October 13, 2019

THEME: Gratitude: Transformed by Turning Back

NOTES: Thanksgiving is more than a month a way. So we take a moment this week to get our hearts prepared for what the Spirit can do in us this year. We hope for nothing less than a wellspring of gratitude within our selves and our gathering. Like water, the presence of gratitude in the environment refreshes and renews. It instigates growth and supports new life. It freshens up even things that seem wilted and aging. It restores our shape and form. Without gratitude, can we really expect spiritual fruit? With gratitude, can we expect anything other than abundant love,  joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?


Scripture:
 Luke 17:11-19
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”




8:30 am Order of Service



We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome

Prelude

Lighting the Christ Candles

Praise Hymn

Call to Worship


Leader: Come, and praise God!
In the company of the God’s people,
let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: Great are the works of God,
full of glory and majesty.
Leader: Our God is gracious and compassionate;
People: our God is merciful and forgiving
Leader: our God is faithful and trustworthy,
People: our God is just and good.
Leader: So come, let’s worship God together.
People: God’s praise will last forever!

Invocation

Boundless God,
help us to see the world differently—
not with our own limited vision
but with the gaze of gratitude.

Give us the foolishness to believe that we can change
what the world says is impossible;
and when we lose sight of the power of love,
increase our faith. Amen.

~ posted on the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

 We Contemplate God's Word

Scripture

Meditation and Choral Reflections: "Amazing Grace and Folk Songs of Praise"
the MusicAlls Guest Choir from Denmark


We Pray Together

Joys & Concerns

Prayer Hymn

Praying Together
Ever-present God
you meet us in the borderlands,
in places neither here nor there,
at times when we are well out of our comfort zone;
even if we don't know where we're going,
when we feel most lost,
you are there:
Thank you, God.

You meet each of us where we are,
and many of us in our need,
people marginalized by illness,
not wanting to be a burden,
those who see their poverty or problems as unacceptable –
feeling rejected – with faltering self-worth.

It was in the borderlands that Jesus met a band of lepers,
whose livelihood was begging,
whose status was untouchable,
and touched their lives with hope.

And it was the Samaritan,
the one most of all an outsider,
who turned back to give thanks.

We thank you for all we can learn
from our sisters and brothers who live on the edge,
in poverty, in the borderlands:
about gratitude, grace and healing hope.
Thank you, God. Amen.

~ written by Jan Sutch Pickard, and posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/


We Come to the Lord's Table

Invitation to the Table

Communion Hymn

Elder's Prayer

Words of Institution

The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation

Prayer of Thanksgiving


We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship

Discipleship Hymn

Blessing


10:40 am Order of Service


We Gather in God's Presence

Welcome

Prelude

Call to Worship
  Leader: Come, and praise God!
In the company of the God’s people,
let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: Great are the works of God,
full of glory and majesty.
Leader: Our God is gracious and compassionate;
People: our God is merciful and forgiving
Leader: our God is faithful and trustworthy,
People: our God is just and good.
Leader: So come, let’s worship God together.
People: God’s praise will last forever!

Praise Hymn

Lighting of the Candles

Invocation 


Boundless God,
help us to see the world differently—
not with our own limited vision
but with the gaze of gratitude.

Give us the foolishness to believe that we can change
what the world says is impossible;
and when we lose sight of the power of love,
increase our faith. Amen.

~ posted on the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Passing of the Peace

Faith Hymn


We Contemplate God's Word

Scripture

Children's Sermon

Choral Meditation: "Traditional Danish Folk Music for Communion" by the MusicAlls Guest Choir from Denmark


We Pray Together

Joys & Concerns

Prayer Hymn

Praying Together


We Come to the Lord's Table

Invitation to the Table

Communion Hymn

Words of Institution
 
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation

Prayer of Thanksgiving


We Go Forth into the World

Challenge for Discipleship

Discipleship Hymn

Blessing

Closing Hymn