Worship Text October 25, 2020

 Morning Worship Text: October 25, 2020

Ordinary Time - A Season for Spiritual Growth


Before we begin, gather a candle or small light, your Bible, a cross,  a piece of bread and a cup of juice or water. Place them at the center of a calm area in your home and gather comfortable seating for all who will join you. Place your phone, tablet  or computer where you can see and hear it. You may want to connect a charger, rather than rely on battery. If you have a picture of a view that inspires you, that reminds you of God's greatness, place it in your worship area today!



 

Welcome



Musical Meditation



Focus   When we have a bad day, what do we say to God? What do we want to say to God? What do we want to have the strength to say?



Lighting the Christ Candles      We light our candles or lights.

Voice One: In the beginning, God said,


Voice Two: "Let there be light," and there was light!


Voice One: We light these candles today,


Voice Two: Because God is with us in this time and in all these places!


Call to Worship   


Voice 1:      Lord, you teach us to tell time differently.
Voice 2:  A thousand years or a day makes no difference to you.
All:              Help us to make the most of every moment you give us.

Voice 1:      A day without you at the center is a day wasted.
Voice 2:  Show us your love in the morning
                  And we will skip and dance all day long.
All:             May the blessing of the Lord rest on us today.

—by Chrisine Longhurst and posted on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/10/intergenerational-call-to-worship.html



Invocation    We pray together in unison.

God in heaven, in your goodness you pour out on your people all that they need, and satisfy those who persist in prayer. Make us bold in asking, thankful in receiving, tireless in seeking, and joyful in finding, that we may always proclaim your coming kingdom and do your will on earth as in heaven. Amen.

~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Posted on Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library.


Scripture: Matthew 6:5-14 (from Matthew's account of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount)

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
 in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
 or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
 from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn us back to dust,
 and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”


4 For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it is past,
    or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning;
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.

13 Turn, O Lord! How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and prosper for us the work of our hands—
    O prosper the work of our hands!

-New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Children's Sermon

 

Sermon
 


Invitation to the Table The bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.

 

Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Will Bondurant and Dennis Blackburn.




 

Words of Institution We break the bread and lift the cup as the words are spoken.



The Lord's Supper We share in the bread and cup as we hear the music.




 

Prayer of Thanksgiving "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.

 

Prayers of the People

God our provider,
Every generation has found its home in you
and discovered that every moment spent in your holy presence
lasts beyond all imaginable time.
You watch over us in the night,
cradling us in your arms as tenderly as a nurse
cares for her children and her neighbor's.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Full of wisdom,God our Savior,
you humbled yourself that we might learn
to love those who have been swept aside
by a callous and cruel world.
Witness to God's grace, you call us to act
in ways of peace-filled loving to all we meet in this life.

Praise God all creatures here below!

In the fresh breeze on a summer's day;
in the leaves dancing across autumn's lawns;
in the crisp, new snowfall crunching beneath our feet;
in the new life flowering in the spring:
from everlasting to everlasting
you proclaim grace to us,
God our Comforter.

Praise God above you heavenly hosts!

God in Community, Holy in Three in One,
continue to be the dwelling place
of our minds, our hearts, our souls,
in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen.

— adapted from a prayer written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his excellent Lectionary Liturgies website. Visit that site for other great lectionary-based worship resources.


Challenge for Discipleship



 Blessing     We speak in unison.



The Light that was in one place and at one time, is now in all places and all times, for God has placed the light in us.   We abide in peace!