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!