Worship & Sermon Resources for a New Church Start Sunday

Below are some resources for use on New Church Start Sunday.  We encourage you to celebrate this day on May 15, 22, or June 5, 2005.  Thank you for your part in the Mashpee New Church Start.

Rev. Douglas K. Showalter's sermon - "A New Opportunity For Christian Witness"

Rev. Reed Baer's sermon - "Pentecost - the Birthday(s) of the Church"

Call to Worship

Leader:  Jesus calls us to “Go and make disciples.”

People: Today we celebrate a mission opportunity to live out Christ’s words.

Leader: The mission field of Mashpee lies before us.

People:  We hope that our efforts, linked with those of others, will bear fruit in a new church start.

Leader:  Let us worship and go forth ready to serve.  Amen.

Invocation

We come before you, O God, much like the early church that was called to spread the Good News of Jesus to an unchurched world.  We know that today many do not know You nor the costs and joys of discipleship.  We pray that this morning you will fill us with Your vision, that a new church start might break forth in our midst.  Guide us and send us where You would have us go, in the name and power of Jesus. Amen. 

Suggested Hymns

Called as Partners in Christ’s Service, Forward Through the Ages, Renew Your Church, I Sing a Song of The Saints of God, Your are Called to Tell the Story, I Love to Tell the Story, Come Labor On.

Possible Scripture and Sermon Topics

Isaiah 43: 19 “I am about to do a new thing”

Matthew 28: 16-20 The Great Commission to make disciples

Acts 16: 6-10  Paul’s vision to go and plant churches in Macedonia

Ephesians 4: 11-16 Building the Body of Christ

James 2: 14-26 Faith and works

Offertory Prayer

We pray, O God, that these gifts and these pledges to the Mashpee New Church Start, will be multiplied with those of others, that together a new congregation might grow for the glory and power of the Kingdom.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.