Worship Text November 22, 2020

Morning Worship Text: November 22, 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.

Today you may want a small pitcher, carafe or bottle full of water and a cup with saucer into which to pour it.





Welcome


Musical Meditation

Focus   "Still Waters and Cups Over-flowing"

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 One: The Lord is our Shepherd
Voice Two: We shall not want           

Voice One: We seek the grace of God
Voice Two: and our cup runneth over,        We pour a little water into the bowl.

Voice One: We seek the will of God
Voice Two: and our cup runneth over        We pour a little water into the bowl.

Voice One: We seek the strength of God
Voice Two: and our cup runneth over        We pour a little water into the bowl.

Voice One: How generous is God's love
Voice Two: so much the world cannot contain it

Voice One: The Lord is our Shepherd
Voice Two: and we lack nothing!           We pour a little water into the bowl and let it overflow into the saucer.

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws


Invocation    

Gracious God,
We come with joy to meet You here,
to eat and drink at Your table,
to taste and see Your goodness,
to celebrate Your grace and mercy in our lives.
May Your Spirit inspire our praise and thanksgiving,
our prayers and petitions
as we worship together in Your presence.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our host and Lord,
Amen.

-from a longer prayer by Christine Longhurst, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/09/opening-prayer-matthew-22-1-14.html

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.  As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God.  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.  Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide,  I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.  And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

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.

Related readings: Psalm 23, Matthew 25:31-46, John 10:1-18


Meditation



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 Gwynne Griffith and Kathy Sharp.


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

Lord God - we give you thanks for all your gifts to us – for daily food - for health - for each breath we take - for freedom to choose - and for the gifts of your word, your power, and your love.  Our hearts are truly overwhelmed, O God, when we consider all that you are and how you have entrusted so much to us.  May we be worthy of that trust - may we be a people who are unafraid to live as fully and as richly as you want us to live.

Lord, hear our prayer...

Help us O God, as followers of Jesus, to multiply all that you given us, to risk spreading your word and perhaps see it misunderstood, to gamble by loving those whom others think worthy only of hate, to take chances by doing good to those who have not done good to us.  Help us be faith filled and to desire to
increase your glory and your goodness in this world.  Make us ones who share in both word and deed that which you have given to us. 

Lord,  hear our prayer....

We pray, O God, for the church here today - that it may encourage all its members to discover, develop, and use all their gifts, those of nature and those of grace.

Lord,  hear our prayer...

We pray for those who are poor in body or in spirit...  for those who are oppressed and heavy laden....  for those who are sick or in despair...  Minister O God by your Spirit, and by us, to all those for whom we have prayed - and help us walk faithfully in the path of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, hear our prayers and receive our praise and thanksgiving. You created us. You save. You guide and sustain us. Our cup over flows! Thank you, Good Shepherd! Our hearts belong to you! Amen.

— adapted from a prayer by copyright © Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on his Kir-Shalom website. Visit his site for other good lectionary-based worship resources and sermons.


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!
 

Worship Text November 15, 2020

 Morning Worship Text: November 8, 2020

 
Welcome


Musical Meditation

Focus

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 One: Let us prepare our hearts to receive God's word,
Voice Two: Let us watch for the one who heard our cries
and shouldered the suffering of our world,
Voice One: Let us anticipate the kingdom of God
Voice Two: coming with wholeness, reconciliation and plenty for all.
Voice One: Let us wait in expectation for the day
Voice Two: when God’s glory is revealed in all its fullness.

~ written by Christine Sine (2012), and posted on GodSpace. http://godspace.wordpress.com/2012/12/07/prayers-for-the-journey-advent-prayers-for-the-week/


Invocation   
Holy God,
Your extravagant love has called us together. We come before You with praise and thanksgiving, offering You the worship of our hearts and lives, and opening ourselves to the prompting and leading of Your Holy Spirit. Receive our worship—our praise and prayers and offerings— through the intercession of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. May the time we spend here in Your presence bring honour and glory to Your Name.  Amen.
-adapted from a prayer by Christine Longhurst, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/07/opening-prayer-romans-826-34.html


Scripture: I Thessalonians 5:12-24
But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.

