The Celebration of the Gospel
November 18, 2018 — 26th Sunday after Pentecost
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances
— 1 Thessalonians 5.15-17
_______We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE … Andantino In G ― Henry Smart
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God of Creation, thank you for this wonderful universe, for all of Creation, for food and beauty and the gift of life!
All: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jesus, thank you for your love, your healing and your teaching, saving us from the power of our mistrust, saving us from evil, saving us from death itself!
All: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Holy Spirit, thank you for breathing in us, for living in us and through us, for giving us the gifts of your grace and power, the gift to live with love and joy.
All: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
We worship you in joy and gratitude. Alleluia!
* SONG Now Thank We All Our God Blue hymnal # 102
__________We Attend to the Word__________
THE WORD IN SONG
8:15: Come ye Thankful People, Come — arr. by Lloyd Larson (Ringtones)
10:30:My Lord, What A Mornin’ — Spiritual, arr: H. T. Burleigh
PRAYER
God of grace, we have so much to be thankful for. You create us; you set us free; you lead us always into new life. As our thanks we give ourselves to you. We give our hearts to you in grateful adoration, in attention to your Word, ready to receive your grace and become the new people you create us to be. Speak to us, God, for we open to you our grateful hearts. Amen.
(10:30) OLD TESTAMENT Deuteronomy 8.11-18
[ The Israelites who have escaped from Egypt are reminded: as you experience a comfortable life, don’t forget that this all comes from God. Remember to be humble, grateful and generous, so that you may live in true serenity and joy.]
Take care that you do not forget the Holy One your God, by failing to keep God’s commandments, ordinances, his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Holy One your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. God made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.” But remember the Holy One your God, for it is God who gives you power to get wealth, so that God may confirm the covenant that God swore to your ancestors, as God is doing today.
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(10:30 )* PSALTER Psalm 126
[The psalm cries out for God’s blessing (“Restore our fortunes!”) with confidence, based on God’s past abundant grace (“God has done great things for us!”).]
When the Holy the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The Holy One has done great things for them.
God has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced
Restore our fortunes,O God,
like the watercourses in the Negeb
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
NEW TESTAMENT 2 Corinthians 9.6-15
[Paul promises that the more we give, the more God provides to us to give. God provides so that we can give generously—not as a duty, but as a free act of joy, trust and compassion. Our giving not only helps those who benefit; it is also our gift to God.]
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “God scatters abroad, God gives to the poor; God’s righteousness endures forever.” The One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with others. Meanwhile your spiritual kin long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace that God has given you. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!
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GOSPEL Matthew 6.25-33
[Jesus invites us to pay attention to what we have rather than focus on what we don’t have. God provides. Live in this moment. Life is this, not something else. Be grateful.]
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air;
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Life-Giver feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?
And can any of you by worrying
add a single hour to your span of life?
And why do you worry about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you,
even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field,
which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,
will God not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’
or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things;
and indeed your heavenly Life-Giver knows that you need all these things.
But strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
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SERMON Practice gratitude
SONG Seek Ye First Blue hymnal # 405
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God, Creator of all things, giver of life, fountain of grace, The Generous One, from whom the whole world flows in abundant self-giving, who cares for the poor and gives to the needy.
We follow Jesus, God’s Word made flesh, who loved and taught and healed, who gave generously of himself, even his life, so that we might have life and have it abundantly. He was crucified and rose again, and lives among us with grace and power.
We live by the Holy Spirit, the spirit of love and generosity, the spirit of trust in God, the spirit of compassion for the world. By the grace of that spirit we live as the Body of Christ, the Church, trusting in the power of resurrection, the blessing of the communion of the saints and the mystery of eternal life. We devote ourselves to lives of love, generosity, justice and service, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
SONG In The Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful Black hymnal #2195
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
CELEBRATING OUR GIFTS Gabe Jenkins
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Philippians 4.4-9
Rejoice in God always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Promised One is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
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8:15: Let Us Talents And Tongues Employ — Jamaican Folk Tune, arr: John Carter
10:30: Thankful — arr by Sandra Eithun. (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
* OFFERING SONG My Gratitude Now Accept, O God Black hymnal #2044
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. You have given us abundant gifts, and you continue to pour out blessing upon us. Send us into the world with joy and gratitude to serve gladly and thankfully in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Sent Forth by God’s Blessing Blue hymnal #664
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Max Reger
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.
Following worship please join us for fellowship and refreshments:
yogurt at 8:15 and ice cream at 10:30! What’s not to like?]