Central United Methodist Church - RVA

09/06/2026

08/25/2026

YOU’RE INVITED!

Central UMC invites you to join us as we kickoff things for the new month!

This Sunday, August 30th, at 11am, we’ll start things off with a new sermon series, and right afterwards, we’ll be hosting a hot dog lunch and ice cream social for the community!

Come join us for some great worship and good eats as we get the party started for September! We’ll save you a seat.

See you there! 🤩

07/19/2026

Hello, everyone!

We’d love to invite you to follow our new YouTube page at !

https://youtube.com/?si=bvPCZ8CP5EUtBP8y

We’ve posted our last three worship services there, including today’s service. We’ll be looking to do more posting on our YouTube page for the foreseeable future. We hope you’ll continue to tune in!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at Central!

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

06/14/2026

Dear Central Friends and Family: Hope you can join us for worship tomorrow morning at 11:00 am. If you can't join us in person, we stream our service right here on Facebook. The order of worship found below will help you participate. Many Blessings, Pastor Shayne

CHIMING THE HOUR
PRELUDE - “Deep River” Spiritual arr. by J. Carter Sara Manner, Musician
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING PRAYER Russ Parrish, Liturgist

*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Sing praises and worship the Lord, our God!
All: We wait daily on His grace and mercy.
Leader: Give up the bent for sinning so that grace may increase.
All: We are united in His glorious resurrection.
Leader: Live today and live on because of His sacrifice.
All: We no longer fear death. We will join Him in paradise.
Leader: We count ourselves dead to sin, but alive in Jesus.
All: To our penitent hearts more will be revealed.
Leader: Do not let the world steal your many joys!
All: May we be found blameless in the Lord! Amen
(Frank Howarth, Central UMC, Richmond, VA, from Matthew 10
and Romans 6)

*OPENING HYMN “How Firm a Foundation” Hymnal 529

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord Jesus, I call on you always. It is easy for me to worship other things, other activities, other relationships, other gods. I spend my energies elsewhere diverting my time, my attention, and my purpose away from you. Forgive me, gracious Savior, when my heart is led astray. Help me run away from my distractions. Let me not condemn anyone because they sin differently than I do. Help me to love my neighbor as myself. Strengthen me so that I can turn my face toward heaven. Refine and refresh me in body and spirit. Call me to your side, my Rock and my Redeemer, today and all my days. Amen
(Frank Howarth, adapted from Chip Hardwich, Thinking, Praying,
Living and some phrases from St. Ignatius of Antioch)

Assurance of Pardon
Leader: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
ALL: Glory to God. Amen.

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
EPISTLE READING Romans 6:1b-11 p. 189 (NT) Red Bible
GOSPEL READING Matthew 10:24-29 p. 12 (NT) Red Bible
Leader: This is the word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God
MESSAGE “The Costs and Blessings of Discipleship” Pastor Shayne

WE RESPOND IN FAITH
*HYMN OF RESPONSE “Where He Leads Me” Hymnal 338

*STATEMENT OF FAITH - THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Hymnal 883

A TIME OF PRAYER – Where have you seen God at work this week?
A PRAYER FOR CENTRAL’S VISION (in unison): Lord, we humbly ask
you to help us passionately live out Central’s vision: “Making God’s love real by planting seeds of compassion, cultivating relationships, and teaching Christ-centered discipleship.”
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND PETITION
THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymnal 895

OFFERING OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous God of the universe who finds time to whisper your love to us: we come to your altar with grateful hearts. When you speak your love into our quiet moments, it is the most precious gift of all. It is not a gift for us to hold and hide, but to proclaim from the housetops! May the gifts we offer to you this morning proclaim your love loudly to a world that often feels forgotten. We pray this in the name of your son, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen
(UMC Discipleship Ministries online, Worship Planning, from Matthew 10:24-29)
OFFERTORY – “Love the Lord Your God” by Jean and Jim Strathdee
*SONG OF PRAISE Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow Hymnal 95

WE ARE SENT TO SERVE IN CHRIST’S NAME
*CLOSING HYMN “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult” Hymnal 398
PASTORAL BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION – “Benediction Hymn” Worship & Song #3182 Andrew Goins, soloist
POSTLUDE – “Allegro Maestoso” from Water Music by George F. Handel

06/06/2026

Dear Central Family/Friends: We hope you're well. We're sorry that we've had technical difficulties with our live stream last week. Hopefully things will go smoothly tomorrow. We have worship every Sunday at 11:00. If you can't join us in person, the order of worship found below will help you participate online. God Bless, Pastor Shayne

CHIMING THE HOUR
PRELUDE - “More Like You” by Scott Brown Sara Manner,
Musician
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING PRAYER Bill Duncan, Liturgist

*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Take heart ! Jesus forgives the sins of the repentant.
All: So many splendid miracles we have seen!
Leader: Christ has the authority to make right any wrong.
All: We will rise up and praise the Lord, our God.
Leader: For the best and worst in us, Jesus is near.
All: And He will forgive us in the same measure we forgive.
Leader: Let your fasting be complete. Empty yourselves of all malice and rebuke.
All: May we speak glad tidings of Jesus sweet power and love forever. Amen
(Frank Howarth, Central UMC, Richmond, VA, drawn from
Matthew 9)

