The Virtual Service for November 15, 2020

Worship for Sunday, November 15, 2020 
 

GATHERING 

GATHERING SONG 
O Christ the Same (ELW 778)
Performed and arranged by Robert Prester & Adriana Samargia

O Christ the same, through all our story's pages--
our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears;
eternal Lord, the king of all the ages,
unchanging still amid the passing years:
O living Word, the source of all creation,
who spread the skies and set the stars ablaze;
O Christ the same, who wrought our whole salvation,
we bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.

O Christ the same, the friend of sinners, sharing
our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can hide;
still as of old upon your body bearing
the marks of love in triumph glorified.
O Son of Man, who stooped for us from heaven--
O Prince of life, in all your saving power;
O Christ the same, to whom our hearts are given:
we bring our thanks for this the present hour.

O Christ the same, secure within whose keeping
our lives and loves, our days and years remain;
our work and rest, our waking and our sleeping,
our calm and storm, our pleasure and our pain:
O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows,
for all our hopes when earth shall fade and flee;
O Christ the same, beyond our brief tomorrows,
we bring our thanks for all that is to be.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
in whose image we are made,
who claims us and calls us beloved.
Amen.

Holy One,
we confess that we are not awake for you.
We are not faithful in using your gifts.
We forget the least of our siblings.
We do not see your beautiful image in one another.
We are infected by sin
that divides your beloved community.
Open our hearts to your coming,
open our eyes to see you in our neighbor,
open our hands to serve your creation. Amen.

Beloved, we are God’s children,
and Jesus, our Beloved, opens the door to us.
Through ☩ Jesus you are forgiven,
by Jesus you are welcome,
in Jesus you are called to rejoice!
Let us live in the promises prepared for us
from the foundation of the world.
Amen.

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 
And also with you. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR PASTOR CARLSON

Introduction

I.

READING: 1 Peter 5:6–7 NKJV 

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

REMARKS: Pastor Carlson

INSTRUMENTAL SONG: Cares Chorus - Ben Carlson, piano

II,

READING: Isaiah 42:1-4 NRSV 

   Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
                        my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
            I have put my spirit upon him;
                        he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2           He will not cry or lift up his voice,
                        or make it heard in the street;
3           a bruised reed he will not break,
                        and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
                        he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4           He will not grow faint or be crushed
                        until he has established justice in the earth;
                        and the coastlands wait for his teaching..

REMARKS: Pastor Harkness

SONG: You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore (WOV 817) – William and Nanette Lutz

III.

REMARKS: Rev. Norbert Hahn, Dean of the Lower Bucks Conference of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod

IV.

READING: Psalm 150 NRSV

            Praise the LORD!
            Praise God in his sanctuary;
                        praise him in his mighty firmament!
            Praise him for his mighty deeds;
                        praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
                        praise him with lute and harp!
            Praise him with tambourine and dance;
                        praise him with strings and pipe!
            Praise him with clanging cymbals;
                        praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
            Let everything that breathes praise the LORD!
            Praise the LORD!

REMARKS: Lori Donahue

SONG: Shout to the Lord, Nanette & William Lutz

V.

READING: John 14:2–3 The MESSAGE

There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.

REMARKS: Pastor Carlson

INSTRUMENTAL SONG: Going Home (Largo, from the New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak), Mac Carlson, organ

VI.

Closing & Presentation of Gift

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Longing for Christ’s reign to come among us, we pray for the outpouring of God’s power on the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.  

The response to “Lord, in your mercy,” is, ”hear  our Prayer.”  

 The Prayers conclude:  
Receive our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, until that day when you gather all creation around your throne where you will reign forever and ever. Amen.   

OFFERING 

ANTHEM
El-Shaddai
Michael Card and John Thompson
Debbie Brady; Kelsey Brady

OFFERING PRAYER

God of all goodness,
generations have turned to you,
gathered around your table,
and shared your abundant blessings.
Number us among them
that, as we gather these gifts from your abundance,
and give thanks for your rich blessings,
we may feast upon your very self
and care for all that you have made,
through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Servant. Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER

 BENEDICTION

May the God of all creation,
in whose image we are made,
who claims us and calls us beloved,
who strengthens us for service,
give you reason to rejoice and be glad!
The blessing of God,
Sovereign, ☩ Savior, and Spirit,
be with you today and always.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

Beloved of God,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SENDING SONG 
It Is Well with My Soul
Text: Horatio G. Spafford, 1828-1888
Performed and arranged by Robert Prester & Adriana Samargia

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll,
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain
It is well (it is well)
with my soul, (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 has shed his own blood for my soul.  Refrain

He lives--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to his cross and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!  Refrain

Lord, hasten the day when our faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
the trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend;
even so it is well with my soul. Refrain

 Postlude
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From sundaysandseasons.com. 

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