November 24, 2019

November 24, 2019

Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving

Proper 29

This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year, sometimes referred to as “Reign of Christ” or “Christ the King” Sunday.  This is the last Sunday for green paraments.  Advent 1 = December 1!
Will you change to purple or blue?  

Jeremiah 23:1-6

 Psalm 46

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

Call to Worship (from Psalm 46)
One:  Fear not!  God is our refuge and strength.
Many:  The Lord of hosts is with us,
One:  God is our refuge!
Many:  Tho’ the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
One:  tho’ the earth changes,
Many:  God is our sure help!

Opening Prayer
Ever-present God, when there is change all around, we give thanks for your presence as our refuge.  Help us to be still as we turn to you.  (silence)
In this time of worship, accept our praise and open us to recognize your ways.  Alleluia!  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship  (from Colossians 1:11-20)

How often have your found yourself in first place?

Many of us can hardly imagine standing there:
first place in the race?
first place in the band?
first place at the state fair?

Yet we hear in Colossians the hymn of praise for Jesus, beloved Son of God, head of the church, the firstborn from the dead,
and “will have first place in everything.”

We gather week by week to learn from this one who is FIRST.  We seek to model our lives on this ruler, whose realm has no end. We offer our very lives to the one who stands at the head of the line, in first place.

Today, I invite you to make an offering in financial form, knowing that’s one way to translate our day-to-day lives into an easily used form to provide the ministries of this congregation.

The old hymn says “Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I with-hold.”

You’ll be in good company as you move to the front of the line, freely offering your finances and your life!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God of all life, we thank you for the life you’ve given each of us.  Thank you for the life of this congregation as we come to the end of another year.
Receive our offering today, knowing it comes as a symbol of the life you give.  Help us use this support to speak your Love in a cold and sometimes desolate world.  AMEN

Invitation to Communion 

For people living in the United States, this is the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Many of us are already preparing for a feast with friends and family, filled with traditions and delight.  And some of us are dreading what is to come – perhaps because of absent people, or because of painful situations.

So as we come to this table, we ask God to sharpen our vision and open our minds that we might recognize this as a true Thanksgiving feast.  This simple meal is offered to each one because in Jesus Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

As we eat this bread, drink from this cup, and remember Jesus the Christ, may we be fully reconciled to God, and to all … including those who will be present (and those missing) at our tables on Thursday.