November 26, 2017

THEME:Invest in the Light

NOTES:As we move through Thanksgiving and into Advent, we take a moment to stop and take a deep breath. Today's scripture invites us to see ourselves, as people of God, connected to and filled with God's power for life in Jesus Christ. We will challenge ourselves, as we enter this season of preparation to seek out and invest in "the light," - those places where the power of God is at work in our world - in ourselves, in our families, in our community, in our world.

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:15-23 (NRSV)

Paul’s Prayer

¹⁵ I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love^[a] toward all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸ so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰ God^[b] put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²² And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Footnotes:

1. Ephesians 1:15 Other ancient authorities lack and your love
2. Ephesians 1:20 Gk He

8:30 AM Order of Service

The Gathering

Welcome                                                                             

Prelude

We Gather in The Light of Christ

Lighting the Christ Candles                                               

Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.

Leader:  In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!

Hymn of Praise: Hymn of Faith: CH#717 "Let All Things Now Living"                st. 1

Call to Worship  

Leader: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.

People: Bring your silence and your shouting,

as introverts and extroverts.

Leader: Worship the LORD with gladness;

come into God'spresence with singing.

People: Bring your songs and your stories,

your struggles and your sacrifices.

Leader: Know that the LORD is God.

It is God that made us, and we belong to God;

we are God's people, and the sheep of God's pasture.

People: God designed and created us,

God understands us and is intensely interested in us.

Leader: Enter God's gates with thanksgiving,

and the courts of the Lord with praise.

Give thanks to God, bless God's name.

People: Bring your gifts and your personalities,

your strengths and weaknesses.

Leader: For the LORD is good;

whose steadfast love endures forever,

and whose faithfulness reaches all generations.

God is just and wise,

honest and true,

caring and compassionate,

eternal and holy. That is God. 

~ copyright © Dave Hopwood/engageworship.org.
                                                  
Invocation                                                                     Unison  

Lord, we were a pile of ash

and you made us a light for the world.

We were stones,

and you made us salt for the earth.

We were as lifeless as clay

and you made us part of the Body of Christ.

Lord, in you we are transformed

and transformed still again.

Lord, you are hope and healing and love.

Transform us anew,

and so keep us close to you,

as you transform the world. Amen.

~ adapted from a prayer posted on the Catholic Relief Services website. https://www.crs.org/resource-center/

      
 

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture:                                              

Sermon/Meditation                    
                                       

We Pray Together

We Share Our Joys & Concern                                        

Prayer Hymn:  CH#73 "There's A Wideness in God's Mercy"         sts. 1, 3 & 4

Praying Together       

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to the Table                        

Communion Hymn: Communion Doxology                                              ALL

The Elder’s Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution

The Lord’s Supper

All are welcome to share at the Table.  Come forward using the center aisle.  As you partake of the bread and the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the table.  The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

The Lord’s Prayer                  

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                              

Hymn of Discipleship:GHofF #424 "Send the Light!"                            sts. 1, 2 & 3

Blessing                                                                      

Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.  

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!

10:40AM Service

Welcome    

Prelude                                                                     

We Gather in the Light of Christ

Call to Worship

Leader: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.

People: Bring your silence and your shouting,

as introverts and extroverts.

Leader: Worship the LORD with gladness;

come into God'spresence with singing.

People: Bring your songs and your stories,

your struggles and your sacrifices.

Leader: Know that the LORD is God.

It is God that made us, and we belong to God;

we are God's people, and the sheep of God's pasture.

People: God designed and created us,

God understands us and is intensely interested in us.

Leader: Enter God's gates with thanksgiving,

and the courts of the Lord with praise.

Give thanks to God, bless God's name.

People: Bring your gifts and your personalities,

your strengths and weaknesses.

Leader: For the LORD is good;

whose steadfast love endures forever,

and whose faithfulness reaches all generations.

God is just and wise,

honest and true,

caring and compassionate,

eternal and holy. That is God. 

~ copyright © Dave Hopwood/engageworship.org.
  
Hymn of Praise: CH#73 "There's A Wideness in God's Mercy"         sts. 1, 3 & 4

The Acolytes light the Christ candles.

 
Invocation                                                                     Unison 

Lord, we were a pile of ash

and you made us a light for the world.

We were stones,

and you made us salt for the earth.

We were as lifeless as clay

and you made us part of the Body of Christ.

Lord, in you we are transformed

and transformed still again.

Lord, you are hope and healing and love.

Transform us anew,

and so keep us close to you,

as you transform the world. Amen.

~ adapted from a prayer posted on the Catholic Relief Services website. https://www.crs.org/resource-center/

      
 
Passing of the Peace

We return to our seats as the piano music begins.   
   

Hymn of Faith: CH#717 "Let All Things Now Living"                  st. 1

We Offer Our Hearts to God

Call to Offering

The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

Offertory

Doxology CH #46

Prayer of Dedication

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture                                                                     

  

Anthem

Children’s Sermon                                                       

Sermon/Meditation                                                           

We Prayer Together

We Share Our Joys & Concerns                                        

Prayer Hymn: CH#526 "The Gift of Love"                                     sts. 1 & 3

Praying Together 
                                                            

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to Communion

Christians of all denominations and backgrounds are welcome to share in communion. Please hold each element as we partake in unison.

Communion Hymn: CH#491  "As Grain on Scattered Hillsides"                           sts. 1 & 4

Prayers for Bread & Cup and Words of Institution

The Lord’s Prayer                                                          

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                                    

Hymn of Discipleship: CH#469 "I Am the Light of the World" 
                                                                    Chorus, st. 2, Chorus, st. 4, Chorus

Acolytes come forward.

