ORDER OF WORSHIP
NOVEMBER 3, 2024
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Communion Sunday
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 146)
Leader: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
PEOPLE: I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Leader: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
PEOPLE: When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
Leader: Happy are those whose hope is in the God of Jacob who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.
PEOPLE: The Lord who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
Leader: the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
PEOPLE: The LORD will reign forever, for all generations. Praise the LORD!
INVOCATION
O God, we gaze at creation and behold goodness; we hear your words and discover righteousness. Your love is boundless and your care without limits. We enter this sanctuary to give you honor and glad adoration. Please receive our worship and humble thanksgiving. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds“ Red # 708
CALL TO CONFESSION
Often our feeble attempts to follow in faith will show our shortcomings, but we know a merciful God who always forgives us. And we ask again and again for a greater understanding of our Lord’s mysterious ways and for guidance along them. Let us join together.
PRAYER OF UNDERSTANDING
Dearest Lord, in these dark times we often stumble in the darkness, seeking the light of your comfort. But the light is always there before us, even as we look up to its inspiring flame. Grant us the peace to know our shortcomings even as you forgive them. And may we continue to look to the light of understanding in your perfect love in these dark days even as we hope for brighter days to come. Amen
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Seekers of wisdom, know that our Lord loves all of us as children, all related in one family. And as always, our Lord understands us and forgives us. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -- APOSTLES CREED (As adapted by John Redman)
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was born of a young peasant woman, trained as a carpenter, and baptized by His cousin John. He taught many, He healed many, and He angered many. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He defeated death and He offers us grace and love in the name of God the Father Almighty; from that time through all time to come. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit; the universal Church of Christ; the Communion of sharing our gifts with others; the forgiveness of our sins; the Grace of God’s love, and that each soul may have life everlasting. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “In Christ There is No East or West” Red # 697
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Since we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth, make us hunger for this heavenly food, that it may nourish us today in the ways of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Libby Szymanowicz
EPISTLE READING: Hebrews 9:11-14
GOSPEL READING: Mark 12:28-34
SERMON MESSAGE: Can You Keep It? John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & LORDS 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 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.
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMN “We Come as Guests Invited” Red # 784
HOLY COMMUNION
- Invitation to the Table
- Prayer of Thanksgiving
- Words of Institution
- Prayer after Communion
TITHES And OFFERINGS:
It is right to share our abundance with those who have less or need more. May what we offer here help to be the answer of the prayers of others in the name of Jesus, Amen.
OFFERTORY “I’ll Praise My Maker”
**DOXOLOGY Traditional
** PRAYER OF THANKS
Gracious God, accept our gifts that they may be used wisely in your service for those who hunger, or thirst, or merely seek a greater understanding of your love. This we gratefully pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
HYMN OF PARTING “Now Thank We All Our God” Red # 374
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954
Comments