The Celebration of the Gospel
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
November 16, 2014
8:15 & 10:30 am
What light God has invested in you,
that you may shine in this darkness.
_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE Praise To The Lord, The Almighty Johann Walther
[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: Joy of heaven, you shower us with gifts!
All: Fountain of life, you bless us.
Spirit of abundance, you flower in us.
God of grace, we thank you. We worship you.
We give our lives to you in gratitude and praise. Alleluia!
* SONG What Gift Can We Bring Blue hymnal # 87
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
____________ We Attend to the Word__________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Joy in the Morning Natalie Sleeth
NEW TESTAMENT 1 Thessalonians 5.12-24
[A reminder to support one another, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.]
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 sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and will do this.
GOSPEL Matthew 25.14-30
[Jesus tells of a man who puts three servants in charge of all he owns, in measures of one, three and five talents. (A talent is equal to 15 year’s wages!) Two servants invest the man’s life work, but one does not. Those who invest the master’s resources are rewarded.]
A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then 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.” His 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.” And 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.” His 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.”
Then 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; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But 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? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For 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. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
SERMON
SONG Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service Blue hymnal # 581
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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.
PASSING THE PEACE
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
OUR PRAYERS, PRESENCE, GIFTS, SERVICE AND WITNESS
* PRAYER Blue hymnal # 570
* OFFERING SONG Here I am, Lord Blue hymnal # 593
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross Wm. H. Doane, arr: Mark Hayes
* 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 The Trumpet Of Faith Edward Broughton
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]