Blessing                                                                          

Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading. 
 

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,

People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
 

Parting Song: CH# 619 "How Firm a Foundation"               st. 1

November 19, 2017

THEME:Bridges and Fences-When We Let What Divides Us Unite Us

NOTES: We will have a guest preacher on this Sunday. Rev. Dave Carr, our former interim, will be coming back for a visit. This is also Thanksgiving Sunday.



SCRIPTURE: I Corinthians 11: 18-27

¹⁸ In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. ²⁰ So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, ²¹ for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. ²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

8:30 AM Order of Service

The Gathering

Welcome                                                                             

Prelude

We Gather in The Light of Christ

Lighting the Christ Candles                                               

Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.

Leader:  In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!

Hymn of Praise:CH#718 "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come"                   ALL

Call to Worship    

Leader: Our God gathers us into community 
People: To love and work, to support and heal.

Leader: Our God gathers us into community
People: To bring justice and hope, freedom and truth.

Leader: Our God gathers us into community
People: To live in harmony, to cherish and renew.

Leader: Let us worship the God who makes us one.

People: With each other, with all people, with all creation.

                                                  
Invocation                                                                     Unison        
 

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture:                                              

Sermon/Meditation: Bridges and Fences                   
                                       

We Pray Together

We Share Our Joys & Concern                                        

Prayer Hymn:CH#531   "Thank You, Lord"                                  ALL

Praying Together       

Prayer of Intercession:

In Gratitude to You, O Lord

God of the living,

with all Your creatures great and small

we sing Your bounty and Your goodness,

for in the harvest of land and ocean,

in the cycles of the seasons,

and the wonders of each creature,

You reveal Your generosity.

Teach us the gratitude that dispels envy,

that we may honor each gift as You cherish Your creation,

and praise You in all times and places.

That this day may be holy, good and joyful: hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may offer to You our worship and praise along

with the work of our hands, minds and hearts:
hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may strive for the well-being of all creation:hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That in the pleasures and pains of life,

we may know the love of Christ and be thankful:hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by Your Holy Spirit,

in communion with all Your holy ones,

entrusting one another and all our life to Christ:
hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may always and everywhere give thanks to You, O God,

for all of our blessings and giftedness:
hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

~ posted on the website of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest.

www.cbmidwest.org/

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to the Table                        

Communion Hymn: CH#714 "For the Fruit of All Creation"                                  ALL

The Elder’s Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution

The Lord’s Supper

All are welcome to share at the Table.  Come forward using the center aisle.  As you partake of the bread and the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the table.  The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

The Lord’s Prayer                  

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                              

Hymn of Discipleship: CH#494 "They'll Know We Are Christians"     sts. 1, 2 & 3

Blessing                                                                      

Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.  

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!

10:40AM Service

Welcome    

Prelude                                                                     

We Gather in the Light of Christ

Call to Worship

Leader: Our God gathers us into community 
People: To love and work, to support and heal.

Leader: Our God gathers us into community
People: To bring justice and hope, freedom and truth.

Leader: Our God gathers us into community
People: To live in harmony, to cherish and renew.

Leader: Let us worship the God who makes us one.

People: With each other, with all people, with all creation.
                                                           
Hymn of Praise:CH#718 "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come"                   ALL

The Acolytes light the Christ candles.

 
Invocation                                                                     Unison  

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints

in heaven and on earth:

Help us to see your presence alive in the hearts of others.

Grant that we may be united in a fellowship of love and prayer.

Give us the courage to pick up our cross and respond to the needs of the world.

Give us the stamina to be your hands and heart in the world.

We pray all this through the love your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Passing of the Peace

We return to our seats as the piano music begins.   
   

Hymn of Faith: CH#495 "Weave"                                              Sing twice.

We Offer Our Hearts to God

Call to Offering

The offering you share supports the ministries and life of Christ’s church.

Offertory

Doxology CH #46

Prayer of Dedication

We Contemplate God’s Word

Scripture                                                                     

  

Anthem

Children’s Sermon                                                       

Sermon/Meditation                                                           

We Prayer Together

We Share Our Joys & Concerns  
                                      

Prayer Hymn:CH#531   "Thank You, Lord"                                  ALL

Praying Together 
                        

Prayer of Intercession:

In Gratitude to You, O Lord

God of the living,

with all Your creatures great and small

we sing Your bounty and Your goodness,

for in the harvest of land and ocean,

in the cycles of the seasons,

and the wonders of each creature,

You reveal Your generosity.

Teach us the gratitude that dispels envy,

that we may honor each gift as You cherish Your creation,

and praise You in all times and places.

That this day may be holy, good and joyful: hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may offer to You our worship and praise along

with the work of our hands, minds and hearts:
hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may strive for the well-being of all creation:hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That in the pleasures and pains of life,

we may know the love of Christ and be thankful:hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by Your Holy Spirit,

in communion with all Your holy ones,

entrusting one another and all our life to Christ:
hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

That we may always and everywhere give thanks to You, O God,

for all of our blessings and giftedness:
hear us as:

we pray in gratitude to You, O Lord.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

~ posted on the website of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest.

www.cbmidwest.org/                                   

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to Communion

Christians of all denominations and backgrounds are welcome to share in communion. Please hold each element as we partake in unison.

Communion Hymn: CH#422 "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ"                    ALL

Prayers for Bread & Cup and Words of Institution

The Lord’s Prayer                                                          

We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship                                                    

Hymn of Discipleship:CH#715 "Now Thank We All Our God"     sts. 1 & 2

Acolytes come forward.

Blessing                                                                          

Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading. 
 

Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,

People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
 

Parting Song:  CH#715 "Now Thank We All Our God"     st. 3