Join us online live at 11am on Sunday at http://facebook.com/CommaChurch
Please contact the Pastor directly by text or phone with prayer requests. Pastor Nathan will be prudent in offering prayers i.e. “For First name only, in need of healing”; “For First name only, comfort in grief” etc. Please contact the pastor directly with news of those needing extra pastoral care.
The Way for Worship at Trinity United Church of Christ
November 6, 2022 All Saints Sunday 11am
Gathering in Grace
*Gathering Music I Sing a Song of the Saints of God NCH 295
Greeting and Announcements
Centering Music
*Responsive Intent
One: Come, a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us as we gather!
Many: May the lingering echo of saints resound in our songs.
One: May their stories open a space for the Spirit to enter us anew.
Many: In remembering them, may we find ourselves re-membered.
One: May the God of every generation form us anew for this generation.
Many: And may a new joy rise in our lives and in the life of the world!
*Hymn For All the Saints NCH 299
Prayer of Confession
All: Very often, O God, we think all that makes sense, and all that should really matter, is our present and future reality; our needs and our ambitions. And despite all good intentions – years of church going, community service, searching prayer – we return to you confessing, even lamenting our inability to see past our own noses when it really counts. When self-centredness rises like a destructive wave, or when the need to be great or first in line blinds us to another and pushes them to the outer limits of our care and conscience, dear God forgive us again.
(pause for silence)
All: Forgive us, O Holy One. Centered in your welcome, playful in your arms, wrapped in your love may we find a renewed capacity and the hard- fought freedom to be a people of warmth, a people of equality, indeed, a people of sheer goodness and grace. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Pastor: From many differing places we come; contrasting ages, cultures, histories, opinions, and even beliefs.
Yet, we surely belong to one another wrapped in the peace, unity, and love of God.
In that peace, through that world-wide unity, and by that love, we are made whole, healed, and forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen!
Morning Prayer Concerns and Celebrations
Hearing the Sacred Word
A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures Haggai 1:15b-2:9
Anthem All Are Welcome by Marty Haugen #00004
Readings from the Gospels Luke 2:7, 12; 5:36; 23:53
Sermon Wrapped In That Love Rev. Nathan King
Receiving the Gifts of God’s Meal
INVITATION
One: The invitation is simple: come and eat this feast. Not a meal to nourish the body, but to feed the soul.
All: We receive the bread and cup connected to the ages: to the saint of old who felt unworthy,
to the seeker eager to know God, to the teenager who wonders what it’s all about, to the child who eats with unburdened faith.
One: Sewn into this time, the hopes and tears of generations. There is great joy here.
All: No one is turned away for God is the host!
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Pastor: God be with you.
People: and also with you.
Pastor: God is in this place.
People: And in our hearts.
Pastor: Open yourself to the nudging God.
People: We feel the breath of the Spirit.
Pastor: Remember God made flesh.
People: Jesus, who taught us a new way.
Pastor: Tender, transforming God, you have invited us to gather at this table, to taste the feast, the same abundant promises offered to our ancestors in faith.
Time and time again you’ve offered your grace, Even as we have stepped away, You continue to call us to be your people. You have never left us. We praise you for second, third, and fourth chances. You are ever-patient, always faithful.
We give thanks for this time of celebration. For the One this meal remembers. For the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. With those who have gone before us, Whose hands touched the bread, Whose lips embraced the cup,
We worship you. We glorify you.
REMEMBERING THE SAINTS
We remember those who have died in the past year.
We celebrate their lives, even as we continue to grieve.
We remember:
NAME (bell tolls)
NAME (bell tolls)
(After all the names are read:)
And we remember all those who have gone before us.
This is the mystery of our faith:
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ comes again.
PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
God of all, send your Spirit to this place so that those gathered here, in this sacred moment, may know your presence.
As we eat the bread and drink of the cup, make us one with the saints, and with our sisters, siblings and brothers in faith around the world.
Be with us God, not only here but in every moment of our lives.
Help us To know you, To be guided by the Holy Spirit, And to live Christ. Now and forever.
Hear us now as we remember and pray the prayer of our ancestors in faith:
THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR
Our Mother-Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kindom 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 kindom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
BREAKING BREAD AND POURING CUP
The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ and the brokenness of this world.
The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ and the new life Christ gives.
CALL TO THE FEAST
The gifts of God for the people of God. Come for all things are ready.
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP
(For this service, come forward and take a piece of wafer, and an individual cup. Eat and drink and return to your seat by the outer aisles).
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
All Creative, connecting God, you have sent your Spirit
and made us the body of Christ; From child-like faith,
to youthful energy, from middle-aged mindfulness, to elder’s wisdom..
We thank you for this time, this remembrance. Amen.
Giving of Our Gifts to God
Invitation to Offering
Offertory and Bringing of Our Gifts http://www.PayPal.me/CommaChurch
*Praise Response Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above your heavenly hosts
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost
Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Going Forth with Good News
*Chiming of the Trinity (In the name of the Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit)
*Benediction
*Closing Song Deep Within Our Hearts by Amy Liberatore
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from OneLicense with license #A714152
Celebrations in November
9 Ashleigh C.
12 Bob M.
In Need of Prayers
– Family of Freddy Alvarez Rodriquez
– Pat L.
– Helena’s dad
– Ralf T.
– Antonio
– Cindy R.
– Rev. Alan M.
– Revs. Jerry and Marion
– Raleigh NC
– Palestine/Israel
– Ukraine/Russia
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