122 nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Worship Kernstown United Methodist Church Opequon Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 122 nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Worship Kernstown United Methodist Church Opequon Presbyterian Church Wednesday, November 21, :00 pm All who are able, please stand. Bold print all respond WE GATHER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS PRELUDE... Come Ye Thankful People, Come GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THE CHURCH BELL RINGS ENTRANCE OF THE WORD AND THE LIGHT GATHERING SONG (Worship Order p. 5)... As We Gather in This Place CALL TO WORSHIP Come, let us celebrate the wondrous gifts that God has given us. Throughout our lives, God blesses us with love and hope. Praise be to God who provides for us. May our hearts be truly grateful, and may we show our gratitude by the ways in which we live and care for others. Hallelujah! Amen and Amen! HYMN NO We Gather Together CALL TO CONFESSION Dear friends, the Scriptures urge us to acknowledge our sins and not to conceal them in the presence of God, to confess them with a penitent and obedient heart, so that we may be forgiven through God s boundless goodness and mercy. We ought to always humbly admit our sins before God, but chiefly when we meet together, to give thanks for the benefits we have received at God s hands, to offer the praise that is due God, to hear God s holy word, and to ask what is necessary for the body as well as the soul. Therefore, let us draw near to the throne of our gracious God, and pray together

2 PRAYER OF CONFESSION Patient Lord, we are about to rush headlong into the holiday season, forgetting that the word holiday is actually comprised of two words, holy and day. Forgive us when we treat the holiday as a task and a burden, when we load ourselves down with tasks that do not enhance each day. Help us move past the busyness of the days into the attitude of gratitude we are called to embrace for all the many wonders and blessings you have poured on us. Forgive us when we grumble and gripe about the work and do not relish the delight in having family and friends together. Remind us that there are those for whom this day holds little delight and little hope. Help us reach out to them with love, listening for the brokenness of their hearts and seeking to respond to their needs. Stir us to be people of the Good News about the love you have given to us and about the joy of serving you by helping others. In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Take comfort: we, and the whole world with us, are embraced in Christ's love. In Christ, there is always enough. LITANY OF PARDON Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO Give Thanks PASSING OF THE PEACE (Please share this prayer with those next to you) May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. WE LISTEN FOR GOD S WORD WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Deuteronomy 26: Pew Bible p. 158 ANTHEM... Simple Praise Craig Courtney & Pamela Martin For a canvas of colors, for a concert of sound; for the unfolding seasons, the earth spinning round. For the birth of each sunrise, for the sky set ablaze; for these simple gifts, we give simple praise. Simple praise for the Giver, and thanks to the One, who has given us breath and 2

3 given His Son. To the Giver of blessings for all of our days, for these simple gifts, we give simple praise. For the love of a mother, for the touch of a hand; for the deeper emotions we can t understand. For the lessons we learn from the trials we face; for these simple gifts, we give simple praise. The heart of the Giver, the hand of the One, from whom ev ry blessing of living has come; for measureless mercy and limitless grace, for these simple gifts we give simple praise. UNISON PSALTER READING... Psalm 23 (King James Version) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: John 6: Pew Bible p. 867 HYMN NO Let All Things Now Living SERMON... He Prepares a Table for Me You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies Psalm 23:5a Pastor Aaron Fitch WE GIVE THANKS WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS HYMN NO We Lift Our Voices SHARING THANKS HYMN NO We Lift Our Voices OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS OFFERTORY... Sing to the Lord of Harvest 3

4 THE DOXOLOGY (Hymnal No. 606) AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION WE RECEIVE AT THE LORD S TABLE WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Invitation The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise. (The prayer continues) The Lord s Prayer (Ecumenical) Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. Words of Institution Sharing the Bread and Cup Communion Music Communion Prayer WE GO FORTH TO SERVE WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS HYMN OF DEDICATION NO. 36 For the Fruit of All Creation CHARGE AND BLESSING CHORAL RESPONSE... As We Travel from This Place POSTLUDE 4

5 WE ARE HONORED BY YOUR PRESENCE We welcome you to the annual community Thanksgiving service here in Kernstown. This is the 122 nd consecutive year Kernstown United Methodist and Opequon Presbyterian Churches have worshipped together on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall for a time of refreshments and fellowship following the service. The Fellowship Hall is on the lower level of the church, accessed by the elevator or the spiral staircase in the Gathering Area. Each of our congregations extends our hospitality to you; if you do not have a church home, we hope you will consider worshiping with one of our congregations. 5

6 WE WELCOME PASTOR FITCH Aaron Fitch has served in the Virginia United Methodist Conference for 18½ years and as pastor of Kernstown UMC since July Prior to his call to Kernstown, he served as pastor of Belview UMC in Radford, Virginia for 10 years, and Hites Chapel UMC and Relief UMC for 4 years. Aaron is blessed to have his parents, Russ and Helen, living here in Winchester since January Aaron is most proud of God s gift of salvation to him through Jesus Christ, his two children-cooper, who is 12, and Elise, who is 6 years old, and the Holy Spirit empowering him to love and care for his wife, Stephanie, while she fought ALS for four years-and won on February 15, God has been good to Pastor Fitch, and he is confident that he will continue to be a recipient of God s goodness all the days of his life. COMMUNION TONIGHT IS BY INTINCTION We will come forward to the communion table to receive the sacrament by intinction. Each section of pews should move to the left as directed by the ushers. Gluten-free bread and gluten free grape juice (blue cup) are available in the center section; please see an usher for assistance. Please tear off a piece of bread and then dip it in the cup of grape juice, eating immediately. Return to your seat by the right aisle. Our servers tonight are: Graham Taylor, Cheryl Spurr, Lynn Metheny, Loretta Lantz, Carole Witt and Gary Lantz. THE HARVEST DISPLAY The beautiful harvest display on the historic communion table and the window displays in the Sanctuary were created by Robin Eddy and Mary Elson. Opequon is blessed and truly thankful for its many talented church family members. 6

7 THANK YOU FOR YOUR OFFERING Tonight s offering will support WATTS, the Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter, of our community. On November 10 th, WATTS began its 10 th season of providing a warm, safe, overnight shelter for our guests experiencing homelessness. The Opequon Church hosts WATTS for one week each year, and the Kernstown Church serves as a partner in our hosting. This year, our week will begin on Saturday, December 29 and continue through Saturday morning, January 5. Thank you for your generosity! WE APPRECIATE THE MANY PARTICIPANTS IN TONIGHT S SERVICE: Keith McMurdo... Beadle Alicia Campbell, Laurie Carver... Child Care Kernstown Choir & Kelly Henshaw... Chancel Choir Director Martha Fulton, Mary Himelright... Greeters Opequon Choir & Susan Homan... Music Director William Heavner... Organist & Accompanist Aaron W. Fitch, David R. Witt... Pastors Steve Spurr, Natalie Youngblood... Readers The Fellowship Ministry Team... Refreshments Vicki Schmidt Crites, Al & Robin Owens, Bud Proctor, Leslie Tucker, Joel Witt... Ushers 7