Bulletin – Sunday, November 15, 2020
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Approach
Lighting the Christ Candle
As we light this candle we are reminded that we are never without the presence of God in our lives, through the eternal, abiding presence of Love Incarnate, Jesus. May the gentle glow from this candle remind us Christ’s gentleness, Christ who shared love with all he met, Christ who challenged his followers to go out in the world. May the light of this candle remind us of all that we have been given, and all that we have been called to become as followers of our ever-present God.
Call to Worship
We come together for this time of worship, but there in the back of our minds is that question: “What have you done with the gifts God has given you?”
Today we have brought our gifts to God’s house.
Let us praise God for the gifts and for opportunities for service that they represent.
We praise God for all the ways in which our lives have been blessed.
As we gather in this place, Generous God, accept our gifts and our lives this day.
Loving god, accept our praise and gratitude, accept our worship this day and every day. Amen.
Hymn – “Eternal, Unchanging, We Sing”
Eternal, Unchanging, we sing to your praise:
Your mercies are endless, and righteous your ways;
Your servants proclaim the renown of your name
Who rules over all and is ever the same.
Again we rejoice in the world you have made,
Your mighty creation in beauty arrayed,
We thank you for life, and we praise you for joy,
For love and for hope that no power can destroy.
We praise you for Jesus, our Master and Lord,
The might of his Spirit, the truth of his word,
His comfort in sorrow, his patience in pain,
The faith sure and steadfast that Jesus shall reign.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Loving God as we come together this morning we know that there is a richness here—a richness that greets and grows and holds and challenges and keeps. In your love and grace, there is a richness here—a richness that surrounds and brings and delivers and gives. The richness holds us in our weakness, fills us in our hunger, finds us when we’re lost. So here, richly blessed, we have come, and we have been found.
We know that there is a richness here—a gorgeous, flowing richness of unending abundance. But that doesn’t mean that it guides us. Our ways—within and beyond our control—speak of something different: of lack, of fear, of something other than an acknowledgement of your endless and beautiful river of grace.
But how do we step into that river? Do we step into it with trust? Do we trust the current of your gifts, Generous God? Or do we run from the river? For when we run, when we turn away from your gifts in distrust and we lose the refreshment and joy of that richness…and something else reigns. Then, what’s left? Now is the time—now is the time to consider just how we distrust your abundance.
Now is the time—now is the time to begin something new. Now is the time—now is the time to trust…differently.
Words of Assurance
Time for All Ages
Hymn – “Take My Gifts”
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
Gave me light and food and shelter,
Gave me life and set me free,
Now because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away,
Now the bread of love is rising,
Loaves of love to multiply!
Take whatever I can offer –
Gifts that I have yet to find,
Skills that I am slow to sharpen,
Talents of the hand and mind,
Things made beautiful for others
In the place where I must be:
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me.
The Word
Scripture Reading:
Judges 4:1-7
1The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. 2So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. 3Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.
4At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. 5She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. 6She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. 7I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’”
Matthew 25:14-30
14“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God
Meditation – “The Gifts of God”
The Response
Anthem – “God Loves a Cheerful Giver”
Prayers of the People
Let us pray.
Loving God – we give you thanks for all your fits – for daily food – for health – for each breath we take – for freedom to choose – and for the gifts of your word, your power, and your love. We give thanks for your presence in our lives and the lives of those whom we hold dear, we lift up to you this morning those in this community for whom we care and we pray that they feel your presence with them this day and every day…
Our hearts are truly overwhelmed, O God, when we consider all that you are and how you have entrusted so much to us. May we be worthy of that trust – may we be a people who are unafraid to live as fully and as richly as you want us to live…Lord hear our prayer…
And in your love answer.
Help us O God, as followers of Jesus, to multiply all that you have given us, to risk spreading your word and perhaps see it misunderstood, to gamble by loving those whom others think worthy only of hate, to take chances by doing good to those who have not done good to us. Help us be faith-filled and to desire to increase your glory and your goodness in this world. Mark us ones who share in both word and deed that which you have given to us. Lord hear our prayer…
And in your love answer.
We pray, O God, for the church here today – that it may encourage all its members to discover, develop, and use all their gifts, those of nature and those of grace…Lord hear our prayer.
And in your love answer.
We pray for those who are poor in body or in spirit…for those who are oppressed and heavy laden…for those who are sick or in despair…minister O God by your Spirit, and by us, to all those for whom we have prayed – and help us to pray together as one family 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 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’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna sing so Good can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
Benediction
Happy are they who know where the real treasure is to be found. Happy are they who take from the treasure and share it.
Friends and followers of God, prepare to leave this church with spirits lighter than when you came in; trusting that our loving God takes an intimate interest in the costly investment God has made in your life. Invest in others as God’s love has invested in you; rejoicing in the fellowship of his Spirit.
The blessing of the eternal God is upon you: redeeming grace, enfolding love, enduring fellowship. Now and forever. Amen!
Response
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!
