For the week of October 22-28 – 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Morning Prayer Heavenly Father, We come before You with humble hearts, seeking Your guidance. We pray You grant us strength and wisdom to sow good seeds. May we invest our time, our love, and our actions in ways that reflect Your love, grace, and righteousness. Grant us the grace to use the gifts and talents You have bestowed upon us.
May we be good stewards of Your manifold grace, using our gifts to minister to the needs of those around us. As we seek to live in accordance with Your will, help us to love as Christ loved, and to serve one another with joy and humility.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Hymn: #87 What Gift Can We Bring
- What gift can we bring, what present, what token?
What words can convey it, the joy of this day?
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing, what song can we offer in honor and praise?
- Give thanks for the past, for those who had vision,
who planted and watered so dreams could come true.
Give thanks for the now, for study, for worship, for mission that bids us turn prayer into deed.
- Give thanks for tomorrow, full of surprises, for knowing whatever tomorrow may bring,
The Word is our promise always, forever, we rest in God’s keeping and live in God’s love.
- This gift we now bring, this present, this token, these words can convey it, the joy of this day.
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing, this song we now offer in honor and praise!
Galatians 6:8-10
…Those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith.
Children’s Time John 13:34-35
I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are My disciples, when you love each other.
Children’s Message
How do you know you are loved? Maybe you can point to the care received from your parents and other family members. Maybe it’s when your grandmother bakes your favorite cookies. Sometimes, we recognize we are loved because the people in our lives are affectionate toward us and we are always getting hugs. There are a number of ways we can point to how we are loved.
Love is what we are to be known for as followers of Jesus. Jesus loves us and He showed us by the way He cared for people around Him. He healed the blind and the sick. He raised people from the dead and reunited them with their families. He taught about how God loves us and He fed people when they were hungry. One of the most important things Jesus did was to show us how we were to see the people that others would overlook or disliked.
Through many of our ministries we show people we love them. We give out clothing and warm coats in the fall. We keep the Blessings Box in front of the church filled with items that people may need. At the food pantry, we make sure folks who need food get the food they need to survive. All of these things are showing people we love them and that they matter. Everyone matters to Jesus.
What can we do each day to let people know we love them? Sometimes it is as easy as smiling and including them in our lives. I bet you can think of others, the most important thing is that we are doing our best to love people no matter who they are.
Prayers of Intercession: Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers for those dear to our hearts. We now pray as You have taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us, not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering spotlight: Withrow University College in Ghana
Offering prayer: Holy God, source of every good gift: the tithes and offerings we bring to You are simply a token of our desire to walk more closely beside You. We give, knowing that “rendering unto You what is Yours” would mean leaving everything at Your altar – all we have and all we are. We are not there yet, but with Your help, we are on the road to getting there. Bless what we give; may it speak words of compassion, mercy, and love as it empowers Your mission and ministry. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus, whose light we seek to follow. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
Offering response: Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
- I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?
Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.
- I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain:
- I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain:
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins. Open your homes to each other without complaining. And serve each other according to the gift each person has received, as good managers of God’s diverse gifts.
Message: Bill Bien and Ellen Withrow spoke to us in word and photos about the work of Withrow University College in Ghana, Africa. Our church supports Withrow University College through your Missions tithes. There are additional ways to support this institution of education. Contact Bill, Ellen or one of the Missions representatives to learn what you can do.
Hymn: #572 Pass It On
- It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it; you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.
- What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding; the birds begin to sing,
The flowers start their blooming. That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it;
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, you want to pass it on.
- I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found; you can depend on Him,
It matters not where you’re bound. I’ll shout it from the mountaintop;
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.
Go into your week with the blessings of The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.