See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound[d] and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.



Meditation


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 Gwynne Griffith and Kathy Sharp.


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

All: Our gracious eternal God, the ancient words of Paul echo in our souls this day. We are so much like the people of the Thessalonian Church and its culture.

We want to have glimpses of the future so that we might know that we are secure.
We want to have the security to know that tomorrow will be alright.
We want to have life all buttoned down and figured out so there will be no surprises.
We want you to rid us of all anxiety and worry and fear.
We want to know that when the great call comes for us we will be safe.
We want all darkness and all uncertainty removed from our lives.

All: Become alive for us again in these quiet moments. Open to us your powerful and grace-filled presence.

Lead our spirits to find the courage to say, “All will be well because we are yours.”
Lead our spirits to find the ability to live one moment and one day at a time.
Lead our spirits to serenity and a peace which the world cannot give.
Lead our spirits to know that with your power we can cope with whatever surprises life presents to us.

All: Lead our spirits to know that we are destined “not for wrath” but for your redeeming. And lead our spirits to know that “whether we wake or sleep,” living or dying, we are yours into the ages of all ages. Amen.

— Richard J Einerson, posted on Richard J. Einerson: Prayers of the People. For more of his prayers, see his book, Prayers of the People.

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!


Worship Text November 8, 2020

 Morning Worship Text: November 8, 2020

 
Welcome


Musical Meditation


Focus


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 One: Are you awake? Are you alert?
Voice Two: Christ is coming into our lives in a new way.
Voice One: What do you see happening in the world today?
Voice Two: Christ is coming into our lives in a new way.
Voice One: Do you see opportunities for ministry? Do you see a specific need in our community?
Voice Two: Christ is coming into our lives in a new way.
Voice One: Come, let us worship.
Voice Two: Let us refresh our hearts to work together in God's kingdom!

~ adapted from a piece written by Rev. Mindi, on her Rev-o-lution blog.



Invocation   
Holy God, through Your boundless grace and mercy, we have been set free—
free from the controlling power of sin,
free from a way of life that leads only to death,
free from hopelessness and fear.
Not only that but, through Your Holy Spirit,
we have been invited into Your family,
adopted as Your own sons and daughters—
children of God—
and made heirs of Your glory.
And so no matter what comes our way,
we live in confidence and hope,
eagerly anticipating the day
when all creation will be made new,
and we will see You face to face. Amen.

-adapted from a prayer by Christine Longhurst  https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/07/prayer-of-thanksgiving-romans-8.html


Scripture: I Thessalonians 4:9-18

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.


Meditation


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 Gwynne Griffith and Kathy Sharp..


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

The Apostle Paul tells us that the Spirit of God prays for us
“with sighs too deep for words”. 
Through the Life-Giving Breath of God,
we are given all that we need. 
Let us breathe deeply—
inhaling the good gifts that God provides,
and exhaling all of the things that we need to release.

Let us breathe in strength.  (Pause for breath…) 
And, let us exhale our exhaustion.  (Pause for breath…)

Let us breathe in freedom.  (Pause for breath…) 
And, let us exhale all that holds us back.  (Pause for breath…)

Let us breathe in a new sense of direction.  (Pause for breath…) 
And, let us exhale the paths we no longer want to use.  (Pause for breath…)

Let us breathe in hope.  (Pause for breath…) 
And, let us exhale self-doubt.  (Pause for breath…)

Let us breathe in unconditional love.  (Pause for breath…) 
And, let us exhale distrust and hate.  (Pause for breath…)

All: Holy Spirit, let us feel the mighty rush of your presence in this place. 
Blow away our fears and worries,
and help us to breathe in your gifts of new life.  Amen.

~ written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet website. http://worshipcloset.com/




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!