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!