October 31 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Flowers from Jim, Joey, and Marcy

Jubilante Ringers warming up

Signing up for the devotional

 

Reformation painting by Pastor Charles

Fellowship treats to go

Today’s Meditation Verse “I will praise the Lord with all my life; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.” —Psalm 146:2 

Welcome...Pastor Charles 

Prelude…Christopher Wahl 

*Call to Worship...Amy Abshire 

We have come to affirm our historic faith, To worship the God of our mothers and fathers. We have come to remember God’s benefits to us the living, To respond in thanksgiving to the mighty works of God in our lives. We have come to affirm our trust in the God of all futures, To whose name be blessing and honor, glory, and power forever and ever. Amen. 

—Bread for the Journey, Ruth Duck, Pilgrim Press, 1981, p.56. 

*Hymn…“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (UMH #117) 

A Prayer for All Hallows Eve...Amy Abshire 

Lord, tonight, we will face all that most concerns us: our fears, the shadowed places of the mind; the coming of winter darkness; the cold thin place between waking and sleep. We call to mind the powerless, the lonely, those who most fear the knock at the door; all those deceived by the world’s empty promises; all those cowed by menaces or threats. We stand with those weak in body, mind, or spirit and those seduced by treats or hurt by tricks. Lord, Your light shines into every darkness. You told us: "pray 'deliver us from evil.'" Your Spirit gives us hope, gives us courage, a candle in the window unhurt by the wind. Amen.   

—Church of England 

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #95) 

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations 

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles 

Prayer of Intercession for Reformation Day...Pastor Charles 

Confident in the gracious and ever-widening mercy of God, let us pray for the world, the body of Christ, and all who yearn for wholeness of life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Liberate us from our bondage to sin, God of freedom, that Your church would continually be reshaped and reformed by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Show Your righteousness, God of justice, that all who are oppressed and marginalized, forgotten, and cast aside would be given voice by elected leaders and compassionate citizens. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Make wars to cease in all the world, God of peace, that all strife, violence, and bloodshed give way to reconciliation, compassion, and new life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Take us by our hand, God of companionship, when we are paralyzed by our fears and unable to step out in boldness. Give us courage to walk confidently with You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Give your stillness, God of calm, to all who are facing illness, surgery, or any uncertainty of health (especially). May they know that their times are in Your ever-healing hands. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Write Your law of love on our hearts, God of all, that we, like our forebears in faith, would be unswerving in our witness to Your grace that is ours through the gift of faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Listen to us when we call upon You, most merciful God, and grant us grace to entrust our lives and our world to Your unfailing love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  

—from St. James Lutheran Church - Bettendorf, Iowa 

The Lord’s Prayer 

Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:28-34...Amy Abshire 

Special Music…Jubilante Ringers / “The Strife is O’er,” arr. by Arnold B Sherman 

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews (first verse in each chapter)...Pastor Charles 

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. 

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “The first thing"

*Hymn…“Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know” (UMH #163) 

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles 

*Postlude...Christopher Wahl