Crandall United Methodist Church

Special Music: “Beulah Land” Charles

 

Centering Words:

 

God’s judgment comes in unexpected times and ways. Christ’s mercy shows up through surprising people. When you are fed up and cry out for grace, keep awake, lest you fail to recognize it when it come.

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:    We lift up our eyes to you, O God,

People:   longing for a glimpse of your grace.

Leader:    We watch for you and wait,

People:   trying to keep awake and aware,

Leader:    trying not to fall asleep,

People:   trying not to miss your presence,

Leader:    trying not to miss our very lives.

People:   Today, we come to you awake-

Leader:    clothed in faith, decked out in love,

People:   wearing hope for all to see.

Leader:    Come and meet us here, O God,

People:   in your mercy and your grace.

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: Holy One, have mercy on us. When we cannot take any more of this world, we know we must turn to you. When our souls have had their fill of trouble and unease, we seek your protection. We come to you in faith and love, in hope of your salvation, now and always. Amen

 

Hymn: “As the Deer”

 

As the deer pants for the water,

so my soul longs after you.

You alone are my heart's desire,

and I long to worship you.

You alone are my strength, my shield;

to you alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my heart's desire,

and I long to worship you.

 

As the deer pants for the water,

so my soul longs after you.

You alone are my heart's desire,

and I long to worship you.

You alone are my strength, my shield;

to you alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my heart's desire,

and I long to worship you.

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

The God of mercy hears our prayers and holds them close. When we wander away into places of death and despair, God is always ready to bring us back.

For no matter where we go or what we do, we belong to God and God is there for us. We belong to the one who clothes us in faith and hope and love.

We are held so close in God’s hand that nothing can ever tear us away.

Praise be to God!

 

*Gospel Reading: 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; ¹⁵ to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸ But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ Then 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.’ ²¹ His 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.’ ²² And 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.’ ²³ His 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.’ ²⁴ Then 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; ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But 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? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹ For 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. ³⁰ As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”

 

Children’s Message: “That’s Faith”

 

Hymn: “This is My Fathers World”

 

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

his hand the wonders wrought.

 

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,

the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;

in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

he speaks to me everywhere.

 

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens Ring!

God reigns; let the earth be glad!

 

Sermon: “In Everything” Philippians 4:4-13

 

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

⁸ Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

¹⁰ I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 

 RESPONSE TO THE WORD  

 

Prayers of the People:  Joys and concerns

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer

 

THE SACRAMENTS OF HOLY COMMUNION

 

Invitation, Prayer of Confession and Pardon:

 

    Christ our Lord invites to his table

       all who love him,

who earnestly repent of their sin

and seek to live in peace with one another.

Therefore, let us confess our sin before God

and one another.

 

Merciful God,

we confess that we have not loved you

with our whole hearts.

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

 

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!

 

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

Glory to God. Amen

 

 The Great Thanksgiving  

 

    The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,

always and everywhere

to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty, creator of

heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image and

breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed,

your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity,

made covenant to be our sovereign God,

and spoke to us through your prophets.

And so,

with your people on earth

and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

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.

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son

Jesus Christ.

Your Spirit anointed him

to preach good news to the poor,

to proclaim release to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

and to announce that the time had come

when you would save your people.

He healed the sick, fed the hungry,

and ate with sinners.

By the baptism of his suffering,

death, and resurrection,

you gave birth to your church,

delivered us from slavery to sin and death,

and made with us a new covenant

by water and the Spirit.

When the Lord Jesus ascended,

he promised to be with us always,

in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

 

"Take, eat; this my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

 

When the supper was over, he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

 

"Drink from this all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it

in remembrance of me."

 

And so,

in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

as a holy and living sacrifice,

in union with Christ's offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith

 

Christ has died;

Christ is risen;

Christ will come again.

 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,

and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,

that we may be for the world the body of Christ,

redeemed by his blood.

       By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other,

and one in ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory,

and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,

all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father,

now and forever.   Amen

 

And now with the confidence of children of God, let us sing:

 

Our Father, who art in heaven,

   hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

   hallowed be thy name.

On earth as it is in heaven,            

   hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread.,            

   hallowed be thy name.

Forgive us our trespasses

   hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive those who trespass against us

   hallowed be thy name.

And lead us not into temptation,         

   hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil,            

   hallowed be thy name.

For thine is the kingdom,

  and the power and the glory ,            

  hallowed be thy name.

For thine is the kingdom,

  and the power and the glory ,            

  hallowed be thy name.

Amen, Amen it shall be so

  hallowed be thy name.

Amen, Amen it shall be so

  hallowed be thy name.

 

Sharing of the Cup and Loaf

 

Moment of Prayer and Meditation  

 

Prayer of Thanks

 

Eternal God, we give you thanks

for this holy mystery

in which you have given yourself to us. 

Grant that we may go into the world

in the strength of your Spirit,

to give ourselves to others,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen

 

SENDING FORTH

 

Hymn: “God Will Take Care of You”

 

Be not dismayed what e'er betide,

God will take care of you;

beneath his wings of love abide,

God will take care of you;

God will take care of you,

through every day,

o'er all the way;

he will take care of you,

God will take care of you;

 

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you;

when dangers fierce your path asail,

God will take care of you;

God will take care of you,

through every day,

o'er all the way;

he will take care of you,

God will take care of you;

 

All you may need he will provide,

God will take care of you;

nothing you ask will be denied,

God will take care of you;

God will take care of you,

through every day,

o'er all the way;

he will take care of you,

God will take care of you;

 

No matter what may be the test,

God will take care of you;

lean, weary one, upon his breast,

God will take care of you;

 

God will take care of you,

through every day,

o'er all the way;

he will take care of you,

God will take care of you;

 

Benediction