Bulletin – Sunday, November 14, 2021
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Approach
Lighting the Candle
In the shadow of life, Jesus proclaims himself our guiding light. No matter where we are or what circumstances we find ourselves in, Jesus is with us. We light this candle to remind us of the Light that never goes out.
(written by Susan Tyndall, Gathering, Pentecost 2 2021, page 30, used with permission)
Call to Worship
One: We gather together to worship,
All: knowing that God is already here among us; knowing that there is nothing that separates us from the presence of God.
One: Wherever we are, wherever we go,
All: God is near.
One: So let us enter into this service of worship with confidence and hope,
All: knowing that God is already with us, and that God stands eager to meet us and bless us with love.
One: Let us worship this day.
All: Offering our praise and thanksgiving to the ever-present God.
Hymn – “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Great is they faithfulness, God our Creator;
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!
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 this time of worship, and in the midst of our everyday lives, reminding us who we are and whose we are.
As we gather this day as God’s people—we gather in our strength, but also in our weakness. We acknowledge that in the journey of faith, there are moments we stumble, moments we do not live for God, but only for ourselves. Let us turn to God, seeking the strength to be God’s faithful people once more. We offer this pray in the name of one who came to show us the way. Love Incarnate, Jesus. Amen.
(adapted from George Allan and Francis Flook, Gathering, Pentecost 2019, used with permission)
Words of Assurance
Time for All Ages
Hymn – “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
And I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light of Jesus’ face.
Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain;
And of the cross where my Saviour for me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
The Word
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25
11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” 13 and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,”
17 he also adds, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Scripture Reading: Mark 13:1-8
1 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “What Do We Hold Tightly To?”
Anthem – “Ancient Words”
The Response
Prayers of the People
One: Though the world has been gripped by trouble since early days, and life has often been challenging and confusing, you have given us a vision of a day beyond these days: a day when the heavens and earth will be new again, a time when all creation will live in peace and people will long enjoy the fruits of their labours. Help us to hold to that vision when the temples about us are falling, and our world is shaken. Strengthen us for the telling of your truth and for keeping to your path, that we might not weary in doing what is right, even as you desire for us to do. We offer our prayers to you.
All: Lord, hear our prayer…
One: As we pray for a new heaven and a new earth this day, we especially are aware of those among us and those beyond these doors who are in deep need of your peace, of your healing touch, as we lift up in pray those from this community…We continue to work for, to long for, your just and gracious kingdom of love and wholeness. We pray for those who dwell in places of strife, need, and want…We offer our prayers to you.
All: Lord, hear our prayer…
One: We pray for those who have been bereaved in the past, those who are missing loved ones…We offer our prayers to you.
All: Lord, hear our prayer…
One: We pray for those who are unemployed and those who fear layoff or termination and all those struggling with a burden in the workplace and the marketplace…We offer our prayers to you.
All: Lord, hear our prayer…
One: And finally, we pray for today for those of our brothers and sisters who face persecution because of their faith. For those who are deprived of their basic human rights, and those who are deprived of their lives because of their desire to worship and serve you…We offer our prayers to you.
All: Lord, hear our prayer…
One: Let us give thanks to the one to whom we pray, the one who brings both the snow and the sun; the one who heals this troubled world; the sick; and those who turn to Him in faith; the one who grants new life not only to us, but to the creation itself…We offer our prayers to you.
All: Lord, hear our prayer…
One: Gracious God, we pray to you in the name of the one who come to show us the way. We pray to you as one family, even as he taught us, saying.
All: 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 and ever. Amen.
Hymn – “Walk With Me”
Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.
When Moses heard the call of God he said, “Lord, don’t send me.”
But God told Moses, “You’re the one to set my people free.”
Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.
Young Mary Magdalene was sure her life could be much more,
And by her faith she dared to let God’s love unlock the door.
Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.
And when you share your faith with me and work for life made new,
The witness of your faithfulness calls me to walk with you.
Walk with me, I will walk with you
And build the land that God has planned where love shines through.
Benediction
As you go from here, remember: God is always with you. No matter what you face, no matter what trials or hardships come your way, God is right beside you, guiding and directing your path. So do not live in fear, but in joy, celebrating God’s presence and singing God’s praise. Amen.
Response – “Lead Me, Lord”
Lead me, Lord, I will follow.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
