(Image: “The Communion of the Saints, For All Saints”. Ira Thomas/
www.catholicworldart.com)
©Order of Worship for Sunday November 5, 2023
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
All Saints Sunday
Holy Communion
For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)
The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am
Prelude/Call to Worship: “For All the Saints”…….Greg/Choir
Words: William W. How, 1864, Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Coming of the Light:…………………………………………
Greetings:……………………………………………Pastor Steven
Opening Prayer:……………..……….……………Kelly G.
We bless your holy name, O God,
for all your servants who, having finished their course,
now rest from their labors.
Give us grace to follow the example
of their steadfastness and faithfulness,
to your honor and glory;
through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Opening Hymns:..“For All the Saints” (verses 1-3) UMH #711
Words: William W. How, 1864, Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest, who
thee by faith before the world confessed, thy
name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, and
win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” #712 UMH
Words:Lesbia Scott, 1929 Music: John H. Hopkins, Jr, 1940
1. I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green;
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.
2. They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and his love made them strong;
and they followed the right for Jesus’ sake
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast;
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.
3. They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, on the street,
in the store, in church, by the sea, in the house next door;
they are saints of God, whether rich or poor,
and I mean to be one too.
Celebration of the Saints:…………………….Pastor Steven
Psalter:…………….Psalm 34:1-10, 22………….Kelly G.
Response: O Magnify the Lord with me;
with me exalt God’s Name!
I will bless the Lord at all times; God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
The poor cried out, and the Lord heard, and saved them
out of all their troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy are those who take refuge in God!
O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.
The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in God will be condemned.
Response: O Magnify the Lord with me;
with me exalt God’s Name!
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us show signs of reconciliation and love to one another
Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Announcements:……………………………………………….Lorri B.
Giving of our tithes and offerings:…….
You can do this with no ok fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
Offertory: ………..“We Fall Down”…..……….Melanie B.
Words and Music: Chris Tomlin © 1998 worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP)
Offertory Response: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #95 UMH
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer After Receiving:…………………………Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People:…………………………..Pastor Steven
Gospel Lesson:…………..Matthew 23:1-12……….Kelly G.
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.
They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father–the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Sermon:…..“Do As I Say, Not As I Do”………..Pastor Steven
Holy Communion:………………………………..Pastor Steven, (see order of service below)
Communion Hymn:“For the Bread Which You Have Broken” #614 UMH
Words: Louis F. Benson, 1924 Music: V. Earle Copes, 1960
1. For the bread which you have broken, for the
wine which you have poured, for the words which you
have spoken, now we give you thanks, O Lord.
2. By this pledge that you do love us, by your gift of peace restored, by your call to heaven above
us, hallow all our lives, O Lord.
3. With our sainted ones in glory seated at the
heavenly board, may the church that’s waiting
for you keep love’s tie unbroken, Lord.
4. In your service, Lord, defend us, in our hearts
keep watch and ward; in the world where you have
sent us, let your kingdom come, O Lord.
Closing Hymn: “Rejoice in God’s Saints” #708 UMH
Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1977 Music: Attr. to William Croft, 1708
1. Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days;
a world without saints forgets how to praise.
Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer,
their depth of adoring, Lord, help us to share.
2. Some march with events to turn them God’s way;
some need to withdraw, the better to pray.
Some carry the gospel through fire and through flood;
our world is their parish; their purpose is God.
3. Rejoice in those saints, unpraised and unknown,
who bear someone’s cross or shoulder their own.
They shame our complaining, our comforts, our cares;
what patience in caring, what courage, is theirs!
4. Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days,
a world without saints forgets how to praise.
In loving, in living, they prove it is true:
the way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you.
Dismissal with Blessing: ……..…………..Pastor Steven
Postlude:………..“Soon and Very Soon”…………..Greg D.
Words and Music: Andraé Crouch 1978, adapt. by William Farley, Smith, 1987 © 1978
CONFESSION & PARDON
Pastor Steven: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
All pray in silence.
Pastor Steven: Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
All: Glory to God. Amen.
THE PEACE
Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.
All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace by crossing hands, wave to one another due to social distancing guidelines.
Pastor Steven: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Pastor Steven: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor Steven: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor Steven: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor Steven: In union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pastor Steven: All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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Sunday November 5th Worship Service In Person and Online