Service outline for November 20

ORDER OF WORSHIP
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Prelude

Welcome and Announcements,
Acknowledgement of the Land

Gathering Song, “Gentle Spirit” (Nancy Nelson)

Gentle spirit, move among us as we gather here today.
May we feel you as the strength and tie that binds
Our souls in love and unity to share the common will.
Open arms. Open hearts. Open minds.

Lighting the Candles and Placing the Bible

Opening Hymn, VU #327: “All Praise to Thee" (verses 1, 2, 3 & 5)
1. All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine,
didst yield the glory that of right was thine,
that in our troubled hearts thy grace might shine:
hallelujah; hallelujah!

2. Thou cam'st to us in lowliness of thought;
   by thee the outcast and the poor were sought,
   and by thy death was God's salvation wrought:
   halllelujah; hallelujah!

    3. Let this mind be in us which was in thee,
   who wast a servant that we might be free,
   humbling thyself to death on Calvary:
hallelujah; hallelujah!

5. Let every tongue confess with one accord
in heaven and earth that Jesus Christ is Lord;
and God eternal be by all adored:
hallelujah; hallelujah!

The Passing of the Peace, MV #173: “Put Peace Into Each Other’s Hands"

Put peace into each other’s hands
and like a treasure hold it,
protect it like a candle flame,
with tenderness enfold it.

Opening Prayer

Time With All Ages

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7, 2-14
(Swords into plowshares)
One: Listen to what the Spirit is saying.
All: Thanks be to God!

Reflection

Anthem, "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" (J. Rutter)

Responsive Hymn, VU #210: “You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd"
1. You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd.
You, Lord, are both prince and slave.
You, peacemaker and sword-bringer
of the way you took and gave.
You, the everlasting instant;
you, whom we both scorn and crave.

2. Clothed in light upon the mountain,
stripped of might upon the cross,
shining in eternal glory,
beggared by a soldier's toss.
You, the everlasting instant;
you who are both gift and cost.

3. You, who walk each day beside us,
sit in power at God's side.
You, who preach a way that's narrow,
have a love that reaches wide.
You, the everlasting instant;
you, who are our pilgrim guide.

4. Worthy is our earthly Jesus!
Worthy is our cosmic Christ!
Worthy your defeat and victory.
Worthy still your peace and strife.
You, the everlasting instant;
you, who are our death and life.

Invitation to the Offering,
   Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures high and low;
Give thanks to God in love made known:
Creator, Word and Spirit One.

We Bless our Offerings
Holy One, bless these gifts as symbols of your Peace that forges
hatred into love.  May they be part of your non-violent ways,
changing lives with your Good News. We pray in the name of Jesus,
the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Invitation to Communion, VU #456: "Now To Your Table Spread" (vs 1)
1. Now to your table spread
we come, each one in faith
that you alone provide the words of life and death:
in wine and bread, in promised food
we find your loving heart, O God.

Communion Liturgy

One:    The Lord is here.
All:    God's Spirit is with us.
One:    Lift up your hearts!
All:    We lift them to the Lord.
One:    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All:    It is right to offer thanks and praise.
One:    Holy One, you made us,
and the world and everything in it.
All the good we see comes from you.
You have always loved us
but people have not always loved you.
You sent Jesus to show us how to live
and to bring us back to you again.
He died for us on the cross
so that through your Spirit
we can all be your people.
And so with thanks we praise you, saying:

All: Holy, holy, holy
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in God’s name.
Hosanna in the highest.

One:    We are here because on the night before he died
Jesus shared a last meal with his friends.
There he took some bread
and gave thanks to you, God.
He broke it into pieces, and gave it to them.
‘This is my body,’ he said,
‘Do this, and know that I am with you.”
Later, he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to you.
he shared it with them, and said
‘This is my blood, which brings new life.
Do this, and know that I am with you.’
And so, remembering Jesus, who died,
was raised to new life by you, and is alive forever,
we are glad to share that life and live in him
and proclaim the mystery of our faith:

All: Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.

One:    Send your Holy Spirit
so that this bread and wine
can be for us the body and blood of Jesus,
and through this food
give us strength to live as your people.
Help us to care for your world and for each other
in the ways that Jesus showed us.
Until he comes again,
with all your people in every time and every land
we worship you in songs of everlasting praise.
All: Amen!

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Music During Communion, VU #467: "One Bread, One Body"

One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

Sending Hymn, VU #483: “Now Let Us From This Table Rise"

1. Now let us from this table rise
renewed in body, mind and soul;
with Christ we die and live again,
his selfless love has made us whole.

2. With minds alert, upheld by grace,
to spread the word in speech and deed,
we follow in the steps of Christ,
at one with all in hope and need.

3. To fill each human house with love,
it is the sacrament of care;
the work that Christ began to do
we humbly pledge ourselves to share.

4. Then give us grace, Companion-God,
to choose again the pilgrim way
and help us to accept with joy
the challenge of tomorrow's day.

Sending and Closing Blessing

One: May you go out with Christ’s peace and share it with all you meet.
On the road in between, may you find what fills your heart,
feeds your mind and fires your imagination.
Go in peace and may you come back in joy.
All: Amen!

Choral Blessing
The peace of the earth be with you,
         The peace of the heavens too;
   The peace of the rivers be with you,
         the peace of the oceans too.
Deep peace falling over you,
         God's peace growing in you.