November 22nd, 2020 - Reign of Christ, Christ the King Sunday: We are part of God's flock and the sheep of God's pasture

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Prelude: Simple Gifts, Traditional Shaker Melody, arranged and played by Richard Elliott

Pastoral Prayer

Faithful and loving God, You have brought us to this day. Your guiding hand has nurtured us by Your eternal love for us. Send Your Holy Spirit to give us understanding of Your abiding presence in our lives, so we can have joy in knowing that we are safe in Your care all the days of our lives.

During this time of worship, center our hearts, our souls, and our minds on Your Presence with us as we lift to you the prayers of our hearts. We know You promise to hear our prayers, always, and with confidence,

We come to pray for Our Church, for it's leaders and congregation Our world and our country our loved ones - keep them: keep them in health, in safety, in comfort, in Your care Keep us, also and send forth Your Holy Spirit of truth, of comfort, and of power.

We pray for any among us who feel constrained, or emotionally distressed by our time and era and for any who need to know Your love for them in this hurting world.

We also lift to You those who need comfort as they mourn their loved ones. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, The comforter, who would remind us of Your promises that Nothing in life, or in Death, things present, nor things to come, nor angel or demons within our lives, nor anything in all of creation will ever be able to separate us from Your love in Jesus the Christ, our Lord.

The Lord's Prayer

Opening Hymn: No. 131 We Gather Together

Call to Worship: Psalm 100 nrsv

Pastor: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
People: Worship the Lord with gladness; come into God's presence with singing.
Pastor: Know that the Lord is God.
People: It is he that made us, and we are God's; we are God's people, and the sheep of God's pasture.
Pastor: Enter God's gates with thanksgiving, and God's courts with praise. Give thanks to God, bless God's name.
People: For the Lord is good; God's steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Choral Anthem: Mock/arr. McCartha: This I Know (I Am Blessed)

Unison Prayer:

Shepherd of our lives, open our hearts to Your guiding presence and into knowledge of Your loving care for us. Often times we lose sight of Your grace and kindness toward us. Show us once, again, how You feed us both physically and spiritually; how You heal us by Your grace both physically and spiritually; how You surround us with safety and peace throughout our journey with You. Forgive those moments when we stray from You and Your grace, but help us see those moments when You actively searched for us to bring us back to the safety of Your fold. Teach us that nothing in life, or death, can ever separated us from Your abiding love and presence in Jesus the Christ.

Hymn: No. 117 O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Gospel Reading and message:

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 31-46
Sermon: We are part of God's flock and the sheep of God's pasture

Closing Hymn: No. 694 Come Ye Thankful People Come

Benediction:

Pastor: Journey as God's beloved children;
People: We journey with joy for God loves us.
Pastor: Sing praises to God for God's loving care;
People: Our hearts sing aloud to the God of our Salvation.
Pastor: Let your hearts leap and dance with gladness for the amazing grace that God shows to all of us.
People: We worship God with gladness.
Pastor: Come into God's presence with joy;
People: We will come before God with thanksgiving and praise.

Postlude: Postlude on St. George's Windsor, composed and played by Jason D. Payne