St. James Presbyterian Church November 22, For these blessings, Lord, we give you thanks.

Transcription

1 St. James Presbyterian Church November 22, 2015 For these blessings, Lord, we give you thanks.

2 St. James Presbyterian Church Order for Worship WE GATHER AS GOD S PEOPLE A Time for Gathering and Quiet Meditation Please silence all electronic devices at this time. Prayer Cards, located in the pew pockets of all of our pews, can be filled out and passed to an Usher or placed in the offering plate. If you desire, please check the appropriate line on the prayer card and your prayer will be read aloud during the Prayers of the People. We use two song books at Saint James. The purple hymnal, called Glory to God is abbreviated GTG throughout the service. The black book, entitled Faith We Sing, is abbreviated FWS. Prelude Jim Gresham, Piano Welcome and Announcements Please pass the Friendship Pads in the pews, place your name on the sheet, and note who is in the pew with you so that you can greet them after the service. Bell Choir Introit and Lighting of the Candles Bells at Sunrise *Call to Worship (from Psalm 138) Sue Smith, Lector We gather to give you thanks, O Lord, with our whole heart. We will sing your praises, and rejoice in your steadfast love! You have created us, O God, and made us for yourself. In you we become all that you have created us to be! *Opening Hymn When Morning Gilds the Skies #667 GTG Congregational Litany of Thanksgiving You have blessed us as a church, O Lord, in good times and in hard ones. We give thanks for your steadfast love and faithfulness. We are grateful those in our church who give their time, energy and abilities, enabling our own worship and service. For these blessings, Lord, we give you thanks. We thank you for the children of our congregation. Each time a baby cries, we are reminded of your love for them, and also for us. We thank you for the young people among us, and for the energy and passion they bring. For these blessings, Lord, we give you thanks. *Please stand as you are able.

3 We thank you for the opportunities we have to serve you, and to demonstrate, in concrete ways, your love for others. We thank you for our church family, which supports us and nurtures our faith. For these blessings, Lord, we give you thanks. We thank you that you are with us always inspiring, encouraging, healing. When we experience sickness or misfortune, you are with us still. We know your love through our family of faith. For these blessings, Lord, we give you thanks. Looking back over the past year, we find much for which to be grateful. Acknowledging you as the giver of all good gifts, we say together: Thank you, Lord, for the ways you have blessed us, individually and together. Amen. *Response Song of Blessing Time with Children Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! #591 GTG Give Thanks #2036 FWS The Rev. Janet Sonnanburg Call for the Offering Offertory Leaning on the Everlasting Arms The Saint James Bell Choir *Doxology For the Life That You Have Given #717 GTG For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known, With these fruits of time and labor, with these gifts that are your own: Here we offer, Lord, our praises; heart and mind and strength we bring; Give us grace to love and serve you, living what we pray and sing. *Prayer of Dedication For all the ways you love us, Lord; we say THANK YOU! For the ways you provide for us; we say THANK YOU! For the opportunity to give; we say THANK YOU! For the kingdom work this offering will accomplish; we say THANK YOU! Accept these gifts, O Lord, as a sign of all we would give you. AMEN! *Please stand as you are able.

4 WE LISTEN FOR GOD S WORD Prayer for Illumination First Lesson I Chronicles 16:8-13, (pg. 375 in pew Bible) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Choir Anthem Second Lesson The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Simple Gifts (arr. Hopson) I Thessalonians 5:12-24 (pg. 205 in pew Bible) Sermon *Sermon Hymn Thanks Giving People The Rev. Janet Sonnanburg A Grateful Heart #652 GTG Joys and Concerns (Read from Prayer Cards) Prayers of the People The Lord s Prayer 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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. *Closing Hymn Now Thank We All Our God #643 GTG *Benediction May the peace of Christ be with you! And also with you! Let us share signs of God s peace. Postlude Randy Bowers As our worship concludes, our service begins. *Please stand as you are able.

