Bulletin – Sunday, November 17, 2019

Sunday, November 17, 2019
Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Approach

Gathering Song VU #324 – “Jesus, Come to Our Hearts”

Welcome, lighting the candle and announcements

Call to Worship

One: You are making all things new.

All: A new heaven, a new earth, a new way of thinking, a new way of being.

One: You are making all things new.

All: No more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain.

One: You are making all things new.

All: Renew our minds, to renew the world by living out your commandment of love.

One: You are making all things new.

All: Let us be renewed and made new in worship.

Opening Hymn VU #292 – “Creating God, We Give You Thanks”

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of Creation, Ever-Creating God, you are always at work in us, changing us, reshaping us and our faith, opening our hearts and minds to many ways of knowing you. Act upon us, we pray, in the midst of our everyday lives reminding us of who we are and whose we are.

O God, still creating, we hear your promises of a new day of joy and peace, and we are skeptical. We expect things to go on the same as they always have, from bad to worse. The past will keep us guilty, the future will make us afraid, and the present will burden us with too little time and too much to do.

Forgive our lack of faith, our quickness to believe that you do not hear us, and our pessimism about tomorrow. Do a new thing in our hearts and let us be glad and rejoice in your abundant care; through Christ we pray. Amen.
(adapted from George Allan and Don Cheatham)

Words of Assurance

Passing the Peace

Time for All Ages

Hymn VU #678 – “For the Healing of the Nations”

The Word

Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 65:17-25
Luke 21:5-19

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “God in Opposition!”

The Response

Offering / Response: “In Gratitude and Humble Trust” (VU #544)

In gratitude and humble trust we bring our best today
To serve your cause and share your love with all along life’s way.
O God, who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ, your Son,
Teach us to give ourselves each day until life’s work is done.

Offering Prayer

Ever-present God, with this offering, we present also ourselves: all that we have been, all that we are, and all that we shall become, and our resolve to walk in your way. Accept us and our offering, we pray for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Prayers of the People

One: We pray with all our hearts.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Closing Hymn VU #697 – “O, For a World”

Commissioning / Benediction Response

With a vision of hope, we move along.
Empowered by faith we carry on.
Reaching out far and wide, moving forward, reaching high.
Filled with hope, filled with dreams, we journey on.