ORDER OF WORSHIP - NOVEMBER 23, 2025

Union Church
2 days ago
4 min read

ORDER OF WORSHIP

NOVEMBER 23RD, 2025 10:30 AM

TWENTY FOUR

TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

**Kindly stand if you are able

PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR PHONE before Worship Service unless NECESSARY for medical reasons.

PRELUDE John Coates

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Jeremiah 23)

LEADER: Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.

PEOPLE: I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.

LEADER: Then you will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where you have driven them, and you will bring them back to their fold

PEOPLE: You will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer

LEADER: I will raise up for David a righteous Branch. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.

PEOPLE: And this is the name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness.

INVOCATION

Lord, in this season of thanksgiving, we thank you for your presence here as we worship together. Amen.

**OPENING HYMN “Come, Thou Almighty King” Red #5

CALL TO CONFESSION

Even as we gather in the days ahead to offer thanks, we also know that we must confess our sins to you, O, Lord.

PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

Dear Lord, we thank you for the feast of Thanksgiving that we will soon celebrate as we ask your forgiveness for all of our sins. We ask for your help and encouragement to share what we have with those in need. Help us to overcome the fears and comforts that keep us from doing all we can. Bless us and help us open our hearts to all of God’s family.

(A moment for silent personal confession)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Two things are true, we are not worthy of God’s boundless love and we are assured of it all the same. We give thanks for the gifts of life and salvation offered to you all.

**GLORIA PATRI Avery & Marsh (Back of the Red hymnal)

**PASSING OF THE PEACE

**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Apostles’ Creed)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

**HYMN OF PRAISE “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken” Red #694

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Bless these words, Dear Lord, so that they may enter into our hearts and minds for the

revelation of your spirit.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

NEW TESTAMENT Colossians 1:11-20 Robert Ferguson

GOSPEL Luke 1:68-79

SERMON MESSAGE Preparing the Way James Phillips

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, THE CHURCH AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying:

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth. May our gifts be a blessing to those who receive them. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

CHORAL ANTHEM/ OFFERTORY “Blessed Assurance”

**DOXOLOGY Avery & Marsh (Back of the Red hymnal)

PRAYER OF THANKS

We thank you, our Lord for those gifts to us that we send to you for your work and ours

in congregation, community, and culture. Guide us in good use as we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

HYMN OF PARTING “It is Well with My Soul” Red #519

BENEDICTION

Wa-ni-shi “May the way be beautiful for you.”

-traditional Lenape blessing

POSTLUDE “Jesus Is All the World to Me” Red # 491

Blessings!

James Phillips