Return to Saturation Sunday Worship Resources

Saturation Sunday

Order of Worship/Liturgy

If you are a pastor who preaches from the lectionary, consider using the gospel text from Matthew 25:14-30. It, and other amazing worship resources, are available on the Discipleship Ministries website, which states: “In every gospel message, there is a call. But let it be a call to joy, not to shame or to heaviness. Invite the community to more - more love, more joy, more fellowship, and connection.”

Let Saturation Sunday be a call to the possibilities of transformation and growth - in us and in the lives of the young women who study at Africa University. They will be witnesses, ambassadors and representatives of God’s love in Africa and around the world because of our support and shared love of Jesus Christ. Invite the community to more - more love, more joy, more fellowship, and more connection to the bigger world.

Altar and Worship Ideas

Think about what symbols you can place around your altar that represent a world-wide United Methodist Church and that represent Africa or Africa University. Particularly if you are a church that is sponsoring a room, consider what items can you use that represent that commitment. If you are a church with a scholarship commitment, consider what symbols you can use.

Teach • Reach • Bless Talking Points

To date, donors have committed to the campaign more than $1.3 million of the needed $1.5 million to build the dorm for female AU students. Currently, $379,318.21 of the committed donations have been received. You can still make a difference by making a financial commitment today.

The campaign is the most-recent way that the East Ohio Conference is supporting the Pan-African, United Methodist Church-affiliated university. Since the founding of AU more than 25 years ago, the people and churches of the East Ohio Conference have been among its most ardent supporters. Our Conference built the first dormitory on campus and has raised more money for student scholarships than any other conference in The United Methodist Church.

Saturation Sunday celebrates Africa University and the lives that have been, and will be changed through the Teach • Reach • Bless campaign. It’s a day set aside to recognize the many ways that God continues to provide opportunities for the people of East Ohio and the students and faculty of Africa University to connect with, support, and learn from one another.

Prelude Options

• “Come Now is the Time to Worship” by Brian Doerksen
• “A Charge to Keep I Have” by Charles Wesley (#413, United Methodist Hymnal)

Greeting

This Sunday, we take the time to celebrate the success of many women attending Africa University who will carry the message of Jesus Christ into the far reaches of Africa on our behalf. We must be aware that there is so much more we can do. Many women in Africa can’t afford to attend college, and many who can afford it find that there is not enough campus housing. Finding off-campus housing makes these women susceptible to untenable situations. That is why the focus of the Teach • Reach • Bless campaign is to build a dorm for female students on the grounds of Africa University.

We are called to help. Called to look into our own lives to discover what we can give up so that we can each do our part to financially make a difference in the lives of female AU students who need our assistance. We can make this difference as individuals or as part of the larger church. Today we will all learn more about Africa University so that we have a better understanding of why we are called to support this Conference mission that will change the lives of others.

During COVID times, may we focus on hope: hope for us and for the women of Africa; hope for safe housing and higher education; and hope that we TOGETHER will help change the world.

Opening Statement

Today we are mindful of the approaching season of Thanksgiving, as well as, the end of the Christian year. There is much for which we give joy and celebrate. But there is also much with which we struggle, such as the emotions and tensions of this month’s elections and the concerns over the impact COVID is having on the health of loved ones and on the ability to celebrate the holiday seasons like we have in past years.

Let us look outside ourselves - past the virus and the election - to something that offers us all hope for tomorrow.

As a world-wide church we are blessed to receive this blessing of worship that Africa University has given to us. Let us reach outside ourselves as we embrace our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Teach • Reach • Bless Campaign Video Mission Moment

Right-click the link above and select "Save link as ...", or follow the link and use the controls in the bottom right corner, to download.

Opening Prayer

O God, our guide and guardian you have led us apart from the busy world into the quiet of your house. Grant us grace to worship you in Spirit and in truth, to comfort our souls and the upbuilding of every good purpose and holy desire. Enable us to do more perfectly the work to which you have called us. When we share let us resign into your hands the tasks which you have committed to us. So may we worship you not with our lips at this hour, but in word and deed all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. AMEN (Book of Worship 1965, Alt)

Opening Hymn Options

• “Come Now is the Time to Worship” by Brian Doerksen 
• “God of the Sparrow God of the Whale” by Jaroslav J. Vajda (#122, United Methodist Hymnal)

Call to Worship Option 1

O come, let us sing to our God

and make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

We lift our hearts and voices
in joy and thanksgiving
for being here together
in the presence of our beloved God.

