University UMC
June 15, 2025
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Pastor: Good morning! I am Pastor Alicia Wood. Welcome to University Church!
We open our service with the acknowledgment that our church sits on the ancestral land of the Onondaga Nation. It is with gratitude that we pay respect for their many generations of care and protection of our shared environment.
At University Church, we embrace diversity in all its forms—across faith traditions, racial and gender identity, age, ability, and other differences. We are a member of the Reconciling Movement of the United Methodist Church, which means you are welcome here no matter who you are or whom you love.
We also welcome you no matter where you might be on your own spiritual journey. Whether you consider yourself a seeker, a questioner, or believer—or all three, we are glad to have you continue your faith journey with us.
Please fill out the attendance slip in your bulletin, share your prayer request on the back to be collected during the prayer song, and feel free to bring your children to explore the activity table throughout worship. Our Sunday School will return in September.
Today I will be leading worship with Barbara Nunn, Aimee deBerjeois, the UUMC choir and Bruce Webster. Let us begin by singing “There’s a Spirit of Love in this Place.”
Opening Song “There’s a Spirit of Love in this Place” W&S #3148
There’s a spirit of love in this place,
there’s a spirit of love in this place.
You can’t see it, but it’s there
just as precious as the air.
There’s a spirit of love in this place.
O alleluia, sing alleluia!
We bless your holy name.
O alleluia, sing alleluia!
There’s a spirit of love in this place.
There’s the presence of peace in this room,
there’s the presence of peace in this room.
In God’s tenderness is found peace that passes human bounds.
There’s the presence of peace in this room.
O alleluia, sing alleluia!
We bless your holy name.
O alleluia, sing alleluia!
There’s a spirit of love
in this place.
Introduction
Leader: We have been a part of Pastor Alicia’s life and ministry for 10 years. Today we will say “so long for now.”
Leader: Peace be with you!
All: And also with you.
Leader: I invite you to pass the Peace of Christ here and those worshiping remotely, we are glad you are on the journey with us!
Hymn “A Place at the Table” W&S #3149
Leader: Please remain standing as we sing “A Place at the Table.”
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy!
For gay and for straight, a place at the table,
a covenant shared, a welcoming space,
a rainbow of race and gender and color,
for gay and for straight, the chalice of grace,
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy!
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy!
For just and unjust, a place at the table,
abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for just and unjust, a new way to live,
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy!
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free,
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
justice and joy!
The Children’s Time
Leader: Please be seated. Children, please come forward for Children’s Time?
Scripture Readings (Leader, please add anything else you would like to introduce the scripture reading)
Pastor: Our reading today comes from Acts 20: 17-24, 32, 36
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. 18 When they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.[a] 22 And now, as a captive to the Spirit,[b] I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. 24 But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Pastor: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Message Pastor Alicia Wood
Hymn: “God Has Work For Us To Do” MM#107
Leader: Please rise in body or spirit as we sing “God Has Work for Us to Do.”
‘Til all the jails are empty and all the bellies filled;
‘til no one hurts or steals or lies,
and no more blood is spilled:
God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done and all things are made new,
God has work for us to do!
‘Til age and race and gender no longer separate;
’til pulpit, press, and politics are free of greed and hate:
God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done and all things are made new,
God has work for us to do!
By praying through our doing, and singing though we fear,
By trusting that the seed we sow will bring God’s harvest near:
God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done and all things are made new,
God has work for us to do!
Call to Prayer “Spirit Song” UMH#347
Oh, let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love;
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul
Oh, let him have the things that hold you,
and his Spirit, like a dove, will descend upon your life
and make you whole
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs
Oh, come and sing the song with gladness
as your hearts are filled with joy
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name
Oh, give him all your tears and sadness,
give him all your years of pain,
And you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs
Leader: Please be seated. Let us settle into our seats as we enter our time of prayer. Please pass your prayer requests to the ushers as they come down the two center aisles. Let us remain seated and sing “Spirit Song.”
Time of Prayer
Pastor: This week we pray for…. [continue with community prayers online and in person)
Pastor: God, in your mercy.
People: Hear our prayers.
Pastor: Let us take a moment for silent prayer.
Silent Prayer
Leader: Amen…Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray using whatever words or language that brings you closest to God.
Lord’s Prayer
All: Creator God, who are in heaven, blessed be your name.
Your Kin-dom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the Kin-dom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Offering
Leader: Sunday worship is just fuel for the soul for the week of ahead. Here are a few ways to get involved in the life of the church and community.
1 Pride Parade and Festival
2 Thank you choir for another great season filled with beautiful music.
3 Pastor Alicia’s Celebration after worship, please join us.
Please check out the bulletin for more ways to live out your faith. If you would like to help with any of these opportunities, please email the church office.
Our church’s mission is, “Feeding God’s People: Body, Mind and Spirit.” We do this with a multitude of volunteers through our outreach ministry, the Seeking Justice Team, education, prayer, music and worship.
Please place your attendance slip and/or your donation in the offering plate as ushers pass it to you. You may also give through our website, using the Venmo QR code in your bulletin, or continue to mail your check. Thank you for your generosity–and for all you do to support University Church.
Offertory “Until We Sing Again”
Doxology (Tune Old 100th)
We give you thanks, O God of life,
for freedom, justice, mercy, grace
These treasured gifts we know
become our hope for living life in Christ.
Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Leader: Please join me in the unison prayer of dedication.
All: Holy God, Creator of all that is seen and unseen, we bring these gifts in awe of Your glory revealed in the heavens and here among us. As we offer these gifts, may they reflect your wisdom and share your love, building a world that proclaims your majesty. Through your Spirit, pour your grace into our lives, that our service may mirror the love You have shown us in Christ, lifting our voices with creation to declare, “How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” In the name of the Holy Trinity, we pray. Amen.
Order of Farewell
Pastor: I thank you, the members and friends of University United Methodist Church, for the love and support you have shown me
while I have ministered among you.
I am grateful for the ways my leadership has been accepted.
I ask forgiveness for the mistakes I have made.
As I leave, I carry with me all that I have learned here.
All: We receive your thankfulness, offer forgiveness,
and accept that you now leave to minister at St. Paul’s in Ithaca.
We express our gratitude for your time among us.
We ask your forgiveness for our mistakes.
Your influence on our faith and faithfulness
will not leave with your departure.
Pastor: I accept your gratitude and forgiveness, and I forgive you,
trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to God.
I release you from turning to me and depending on me.
I encourage your continuing ministry here
and will pray for you and for your new Pastor, Aaron Carlson.
Let us pray together in unison.
Eternal God, whose steadfast love for us is from everlasting to everlasting, we give you thanks for cherished memories
and commend one another into your care as we move in new directions.
Keep us one in your love forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing Hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” UMH #557
Pastor: Let us remain standing to sing together “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
Benediction
Benediction Song “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”
Postlude
