NOTES:We are entering November, a month when we stop to remember those who have gone on before us, when we intentionally turn our hearts towards gratitude, when we draw friends and family closer and when the weather drives us into cozy places. On this first Sunday of this time of memory, gratitude and warmth, we think of the friendship and love between Ruth an Naomi. Their connections were forged in challenging times. They shared a journey through sorrow and pain. They walked with God, and towards God, together.
SCRIPTURE: Ruth 1:1-18
In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”
Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”
14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
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:#16 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (all verses)
Call to Worship
Leader: Here in this place,
there are no strangers,
People: for all are welcome in God’s house.
Leader: Here in this worship, there is only acceptance,
People: for love is the language of faith.
Leader: Here in our lives, there are no divisions,
People: for God dwells in each of us.
Leader: Come, let us worship in unity and love.
People: for all are welcome in God’s house.
Leader: Here in this worship, there is only acceptance,
People: for love is the language of faith.
Leader: Here in our lives, there are no divisions,
People: for God dwells in each of us.
Leader: Come, let us worship in unity and love.
~ Adapted from The
Abingdon Worship Annual 2012, © 2011 Abingdon Press. Posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/
Invocation (UNISON)
O
Still Speaking God,
Open your vision to us,
that
we may become transformed
by
the renewing of your Word in our hearts.
Enable
us to grow in love and understanding for each other .
Let
us join with you in your suffering and your
triumph.
We
desire to share your journey and
we
claim these blessings in your name. Amen.
~
from Reformation and Reconciliation, written
by LT Leticia Rouser. Posted on the Worship
Ways page of the United Church of
Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-9.html
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn:#572 "Take Time To Be Holy" verses 1, 3, & 4)
Praying Together
Oh Holy God,
For
the expanding grandeur of Creation,
worlds
known and unknown,
galaxies
beyond galaxies,
filling
us with awe and challenging our imaginations:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
this fragile planet earth,
its
times and tides, its sunsets and seasons:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
the joy of human life,
its
wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
our human community,
our
common past and future hope,
For your love transcending all separation,
our
capacity to work for peace and justice
in
the midst of hostility and oppression:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
high hopes and noble causes,
for
faith without fanaticism,
for
understanding when views are not shared:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world,
who
have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
human liberty and rites of passage;
for
opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose:
We
pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes,
not
by our words but by our deeds. For your love sweeps out all fear. Your words speak new life. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~adapted from a prayer by O.
Eugene Pickett. Posted on Xavier University’s JesuitResource.org website. http://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/Thanksgiving-Prayers.cfm
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn:#687"In Christ There Is No East or West" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Communion Hymn:#687"In Christ There Is No East or West" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
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
Discipleship Hymn:#433 "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" (all verses)
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: Here in this place,
there are no strangers,
People: for all are welcome in God’s house.
Leader: Here in this worship, there is only acceptance,
People: for love is the language of faith.
Leader: Here in our lives, there are no divisions,
People: for God dwells in each of us.
Leader: Come, let us worship in unity and love.
People: for all are welcome in God’s house.
Leader: Here in this worship, there is only acceptance,
People: for love is the language of faith.
Leader: Here in our lives, there are no divisions,
People: for God dwells in each of us.
Leader: Come, let us worship in unity and love.
~ Adapted from The
Abingdon Worship Annual 2012, © 2011 Abingdon Press. Posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/
Hymn of Praise:#16 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (all verses)
Invocation (UNISON)
O
Still Speaking God,
Open your vision to us,
that
we may become transformed
by
the renewing of your Word in our hearts.
Enable
us to grow in love and understanding for each other .
Let
us join with you in your suffering and your
triumph.
We
desire to share your journey and
we
claim these blessings in your name. Amen.
~
from Reformation and Reconciliation, written
by LT Leticia Rouser. Posted on the Worship
Ways page of the United Church of
Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-9.html
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith:#588 "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" (verses 1 & 4)
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn:#572 "Take Time To Be Holy" verses 1, 3, & 4)
Praying Together
Oh Holy God,
For
the expanding grandeur of Creation,
worlds
known and unknown,
galaxies
beyond galaxies,
filling
us with awe and challenging our imaginations:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
this fragile planet earth,
its
times and tides, its sunsets and seasons:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
the joy of human life,
its
wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
our human community,
our
common past and future hope,
For your love transcending all separation,
our
capacity to work for peace and justice
in
the midst of hostility and oppression:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
high hopes and noble causes,
for
faith without fanaticism,
for
understanding when views are not shared:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world,
who
have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:
Leader: Lord, hear our prayer:
People: We give thanks this day.
For
human liberty and rites of passage;
for
opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose:
We
pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes,
not
by our words but by our deeds. For your love sweeps out all fear. Your words speak new life. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~ adapted from a prayer by O.
Eugene Pickett. Posted on Xavier University’s JesuitResource.org website. http://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/Thanksgiving-Prayers.cfm
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#687"In Christ There Is No East or West" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Communion Hymn#687"In Christ There Is No East or West" (verses 1, 2, & 4)
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
Discipleship Hymn:#433 "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" (all verses)
Discipleship Hymn:#433 "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" (all verses)
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song:"I'll Fly Away" (verse 1)
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!
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