06/07/2026
Bensalem United Methodist Church
June 7, 2026, 10AM Combined Service & Communion
Welcome and Announcements
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Hymn of Praise: UMH #368 My Hope is Built
Call to Worship
One: Like Abram and Sarai, God calls us to go into the unknown, trusting that God’s promises are true.
All: Whether we are certain or full of doubts, God blesses us that we may be a blessing.
One: God sends us into the world to journey by faith, believing that God’s blessings are greater than anything we can imagine.
All: Whether the path is straight or winding, God blesses us that we may be a blessing.
One: God gathers us today with trusted companions, those who also follow God’s call, even when it does not make sense to the world around us.
All: Whether we journey with friends or feel all alone, God blesses us that we may be a blessing.
One: As we gather to worship, may we remember that we are God’s people, blessed by God to be a blessing to our world that is hurting and desperately in need of good news.
All: God, form us today as a community of faith, that your blessings might flow out of us and into our world, drawing all people into your promise of abundant life and flourishing. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, December 2025.
Lighting the Candle of Peace, Hope, and Justice During the struggle against apartheid, Methodists in South Africa began their worship each week by lighting a candle encircled in barbed wire in remembrance of those suffering under policies of exclusion and violence. Together, we take up this practice and proclaim that God’s healing love will triumph over hatred.
One: The light shines in the darkness.
All: We stand in this light, unshaken, knowing that the darkness has never overcome the light.
One: Let us recommit ourselves to walking in Jesus’ ways of peace, hope, and justice.
All: Empower us, Jesus, to boldly use the freedom and power given to us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
Children’s Time:
The young and young at heart are invited to gather at the chancel steps for a brief message as the congregation sings: “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world, yes, we’re the church together.”
Prayer for Illumination
Hebrew Bible Lesson: Genesis 12:1-9 Nancy Oczkowski
Epistle Lesson: Romans 4:13-25 Colin Heffner
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 Cathy Roberts
Sermon: “Why Does Your Teacher Eat with Those People?”
Hymn of Response: Rescue
Prayers of the People: We invite you to share your joys, concerns, and prayers of gratitude via Facebook comments before the end of the sermon to be shared with the gathered community.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day 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 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen
Time of Gratitude and Offerings: Your presence in this community is always the greatest gift. If you feel called to support BUMC financially, you may give online at www.bensalem-umc.org.
Offertory
Doxology: UMH #95
Unison Offertory Prayer:
Calling God, you spoke to Abram and set him on a journey, not with full clarity, but with full trust. You promised blessing—and with it, purpose. We come now as your people, also journeying by faith, offering these gifts not for our greatness, but so that your promise might be fulfilled through us: to bless the world. May our giving reflect our trust, and may our trust lead us to go where you send, step by step, stage by stage, into your future. Amen.
Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Holy God, we know we live fractured lives. You do not seek to punish us for those fractures and fault lines, but to help us heal, grow, and repair what has broken. When we turn our backs on love and on one another, help us. When we are selfish or unkind, and when we close our ears to the cries of others, forgive us. When we are so broken we feel we cannot move, and when we are too ashamed to seek community or care, heal us and remind us of your love. Give us the courage, strength, and hope to accept your grace and live in your hope. Remind us we can try again.
One: Together we proclaim the good news:
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and we are loved.
The Great Thanksgiving United Methodist Hymnal pages 13 and 14
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
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.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us,
he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
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."
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.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
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.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory,
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,
now and for ever.
Amen.
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"The Great Thanksgiving”. United Methodist Hymnal, pages 13 and 14. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989.
Parting Hymn: How Great Thou Art
Benediction: May we go in peace to love God, love our neighbors, love the strangers amongst us, and love ourselves.
Traditional Service Hymn Lyrics – You are invited to sing along
United Methodist Hymnal #368 My Hope is Built
Verse 1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
Verse 2 When Darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
(Refrain)
Verse 3 His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
(Refrain)
Verse 4 When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found! Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!
(Refrain)
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"My Hope is Built." Words: Edward Mote, 1834. Music: William B. Bradbury, 1863. United Methodist Hymnal, #368. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989. Reprinted With Permission Under One License -733976. All rights reserved.
United Methodist Hymnal #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
________________________________________
"Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)." Words: Thomas Ken, 1674. Music: Attr. to Louis Bourgeois, 1551. United Methodist Hymnal, #95. The United Methodist Publishing House,.1989. Reprinted With Permission Under One License -733976. All rights reserved.
Coming Up at Bensalem UMC
Summer Worship Beginning June 14 until end of September: All services meet in our air-conditioned Historic Chapel: Traditional Service & FB Live: 8:30 am and Celebration Service: 10:00 am.
Note: Celebration Service meets outside on Chapel Lawn on last Sunday of each month (weather permitting). Please bring a lawn chair on those Sundays.
Out to Lunch Bunch June 17, 2026, 11:30am: DeLorenzo’s Pizza, 914 Trenton Road, Fairless Hills, PA.
Bagels & Bibles is a casual Bible Study that meets every Tuesday at 10:30am at Redhouse Bagels. Questions, doubts, curiosities, and different opinions welcome!
GriefShare Support Group Summer 2026 GriefShare will meet on alternating Tuesdays, starting May 26 through August 4. All are welcome! Questions? Ask Betty Miles or Pastor Sophy.
Special Music Needed This Summer! If you, or someone you know, can share their musical gift with us, please contact the church office.
Upcoming Birthdays If you would like your birthday added to our list, please contact Pat at [email protected].
June 12 Sarah Lorenzo
Prayers Requests:
• Prayers for all those Commissioned (Pastor Sophy included) and Ordained at the recent Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church Annual Conference.
• Prayers for those struggling, including those facing financial hardship, mental or physical illness, addiction/ recovery, difficult family dynamics, or grief.
• Prayers for Worldwide Peace and for all involved in the current military actions in the Middle East and elsewhere.
• Prayers for the maintenance of our democratic institutions and rights.
• Prayers for our elected officials. May they serve with integrity and good will.
• Prayers for an end to gun violence and for an end to the ongoing turmoil in our own country and the world.
• Prayers for immigrants and their families, facing increasing terror and turmoil. May we work together for a more just and humane immigration system.
• Prayers for an end to racial injustice, bias, and discrimination. May we all seek to root out the biases and prejudices that still live within us.
• Prayers for those who live with mental or physical illnesses and their caretakers and loved ones.
• Prayers for Rev. Bunker and the PARX Racetrack Ministry and the community it serves.
Are you in need of prayer? Please contact Pastor Sophy for private prayer requests and conversation. If you’d like to share your prayers with the broader BUMC community, you can email Carol Kulik at [email protected].
Welcome to Worship at Bensalem UMC
If you’re new to BUMC or want to learn more about the church, contact Pastor Sophy. Thank you for joining us!
Children are always a welcome sight (and sound!) in worship. Parents, please don’t worry if your kids make noise or get fidgety. It’s a joy to have them.
The Traditional Worship Service gathers on-line and in our historic chapel. This is a contemplative service with congregational hymn singing from the beloved United Methodist Hymnal. Sundays, 8:30am.
The Celebration Service gathers in our main sanctuary and features a children’s message, contemporary praise music, and expressive, joyful worship. Sundays, 10:00am. This service moves to the air conditioned chapel for the summer beginning June 14.
Contact Rev. Sophy Driscoll Gamber, Pastor: Phone: 856-630-2764; Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Tues-Thurs 11am-3pm, and by appointment. (Pastor Sophy takes Sabbath on Fridays)
Contact the Church Office: Phone: 215-245-1215; Email: [email protected]