*OPENING HYMN “El Shaddai” (Sing Twice) Hymnal 123

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
OLD TESTAMENT READING Hosea 5:15-6:6 p. 1027 (OT) Red Bible
GOSPEL READING Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 p. 10 (NT) Red Bible
Leader: This is the word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God

MESSAGE “Jesus, the Merciful Physician” Pastor Shayne

WE RESPOND IN FAITH
*HYMN OF RESPONSE "The Lily of the Valley” Faith We Sing 2062

*STATEMENT OF FAITH - THE APOSTLE’S CREED – TRAD Hymnal 881

A TIME OF PRAYER – Where have you seen God at work this week?
A PRAYER FOR CENTRAL’S VISION (in unison): Lord, we humbly ask
you to help us passionately live out Central’s vision: “Making God’s love real by planting seeds of compassion, cultivating relationships, and teaching Christ-centered discipleship.”
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND PETITION

OFFERING OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lord, we admit to you that we are sick and in need of your healing. Help us to be mindful that all are in need of your mercy and healing. May these gifts be used to invite the world to touch the hem of the Great Physician and be made whole. Amen
(Pastor Shayne Estes with inspiration from Matthew 9)
OFFERTORY – “I Need Thee Every Hour” by R. Lowry, Arr. J. Tonioli
*SONG OF PRAISE Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow Hymnal 95

HOLY COMMUNION Hymnal 12
Unison Prayer after Communion
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE ARE SENT TO SERVE IN CHRIST’S NAME
*CLOSING HYMN “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Faith We
Sing 2129

PASTORAL BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE – “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” by Isaac Watts, Arr. M. Bober

05/30/2026

Dear Central Family/Friends: Hope you'll join us for worship tomorrow morning at 11:00 am. This is Trinity Sunday, and we'll hear how the Holy Trinity calls Christian disciples to action. If you aren't able to come in person, we stream our service live every Sunday right here on Facebook. The order of worship is found below to help you participate. Have a blessed week. Pastor Shayne

CHIMING THE HOUR
PRELUDE Zack Cross, Musician
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING PRAYER Sandy Harmon, Liturgist

*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We live in a world infused by God
All: Where our minds are made open by His love.
Leader: He gives promise to every life
All: And our minds and hearts turn towards Heaven.
Leader: We move towards an unknown destination where the Creator has promised to meet us;
All: We are breaking down barriers to reach that sacred place.
Leader: We gather as people of the cross and resurrection
All: We come as the children of the Father
Leader: Reconciled by grace through the Son
All: And filled with God's love through the Spirit. Amen
(Frank Howarth, Central UMC, Richmond, VA with Jacob Traeger
and Acts 1: 1-11)

*OPENING HYMN “We Believe in One True God” Hymnal 85

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord Jesus, let me not seek to earn what can only be received by grace. When I serve, let me not try to balance the scales. I know I cannot repay Your supply of extravagant grace because You do not require it. Free the score-keepers in our world and in our hearts. Restore the fallen in our world and in our hearts. Strengthen the broken, uplift the lowly, bring down tyrants, erase the division in in our world. Create a Christ-centered humanity in our world and in our hearts. Use me to help make it so. (Frank Howarth)
..time of silent prayer...

Assurance of Pardon
Leader: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
ALL: Glory to God. Amen.

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
PSALTER Psalm 8, response #1 Hymnal 743
GOSPEL READING Matthew 28:16-20 p. 41 (NT) Red Bible
Leader: This is the word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE “A Trinitarian Call to Action” Pastor Shayne

WE RESPOND IN FAITH
*HYMN OF RESPONSE “Guide My Feet” (vs. 1-4)
Faith We Sing 2208

*STATEMENT OF FAITH - THE APOSTLE’S CREED – TRAD Hymnal 881

A TIME OF PRAYER – Where have you seen God at work this week?
A PRAYER FOR CENTRAL’S VISION (in unison): Lord, we humbly ask
you to help us passionately live out Central’s vision: “Making God’s love real by planting seeds of compassion, cultivating relationships, and teaching Christ-centered discipleship.”
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND PETITION
THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymnal 895

OFFERING OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Creating God, from the beginning, you formed light out of darkness, breath from dust, and life from love. In Christ, you walked among us, and through your Spirit, you empower us still. Today, we offer our gifts—signs of our desire to partner with you in your ongoing work of creation, healing, and discipleship. Use these offerings to build communities of compassion, to welcome the stranger, and to teach your ways of justice and joy. May our giving reflect the wonder of your Triune love and our willingness to go and grow disciples in your name. Amen
(United Methodist Discipleship Ministries online, Gen 1 & Mt.
28)
OFFERTORY – “Adagio” by Tomaso Albinoni – Pastor Shayne, cello
*SONG OF PRAISE Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow Hymnal 95

WE ARE SENT TO SERVE IN CHRIST’S NAME
*CLOSING HYMN “Go Make of All Disciples” Hymnal 571

Pastoral Benediction
POSTLUDE