in God, creator of the world and of all people; and in Jesus Christ,
incarnate among us, who died and rose again; and in the Holy Spirit, present with us to guide, strengthen, and comfort.
We rejoice in every sign of God's kingdom: in the upholding of human
dignity and community; in every expression of love, justice, and reconciliation; in each act of self-giving on behalf of others; in the abundance of God's gifts entrusted to us that all may have enough; in responsible use of the earth's resources.
We confess our sin, individual and collective, by silence or action: through the
violation of human dignity based on race, class, age, sex, sexual identity, nation, or faith; through the exploitation of people because of greed and indifference; through the misuse of power in personal, communal, national, and international life; through the search for security by those military and economic forces that threaten human existence; through the abuse of technology which endangers the earth and all life upon it.
We commit ourselves individually and as a community to the way of Christ:
to take up the cross; to seek abundant life for all humanity; to struggle for peace with justice and freedom; to risk ourselves in faith, hope, and love, praying that God's kingdom may come as it is in heaven.
God, help our unbelief. Amen.
​
PASTORAL PRAYER by Rev. Carlos Uroza
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES - Revelation 7:9-10 (NRSV)
9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
(9 Después de esto miré, y había una gran multitud, que nadie podía contar, de todas las naciones, de todas las tribus y pueblos y lenguas, de pie delante del trono y delante del Cordero, vestidos de blanco, con palmas en las manos. 10 Ellos clamaron a gran voz, diciendo:
“¡La salvación pertenece a nuestro Dios que está sentado en el trono, y al Cordero!”)
​
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES - Revelation 7:9-10 (NRSV)
SPECIAL SONG:“Juntos/Together” Demetrio Soares and Rev. Fabiana de Oliveira (Portuguese/English)
Juntos / Together
By: Vencedores por Cristo
Juntos, na mesma fé / Together, in the same faith
No mesmo amor, / In the same love,
Juntos na mente e o coração. / together in mind and heart
Temos em cada um / We have in each one,
A mesma marca, o mesmo sangue, a mesma cruz / the same mark and blood and cross.
Juntos, somos um corpo em Cristo / Together, we are one body in Christ
Juntos, somos um corpo vivo / Together, we are a living body
Corpo que adora e que serve / A body that adores and serves
Corpo que chora e se alegra / A body that cries and rejoices
Corpo que parte e reparte as cargas do irmão / A body that shares and bears its neighbor’s burdens
Cordas que foram partidas, podem de novo soar / Strings that have been broken can sound again
Corpo onde a vida é mais vida vivendo em Jesus! / A body where life is more meaningful when we live in Jesus!
SERMON: “A Heavenly Fiesta” by Rev. Carlos Uroza
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING -
Communion by Rev. Uroza and Rev. de Oliveira
Acción de Gracias Bilingüe/ Bilingual Thanksgiving
(Rev. Fabiana)
Deus seja com você.
The Lord be with you.
(All)
And also with you.
(Rev. Fabiana)
Elevai os vossos corações.
Lift up your hearts
(All)
We lift them up to the Lord.
(Rev. Fabiana)
Damos graças a Deus, nosso Senhor
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
(All)
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
(Rev. Carlos)
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty (almighty God), creator of heaven and earth.
You have made from one every nation and people
to live on all the face of the earth.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
(All)
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
(Rev. Fabiana) (Spanish)
Santo eres tú y bendito es tu Hijo Jesucristo.
Mediante el bautismo de su sufrimiento, muerte y resurrección, diste nacimiento a tu Iglesia,
nos liberaste de la esclavitud del pecado y de la muerte,
e hiciste con nosotros un nuevo pacto
mediante el agua y el Espíritu.
Nos comisionó ser sus testigos hasta el último rincón del mundo y hacer discípulos de todas las naciones,
y hoy su familia en todo el mundo se junta alrededor de su santa mesa.
(Rev. Fabiana) (Portuguese)
Tu és Santo e bendito és tu filho Jesus Cristo. Mediante seu sofrimento, morte e ressurreição que deu origem a tua igreja, nos libertaste da escravidão do pecado e da morte, e fizeste conosco um novo pacto através da água e do espírito. Nos comissionou a sermos testemunhas em todos os lugares e a fazermos discípulas/os de todas as nações, e hoje sua igreja reunida em todo mundo se reúnem à mesa da comunhão.
(Rev. Carlos) (Spanish)
El Señor Jesús,
la noche que fue entregado,
tomó pan; y habiendo dado gracias,
lo partió y dijo:
«Tomad, comed, esto es mi cuerpo
que es dado por vosotros:
haced esto en memoria de mí».
(Rev. Fabiana lifts the elements)
When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
(Rev. Carlos)
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
(Rev. Fabiana) (Portuguese)
Depois de haver ceado, ele pegou o cálice,
deu graças, deu-o aos seus discípulos e disse:
"Bebam disto, todos vocês; este é o meu sangue da nova aliança, derramado por vocês e por muitos para o perdão dos pecados.
Façam isto, todas as vezes que beberdes, em memória de mim."
Então, em memória de seus atos poderosos, em Jesus Cristo,
nós nos oferecemos em louvor e ação de graças
como um sacrifício santo e vivo, em unidade com o que Cristo fez por nós, enquanto proclamamos o mistério da fé.
(All)
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
(Rev. Carlos)
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
(Rev. Fabiana) (Portuguese)
Renueva nuestra comunión con tu Iglesia por todo el mundo,
y fortalécela en cada nación y en medio de cada pueblo
para dar testimonio fielmente en tu nombre.
Mediante el poder de tu Espíritu, haznos uno con Cristo,
uno con los demás, y uno en la obra del ministerio a todo el mundo, hasta que Cristo venga en la victoria final y podamos todos participar en el banquete celestial.
(Rev. Carlos)
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and forever.
(All)
Amen.
HYMN OF COMMITMENT: “One Bread, One Body” UMH #620
One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.
Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man no more.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.
Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.
Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one for all.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.
BLESSING by Rev. Carlos Uroza
POSTLUDE by Ms. Jane Thompson