Bulletin – Sunday, November 17, 2024 – Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, November 17, 2024
Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Prayer of Approach

One:   Times are changing.
All:      In the midst of change, you are, O God, the place of security.

One:   Times are changing.
All:      In the midst of change, you are, O God, the source of courage.

One:   Times are changing.
All:      In the midst of change, you are the One longed for, O God, the root of peace.

One:   Let us come into the peace of God’s presence and be wrapped in the warmth of God’s love.

Lighting the Christ Candle

One:   Be still. Breathe in the light of God’s love and presence. Centre yourself in the peace and joy of Jesus. Christ is our Light.
All:      We share the light and love of Christ.

Hymn – “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (VU #333)

Love divine, all loves excelling, joy to earth come down,
Fix in us they humble dwelling, all they faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with the salvation, enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver; let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see they great salvation perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory, tell in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Opening Prayer

One:   Jesus the Christ, a living stone, rejected by mortals as worthless but previous in God’s sight.
All:      We are like living stones being used to build spiritual temples within, with Christ as our cornerstone.

One:   Once we were no people but now, we are God’s people.
All:      We witness to God’s creation that calls us out of our darkness into his marvelous light.

One:   Let us be priests of good news and serve each other with Christ in our hearts and as our example. Let it be so.

Prayer of Reflection

One:   Stand firm! Be ready for subtle tests and temptations.
All:      We will ‘look before we leap’ and think carefully before we speak.

One:   Prepare thoroughly! Plan carefully for faithful ventures.
All:      We will take the preparation time we need, before committing ourselves to the tasks of Christ.

One:   Be on guard! Respond promptly to the call to stand with the vulnerable and powerless.
All:      We will not turn down the call to compassionate action, just because it interferes with our personal plans.

One:   Dedicate yourselves to the Way of Christ! Heart, mind, and spirit need to be engaged, if the Way is to be followed faithfully.
All:      If our faith in God is sure, if our spirits are prayerfully alive, then nothing will overcome us.

One:   Then let us pray as disciples of Christ…
All:      Our Father / Mother, 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 – “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” (VU #509)

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to hem? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain,
I have wept for love of them; they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer of Illumination

One:   Holy God, may all that we share here lead us to a deeper understanding and a closer journey with you. As we read the stories of our faith tradition, may they come alive for us and help us encounter you and your truth. In the name of Jesus the Christ.

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 6:1-14

¹ In the four hundred eightieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. ² The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. ³ The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits wide, across the width of the house. Its depth was ten cubits in front of the house. ⁴ For the house he made windows with recessed frames. ⁵ He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary, and he made side chambers all around. ⁶ The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle one was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide, for around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.

⁷ The house was built with stone finished at the quarry so that neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron was heard in the temple while it was being built.

⁸ The entrance for the lower story was on the south side of the house: one went up by winding stairs to the middle story and from the middle story to the third. ⁹ So he built the house and finished it; he roofed the house with beams and planks of cedar. ¹⁰ He built the structure against the whole house, each story five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar.

¹¹ Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, ¹² “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you that I made to your father David. ¹³ I will dwell among the Israelites and will not forsake my people Israel.”

¹⁴ So Solomon built the house and finished it.

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!

Anthem – “Love Over Hate”

Love over hate, our sacred song.
Sing in our hearts, our voices strong.
All of the earth, each race, faith, each one belongs.

You of my heart, You of my soul,
You are the Love that makes us whole.
You of my heart, You of my soul,
You are the Love that makes us whole.

Love over fear, our common dream.
Justice that flows, a mighty stream.
Kindness and mercy calling, for one and for all.

You of my heart, You of my soul,
You are the Love that makes us whole.
You of my heart, You of my soul,
You are the Love that makes us whole.

Love over lies, our promise true.
Healing and hope held high anew.
Strengthen our lives with courage to journey through.

Reflection – “Foundation Stones”

Hymn – “Come to My Heart” (VU #661)

Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; teach me your way.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; come to my heart today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; fill me with love today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus, give me a song to sing.

Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; answer my prayer today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

The world has many needs. They will not be met unless we all commit to a different way, God’s way. Each of us has gifts to bring about God’s vision for our world. For some it is the offer of time; for others it is the offer of a particular skill or craft or talent; for others it is a financial offering. So let them all now be gathered and offered to God.

Offering Response – “Doxology” (VU #541)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures high and low;
Give thanks to God in love made know;
Creator, Word, and Spirit, One. Amen.

Offering Prayer

Living, loving God, who models what love looks like, may you bless all that we give for your purposes in this world. In your blessing, may we become the models of what your love looks like…self-giving and self-sacrificing as we share with friends, neighbours, strangers and especially with those we name as enemies. Let it be so.

Prayers for the People

One:   God who dwells among us.
All:      God who dwells within us.

One:   God who calls us to dwell together, in trust let us pray to the One who even now is giving birth to new future. Holy God,
All:      Hear our prayers.

One:   Let us pray for the world God loves, especially where there is conflict, poverty, or hunger. Holy God,
All:      Hear our prayers.

One:   Let us pray for all who suffer in mind or body, for those who are in prison, for those who live without hope, for those who mourn and for those who wait. Holy God, today we bring before you the names and concerns of members of this community of faith…Marlene, Rob, Heather, Barb, Angela, Joe, Nick, Brenda, Laila, Bert, Paul, Sylvia, Grace, Cam, Greg, Richard, Muriel, Katie, Shane.
All:      Hear our prayers.

One:   Let us pray for the transformation of our human ways – for systems and bureaucracies that control gender relations, race relations, social divisions, and all stereotypes of age and ability. Holy God,
All:      Hear our prayers.

One:   Let us pray for ourselves and the child within each one, that we might gain the ability to let go of the old and the courage to take on the new. Holy God,
All:      Hear our prayers.

One:   O Holy God, you gift many with your healing touch who are committed to you. Fill them with the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Grant them wisdom, patience and hope when they falter Give them joy and keep them faithful to their covenant with you. In Christ’s name we pray.
All:      Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “The Church’s One Foundation” (VU #332)

The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation by water and the word;
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation one Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

‘Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace for evermore,
Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union with God the three in one,
And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

Benediction

One:   You have a calling, something written deep inside your soul. You have a purpose, a reason you are here, in this exact moment of history. You have a mission, something to live into. Go now, carrying the light of Christ as your guide and bless the world with the uniqueness that is you. Go now in Peace.

Response – “Amen, Amen, Amen” (VU #967)

Amen, Amen, Amen.