November 7, 2021 Online

 Worship, Witness, Word and Welcome
Online Worship with First Christian Church  (Disciples of Christ) Berea, KY
All Saints' Day
November 7, 2021

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. If you knew a friend was about to set out on a journey today, what would you give them to take along? Add something to your worship center that symbolizes your spiritual journey.

Worship
Invocation We begin with prayer.
We remember, O God…
The tender touch of loved ones, the healing words of comforters, the remarkable acts of fearless ones.

We remember, O God…
The gentle strength of grandparents, the loyalty of friends, the kindness of strangers, the joy of children, the sacrifice of parents.

We remember, O God…
The supreme love of Jesus, shown forth in the lives of his disciples, young and old, articulate and silent, strange and familiar, brilliant and ordinary.

We remember, O God, and we give thanks. Amen.
— posted on the Desperate Preacher’s website. 

Call to Worship
One Voice: We remember in every time and place
Many Voices: the saints of God who have shown us the Lord.
One Voice:Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…
Many Voices: let us worship God with joy!
— posted on the Desperate Preacher’s website. 

Lighting the Candles  We light our candles or lights.
Voice One: We light these candles today,
Voice Two: Because God is with us in this time and in all these places!

Witness
Morning Prayer
You are our God and we are Your people, 
and we are grateful that You have claimed us as your own.
By faith, we take comfort in Your presence.
You have set us in the company of saints past and present, 
among those who have made bold witness 
to Your goodness and Your truth. 
Your Word opens up new futures
where we see no way forward.
By faith, we take comfort in Your presence.
You know the places in our hearts 
where we are worried, frustrated or overwhelmed
     by the future which we cannot control;
    for lost health and independence 
    for the well-being of our children 
    by past mistakes that could ruin our future
By faith, we take comfort in Your presence.
Write the stories of your people deep into our hearts 
so that we may learn to trust you beyond our fears. 
Give us hearts, minds and spirits ready to trust wherever your Spirit leads, confident that you will not lead us 
beyond your loving embrace.
By faith, we take comfort in Your presence.
We ask in Jesus’ name, whose outstretched arms welcome us
and hold us securely in your grace.  Amen.
~ written by Christine Jerrett, and posted on the Christine Jerrett blog. https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com/


Word
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3 and Exodus 19:16-20:21
Hebrews 11:1-3 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

Exodus 19:16-20:21  - On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder. When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the Lord summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to look; otherwise many of them will perish. Even the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate themselves or the Lord will break out against them.” Moses said to the Lord, “The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.’”

The Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the Lord; otherwise he will break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Then God spoke all these words:
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.” Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
-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.

Meditation

Challenge for Discipleship

Welcome- The Lord's Supper
Invitation to the Table
All are welcome to partake in the bread and cup at the table of God's love. It is Christ who is our host. When you hear the Words of Institution, partake of the elements.

Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Judy Halstead and Mark Workman.
Words of Institution 
Prayer of Response
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.

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.   And we abide in peace. Amen.