5 We invite you to join us for coffee and cookies in the Horizon Room, adjacent to the Narthex, overlooking the bay. Please introduce yourself to those new to you and extend the hand of peace, friendship and welcome to everyone. Pastor Janet asks that people wear their name tags. ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastoral Care Please contact Pastor Janet at for any pastoral care needs. The Grief Support group meets bi-weekly at 10am on Monday mornings in the Lounge. The next meeting will be tomorrow, November 23. Presbyterian Women will meet Tuesday, November 24, for our monthly Bible study at 10:30am, followed by our potluck salad luncheon at noon. Everyone is welcome. Think about where you would like our charitable donations to go; every vote counts. Thanksgiving Eve Celebration on Wednesday, November 25 at 7:30pm St. James choirs plus local writers and poets are crafting a remembrance of Thanksgiving for this special night. Please plan to attend and bring your family and friends. The Angel Tree is up and ready for the decorative wings. The wishes will be presented on pretty angel s wings, and provided by Interfaith Council during the coming week. Check for them and choose one or two next Sunday! Kay Carr, Chairman The HV Neighborhood Association provides a free community meal, once a month at Our Savior s Lutheran Church on Harris Ave. Usually about 100 folks turn out including some among the less fortunate in our community. A hearty meal is prepared and served beginning at 5pm on the third Sunday of the month. We are looking for about six volunteers to help setup the dining room and serve the meal, from at 4:30pm on Sunday, February 21, *Please stand as you are able.

6 LOOKING AHEAD This Week at St. James (November 23-28) Monday 10am Grief Support Group 7pm Boy Scouts 7pm St. James Literary Society Tuesday 8am Prayer Group 10:15am Yoga 10:30am Women s Bible Study 12pm Women s Luncheon 4pm Cross-fit 7:30pm WA Gender Alliance Wednesday 10am Pulse Crew 7:30pm Thanksgiving Eve Celebration Thursday Thanksgiving Day Office Closed Friday 4pm Cross-fit Saturday * * * Next Sunday 9am Adult Church School 10:30am Worship 12 Step Programs AA Men s Book Study Group: 7pm Mondays Al Anon: 5:30pm Tuesdays AA SOS Men s Group: 6pm Wednesdays AA Fairhaven Group: 7:30pm Thursdays and Sundays OA: 10am Saturdays SIA: 5:30pm Mondays Co-op Preschool Schedule Tuesday-Friday, 9am-11am ( ) Hawthorne Learning Solutions Monday-Thursday, 2:30pm-9:30pm

7 PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN TODAY S WORSHIP Lector Sue Smith Ushers Candy Ellis Jean Seater Sacristan Carolyn Mullen Coffee Hour Ann Lary Mike Smith Sue Smith Sound System Rick Seater Flowers Gale and Gretchen Pfueller Advent Festival Sunday, December 6 in the Fellowship Hall after Worship Enjoy ham, scalloped potatoes, and baked beans for lunch. Make a fresh evergreen wreath or gingerbread house. Everyone welcome! Suggested donation to cover cost: Lunch: $5/adult, $12/family Wreath form: $3; Gingerbread house: $2 Christmas Eve Services 5:30 p.m. Family Worship Experience This half hour service is designed with young children in mind. The Christmas story, told in rhyme, will be interspersed with familiar and beloved Christmas carols. We welcome the young and the young at heart. 7:30 p.m. Candlelight Service Traditional Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols

8 The nursery for children birth through 3 years of age is located downstairs at the south end of the building. Church school is available for children pre-school through 5th grade. Today in Sunday School children will be discussing: Mark 12: 38-44; theme is Just Giving. Children of all ages are welcome throughout the service to worship with their families. Kid Packs are available in the Kids Cupboard in the Narthex. Please see an Usher for details. Office Hours: Tuesday Friday, 9am 2pm The Rev. Janet Sonnanburg pastor@saintjamespres.org St. James Presbyterian Church th Street, Bellingham, WA office@saintjamespres.org The Saint James Staff Children s Ministry: Merry Thomas, Coordinator Zadra Nolan, Teacher Katy Jackson, Teacher Clerk of Session: Carla Shafer Custodians: Cascade Vocational Services: Don Bayne, Aaron Cook, Vernon Point Interim Pastor: The Rev. Janet Sonnanburg Music Director: Carolyn Mullen Office Manager: Natasha Orme Organist/Pianist: Melany Armstrong Treasurer: Marina Gresham Youth Director: Ben Gamman