Worship Guide - Twenty-Third sunday After Pentecost

Worship Guide

November 13, 2022

Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost

 

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

 

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

 

Greetings:

 

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

 

Special Music: “Revelation Song” Stefanie

 

Centering Words:

 

New life comes through change. A new beginning is always near. Embrace the changes God is bringing.

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:   God will create a new heaven and a new earth.

People:  The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Leader:   God rejoices over Jerusalem, and takes delight in God’s people.

People:  The sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more. Before we call out, God will answer.

Leader:   While we are still speaking, God will hear.

People:  The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Leader:   They will neither harm nor destroy on all God’s holy mountain.

People:  We worship the one who makes all things new.

Leader:   Let us pray

ALL: There is no place to turn, O God, for the comfort we desire; no place, but to you alone, O Lord. Bless us this day, that we might be a blessing to others. Bless us this day, that we might be faithful witnesses to life in Christ Jesus, our redeemer and Lord. In our songs and prayers, in our scriptures and spoken words, reveal your purposes to us through the power of your Holy Spirit. We are here, O Lord. Equip us for ministry with the faith and assurance only you can provide. Amen.

 

Hymn: Stand By Me”

 

When the storms of life are raging, stand by me (stand by me)

when the storms of life are raging, stand by me (stand by me)

when the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea,

thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me (stand by me).

 

In the midst of tribulation, stand by me (stand by me)

in the midst of tribulation, stand by me (stand by me)

when the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail,

thou who never lost a battle, stand by me (stand by me).

 

In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me (stand by me)

in the midst of faults and failures, stand by me (stand by me)

when I've done the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,

thou who knowest all about me, stand by me (stand by me).

 

In the midst of persecution, stand by me (stand by me)

in the midst of persecution, stand by me (stand by me)

when my foes in war array undertake to stop my way,

thou who saved Paul and Silas, stand by me (stand by me).

 

When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me (stand by me)

when I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me (stand by me)

when my life becomes a burden, and I’m nearing chilly Jordan,

O thou “Lily of the Valley," stand by me (stand by me).

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

Surely God is our salvation.

Place your trust in God and do not be afraid, for the Lord is our strength and our salvation.

Amen

 

*Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25

 

17     For I am about to create new heavens

and a new earth;

the former things shall not be remembered

or come to mind.

18     But be glad and rejoice forever

in what I am creating;

for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,

and its people as a delight.

19     I will rejoice in Jerusalem,

and delight in my people;

no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,

or the cry of distress.

20     No more shall there be in it

an infant that lives but a few days,

or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;

for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,

and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

21     They shall build houses and inhabit them;

they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22     They shall not build and another inhabit;

they shall not plant and another eat;

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,

and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23     They shall not labor in vain,

or bear children for calamity;

for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord

and their descendants as well.

24     Before they call I will answer,

while they are yet speaking I will hear.

25     The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,

the lion shall eat straw like the ox;

but the serpent—its food shall be dust!

They shall not hurt or destroy

on all my holy mountain,

says the Lord.

 

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Time with Young Friends:  “Jesus Loves Me”

Children’s Message: “Signs of the End ”

 

Hymn: Close to Thee”

 

Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me,

all along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with thee.

Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee,

all along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with thee.

 

Not for ease or worldly pleasure,

nor for fame my prayer shall be;

gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with thee.

Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee,

gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with thee.

 

Lead me through the vale of shadows,

bear me o'er life’s fitful sea;

then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with thee.

Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee,

then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with thee.

 

Sermon: “Open-Mouthed Tourists” Luke 21:5-19

 

5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

 

7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

 

9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

 

12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

 

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

 

Hymn: “It is Well with My Soul”

 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

Though Satan should buffet,

though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control,

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and hath shed His own blood for my soul.

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

And Lord, haste the day

when my faith shall be sight,

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

the trump shall resound,

and the Lord shall descend,

even so, it is well with my soul.

 

It is well, with my soul,

it is well, with my soul,

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

 

Affirmation From Romans 8:35,37-39

 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword?

 

No!

In all things we are more than conquerors through the One who loved us.

We are sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

 

will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

Gloria Patri

 

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.

 

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer

 

SENDING FORTH

 

Hymn: “Marching to Zion”

 

Come, we that love the Lord,

and let our joys be known;

join in a song with sweet accord,

join in a song with sweet accord

and thus surround the throne,

and thus surround the throne.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

Let those refuse to sing,

who never knew our God;

but children of the heavenly King,

but children of the heavenly King

may speak their joys abroad,

may speak their joys abroad.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

The hill of Zion yields

a thousand sacred sweets

before we reach the heavenly fields,

before we reach the heavenly fields,

or walk the golden streets,

or walk the golden streets.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

Then let our songs abound,

and every tear be dry;

we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,

we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,

to fairer worlds on high,

to fairer worlds on high.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

Benediction