(Image: “Pillar of Love” Eichner-Shaw, Barbara 1990 Sculpture, Edmonton, Canada)
©Order of Worship for Sunday November 03, 2024
Twenty Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
All Saints Sunday
Holy Communion
Native American Heritage Month
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:.….“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God”…….Greg D.
Coming of the Light:……………..
Greetings:……………………………………Pastor Steven
Announcements:………………………………………..Lorri B.
Opening Prayer:…………………………………….Margaret S.
Opening Hymns:….“For All the Saints” #711 UMH
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!
4. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet
all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
5. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song, and
hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
6. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace 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.
Celebration of the Saints:…………………….Pastor Steven
Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship,
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord.
Grant us grace
so to follow your holy saints in all virtuous and godly
living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys,
which you have prepared for those who sincerely love you:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Reading of Names:
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
Giving of our tithes and offerings:
You can do this with no 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: .…“When the Saints Go Marching In”…….Greg D.
Spiritual
Offering Response:
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94
The United Methodist Hymnal
Adapted © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674, adapted by Gilbert Vieira, 1978
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”
Prayer After Receiving:………………………..Pastor Steven
Prayers of the People:………………………….Pastor Steven
Gospel Lesson…………Mark 12:28-34……Margaret S.
Two commandments: love God and neighbor
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself’ –this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.
Hymn of Preparation:…..“Lord I Lift Your Name on High” #2088 in The Faith We Sing
Words and Music by Rick Founds (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Please sing twice
Lord, I lift your name on high;
Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life;
I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth
to show the way,
from the earth to the cross
my debt to pay;
from the cross to the grave,
from the grave to the sky;
Lord, I lift your name on high.
Sermon:………………………………………………Pastor Steven
Service of Holy Communion:…………………Pastor Steven
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
Communion Hymn:….“As We Gather at Your Table” #2268 TFWS
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. Music: Skinner Chávez-Melo
Words © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; music © 1985
1. As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,
help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts
and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story
till we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy
banquet how to make Love’s victory known.
2. Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life;
send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where
there is strife. Give us, Christ, your great compassion to
forgive as you forgave; may we still behold your image
in the world you died to save.
3. Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share
that feast where triumphant Love will welcome those who
had been last and least. There no more will envy blind
us nor will pride our peace destroy, as we join with
saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.
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:…………………………………………………….Greg D.
For Online Giving, follow this link Avent Ferry Give . You can also mail checks to Avent Ferry UMC, 2700 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.
For additional AFUMC Announcements: See your AFUMC Announcements E-mail or Click Announcements Here
Follow us on Instagram @aventferryumc and Twitter #aventferryumc
Sunday November 3rd Worship Service