11.15.2020

Welcome

Below you will find prayers, songs, readings, and a message to help you experience worship. You can light a candle to remind yourself of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we find creative ways to worship together, even though we are not in the same building. One good thing about virtual worship is that if you really like a song, you can listen to it again! Do what you need to do to worship God wherever you are.

announcements and call to worship

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Our call to worship is based on Matthew 16: 13-20.

Our help is in the name of the Lord our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, who comes to our aid in times of need, who gives us the courage to do what we know is right, who invites us to turn away from the influences of the world around us and confess Jesus alone as Saviour and Lord. This is our God! Let’s worship together.

Opening Song
Crown Him with Many Crowns

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Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne; hark, how the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.

Crown him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born, whose arm those crimson trophies won which now his brow adorn; fruit of the mystic rose, yet of that rose the stem, the root whence mercy ever flows, the babe of Bethlehem.

Crown him the Lord of love–behold his hands and side, rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified. No angels in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bend their burning eyes at mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save. His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high, who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time, creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime. All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me; thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray. Righteous God, our merciful creator, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Reading
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

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¹Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. ²For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! ⁴But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; ⁵for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. ⁶So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; ⁷for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. ⁸But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Children’s Moment

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Gospel and Message
Matthew 25:14-30

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[Jesus said to the disciples:] ¹⁴“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²²And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ ²³His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

Hymn of the Day
Lift High the Cross

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Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

Come, Christians, follow where our captain trod, our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

All newborn servants of the Crucified bear on their brows the seal of him who died.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, as thou hast promised, draw us all to thee.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be: praise to the Crucified for victory!

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

Apostles’ Creed

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With the whole church, let us confess our faith.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers

Held together in one body by the Spirit of Christ, let us pray for the church and the world, and all who are in need.

We pray, O God, for the church in our community and throughout the world. Raise up and sustain believers who will use their talents to assist with worship and to lead congregational ministries in this difficult time. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the earth we pray. During this autumn season, give to plants and wild animals a time of rest. Keep the coronavirus and other pathogens away from the animals that we care for. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all the nations we pray. Bring an end to war and terrorism. Cultivate a worldwide spirit of cooperation that will seek just international agreements and shared human rights. Rescue humankind from the worship of wealth, and give a homeland to migrants. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the United States we pray. Quell attempts at violence, and restore national good will. End prejudice of all kinds, and lead us into a unity that embraces diversity. Comfort those who live in fear of the future. Bless all newly elected officials, especially President-elect Biden, with a passion for justice and a commitment to honesty. Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are in need. Visit with health and good medical care all the sick, especially the thousands who each day are contracting the coronavirus. Prepare a vaccine to save our world from COVID-19. Give food, employment, and housing to the countless who are struggling to live. Lord, hear our prayer.

We remember before you all the saints who have lived and died in the faith. At the end of time, bring us all into your peace. Lord, hear our prayer.

Receive these prayers, and in your gracious mercy grant your strength to our neediness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Sending

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The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The God of all grace ☩ bless you now and forever. Amen.

Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Go in peace.

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