Come, let us worship this amazing God,
for we belong to God.

We listen for God’s word
and live in the hope it inspires. Amen.

Call to Worship Option 2

This is the Day the Lord has made,

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  

Let us celebrate our shared ministry together.

Even though we may be miles apart
God is with all of us this day.
Let us give praise to the promises
that God has for all of us from (insert your location)
to Old Mutare Zimbabwe and all parts of the world. 
Let us worship and celebrate,
rejoice in the goodness of God. Amen

or,

Jesus, we are here.

Jesus, we are here.

We are here, in your name.

In your name, we are here. Amen

Hymn

“Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands” by Margaret Cropper (#273, United Methodist Hymnal)

AU Testimony & Call to Worship Video

Right-click the link above and select "Save link as ...", or follow the link and use the controls in the bottom right corner, to download.

Scripture Texts

Malachi 3:10 (NRSV) - used in the AU Sermon

10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in the house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessings.”

James 2:18 (NRSV) - used in the AU Sermon

18 “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.”

Matthew 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents (Lectionary)

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,[f] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Sermon

Note to Pastors: May Saturation Sunday help us all to: look outside ourselves by shining a light on ways that we can serve the world together; lift up the dreams of AU students by providing a safe harbor for young women from all over Africa; and align the joy of helping others abroad with the celebrations taking place within your local community.

Sermon Option 1

AU Sermon Video - Sermon title, “Faith in Action”

Right-click the link above and select "Save link as ...", or follow the link and use the controls in the bottom right corner, to download.

Sermon Option 2

Pastor sermon based upon any of the three scripture options

Pastoral Prayer

Note to Pastors: In your prayers this day be mindful of the world-wide pandemic, concerns of your local community, but also bring forth the prayer for our global connection to Africa University and an understanding that God is among us as we work together to build God’s kingdom. Take time to lift up petitions to God and offer a moment of quiet for those in your congregation, a moment for them to share what sits on their heart. One option for beginning the prayer might be …

Lord, we come to you this day, this day of celebration and fellowship. We come as your people from many different places around the world. We come with heavy hearts for the pandemic that is alive and taking over every aspect of our lives. Lord, we are tired and worn from this. So, we come with anticipation of feeling your loving presence among us this day. We know we need you now more than ever. We need to turn to you and place our hope in you and not of things of this world …

Offering

Note to Pastors: Churches and worshippers can support the Teach • Reach • Bless campaign and show their commitment to the education and wellness of women today for a better Africa tomorrow by making a donation either online, through the church offering plate, or via mail. Get details on the Teach • Reach • Bless website, www.eocumc.com/teachreachbless.

Prayer of Thanksgiving Option 1

Bless this offering that it may reach into the far corners of our world to women who will be supported and given so much through the Teach • Reach • Bless campaign and to all of those unknown to us, who we will serve. Amen 

Prayer of Thanksgiving Option 2

Generous God, your good gifts to us are too many to name! We have been so blessed, not so that we might hide away these blessings, but to use them so that the blessings might be multiplied. As we give from our blessing stockpile, help it to multiply and grow. May our gifts empower multiple acts of mercy and compassion, and may your love pour over this world like a flood. If we have buried these gracious blessings, may today be the day we dig them up and put them to work, so that we might be seen as your faithful servants! Amen. (Matthew 25:14-30)

Music during Offering Options

• Video: AU Choir Performs “The Dream” Right-click the link and select "Save link as ...", or follow the link and use the controls in the bottom right corner, to download.
• “A Charge to Keep I Have” by Charles Wesley (#413, United Methodist Hymnal)
• “Thank you, Jesus (Tino Tenda, Jesu)” (#2081, The Faith We Sing)

Closing Hymn Options

• “In Christ there Is No East or West by Laurence Hull Stookey and John Oxenham (#548 United Methodist Hymnal)
• “Bind Us Together” by Bob Gillman (# 2226, The Faith We Sing)

Blessing/Benediction

May God our father, son and Holy Spirit send us out into the world this week as Kingdom Builders. Through our gifts, both tangible and through our prayers, may we reach far and wide, all the way to Africa, to share the love of God with others. We  bless these young women unknown to us, who are stepping out in faith with our support, as partners who will return so much to our East Ohio Conference. They are our representatives touching lives where we cannot go. Bless them and all who are taking the love of Christ out into our world. Amen