ORDER of WORSHIP
20th Sunday After Pentecost
October 18, 2020
Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24
Greeting and Welcome
Prelude Music
Call to Worship
Leader: This is the day the Lord has made!
All: We will rejoice, and be glad in it!
Leader: The Lord is our strength and our song; he has become our victory!
All: You are our God, and we will praise you; you are our God, and we will exalt you.
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
All: His faithful loves endures forever!
Opening Prayer
All: This is the day that you have made, O Lord, and we have gathered to rejoice and be glad in it. During this sacred hour, transform our gathering to your glory, and perfect our worship for your praise. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Opening Hymns of Praise
“This Is the Day” UMH #657 Words: Psalm 118:24; adapt. by Les Garrett, 1967. Music: Les Garrett, 1967. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved. Used with permission under CCLI License #11306163.
Sing twice
This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made.
Let us rejoice, let us rejoice,
and be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This day that the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it,
This is the day, this is the day
that the Lord hath made.
“Give Thanks” TFWS #2036 Words and Music: Henry Smith, © 1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved. Used with permission under CCLI License #11306163.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he’s given
Jesus Christ his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he’s given
Jesus Christ his Son.
And now let the weak say,
“I am strong”;
let the poor say, “I am rich
because of what the Lord
has done for us.”
And now let the weak say,
“I am strong”;
let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord
has done for us.”
Give thanks.
A Prayer of Confession
All: God, we confess that we do not have you all figured out, but we act as if we do. We do not wait with patience for your words of wisdom and direction. We raise your banner high but do our own will. Have mercy on us who love you but have not been able to separate our desire for power, our desire to make the rules, our desire to speak for you, from your calling on our lives. Help us, O God, remember that we are mere sinners, seeking your grace.
Pastor: Loved ones, give thanks to the Lord! Because of his faithfulness his love endures forever. Praise be to God who never gives up on us! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Scripture Reading Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (NRSV)
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!
Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “The Path to Joy” Rev. Matthew B. Sergent
Prayers of the People
Stewardship Moment “The Courageous Gift”
Doxology “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #94 UMH Words: Thomas Ken 1674, adapt. by Gilbert H. Vieira, 1978. Music: Geistlichee Kirchengesange, 1623; harm. by Ralph Vaughn Williams, 1906. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved. Used with permission under CCLI License #11306163.
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, Holly Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hymn “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” UMH #664 Text: Omer Westendorf, 1964.
Music: Welsh folk tune; harm. by Leland Sateren, 1972. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved. Used with permission under CCLI License #11306163.
- Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The service is ended, O now be extended
the fruits of our worship in all who believe.
The seed of the teaching, receptive souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us
to work for God’s kingdom and answer the call.
- With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living,
the tasks of our everyday life we will face.
Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.
With your grace you feed us with your light now lead us;
unite us as one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
give honor to Christ and that name which we bear.
Benediction
Psalm 118 reminds us “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Now, with praise and thanksgiving, go forth with great joy to love and serve the Lord. Amen.
Postlude
