K H P C (U.S.A.) FAMILY SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER 22, 2018 Remember, ʹNo oneʹs more important than peopleʹ! In other words, friendship is the most important thing not career or housework, or oneʹs fatigue and it needs to be tended and nurtured. Julia Child Ask. Seek. Knock. from Ma hew 7:7
WELCOME TO KIRK IN THE HILLS Welcome to worship We are glad to have you with us today for worship. If this is your first visit to the Kirk, please introduce yourself to a pastor after worship. About today s service We gather together today to remember all the ways we have been filled to abundance with God s blessings. We tell the stories of faith together to remind ourselves that God s blessings will come anew. The following prayer invites us to prepare our hearts for worship and our lives for faithful living: It doesn t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay a ention, then patch a few words together and don t try to make them elaborate, this isn t a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. Mary Oliver, Praying If you need audio or visual assistance Hearing assistance units, large-print bulletins and hymnals are available upon request from an usher. If you are in need of prayer You may submit prayer requests online at kirkinthehills.org under Resources/Prayer Request. Flowers on the sanctuary altar are presented to the glory of God in loving memory of Arnold J. Benes by his wife, Nancy H. Benes. About the cover art - #2 Ecclesiastes, John August Swanson, download from Art in the Christian Tradition John August Swanson captures the entire book of Ecclesiastes in this serigraph. He addresses himself to human values, cultural roots, and his quest for self-discovery through his visual images. Can you find the focus of our scripture today in this detailed, complex, and elaborate work of art? 2
FAMILY SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING 9:30 a.m., Sanctuary Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. Ecclesiastes 9:7 THE GATHERING OPENING VOLUNTARIES Chorale prelude on Nun danket alle Go Johann Sebastian Bach Hymn prelude on Kremser * Those who are able are invited to stand at the ringing of the tower bell. Craig Phillips * OPENING SENTENCES The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all! And also with you! * CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 65 Praise is due to you, O God in Zion, O you who answer prayer: Happy are those whom you choose. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your house, your holy temple. Those who live at earth s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; You crown the year with your bounty; the pastures of the wilderness overflow, The valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy! * INTROIT Kremser With voices united our praises we offer And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise. With thee, Lord, beside us, thy strong arm will guide us. To Thee, our great Redeemer, forever be praise! * HYMN 336 We Gather Together Kremser * PRAYER OF CONFESSION As we draw to the close of this year and claim the year ahead, our Father, we need to confess to you those pieces of the past that persist in pulling us backward. Through admi ing our failures and sharing our sin, we would like to put away those things that nibble and nag, de-energize and depress. With boldness, then, and a certain measure of embarrassment, we admit to squandering time and talent, good intentions and be er ideas, opportunities for growth and occasion for grace. We admit that we have most often taken care of ourselves while others have stood in line. We ask that you would grant us * Those who are able are invited to stand. 3
your forgiveness as we confess our individual regrets and remorse in silence. * KYRIE ELEISON Herbert Sumsion Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. * ASSURANCE OF PARDON God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we are sinners, Christ died for us. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen! * GLORIA PATRI Greatorex (Hymn 581) Glory be to the Father, And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen, Amen. WELCOME THE WORD CHORAL PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION For the harvest of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, For the truths that still confound us, Most of all that love has found us, Thanks be to God. East Acklam SCRIPTURE READINGS Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 Take Life as It Comes PSALM 136:1-8 (read by all in unsion) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever; Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of Lords, for his mercy endures forever. Who alone does great wonders, for his mercy endures forever; Who made the heavens in wisdom, for his mercy endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his mercy endures forever. 4
WORD WITH THE CHILDREN Who made the great lights, for his mercy endures forever; The sun to rule over the day, for his mercy endures forever. The moon and the stars to rule over the night, for his mercy endures forever. And freed us from our foes, for his mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, for his mercy endures forever; Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever; Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of Lords, for his mercy endures forever. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM A Hymn for Thanksgiving David H. Williams Praise, O praise our God and King; Hymns of adoration sing; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Praise Him that He made the sun Day by day his course to run; Praise Him that He gave the rain To mature the swelling grain. He hath bid the fruitful field Crops of precious increase yield; For His mercies still endure, Ever faithful, ever sure. Glory to our bounteous King! Glory let creation sing, Glory to the Father, Son And blest Spirit, Three in One! SERMON Recipe Cards Christina Hallam THE THANKSGIVING * HYMN 36 For the Fruit of All Creation Ar hydy nos PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS Our giving is an offering to God. All offerings, whether made in the worship service or outside of it, are part of our worship of God and are used to support the Kirk s ministry here and in other parts of the world. * PRAYER OF DEDICATION ANTHEM Sing to the Lord of Harvest arr. Healey Willan Sing to the Lord of harvest, sing songs of love and praise; With joyful hearts and voices your alleluias raise! By Him the rolling seasons in fruitful order move; Sing to the Lord of harvest a song of happy love. By Him the clouds drop fatness, the deserts bloom and spring, The hills leap up in gladness, the valleys laugh and sing. He filleth with His fullness, all things with large increase; He crowns the year with goodness, with plenty and with peace. 5
6 MISSIONAL INVITATION Heap on His sacred altar the gifts His goodness gave, The golden sheaves of harvest, the souls He died to save. Your hearts lay down before Him when at His feet ye fall, And with your lives adore Him who gave His life for all. We need volunteers to cover two events next weekend! We need volunteers to help welcome and guide runners throughout the race on Saturday, November 24. Visit the Kirk s website for more details! Also, we need volunteers to provide hospitality for our guests from South Oakland Shelter throughout the week of November 25 th, especially overnights. Contact Julie Walker for more information at jwalker@kirkinthehills.org. * DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth THE LITANY OF THANKSGIVING 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. Following the Doxology, the congregation will remain standing to sing the last stanza of America in recognition of Thanksgiving Day. Our fathers God, to thee, Author of liberty, to thee we sing; Long may our land be bright, with freedom s holy light; Protect us by thy might, great God, our King. Amen. Give thanks to the Lord who is good. God s love is everlasting. Come, let us praise God joyfully. Let us come to God with thanksgiving. For the good world; for things great and small, beautiful and awesome; for seen and unseen splendors; For human life; for talking and moving and thinking together; for common hopes and hardships shared from birth until our dying; For work to do and strength to work; for the comradeship of labor; for exchanges of good humor and encouragement; For marriage; for the mystery and joy of flesh made one; for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared; for secrets kept in love For family; for living together and eating together; for family amusements and family pleasures.
For children; for their energy and curiosity; for their brave play and startling frankness; for their sudden sympathies; For the young; for their high hopes; for their irreverence toward worn-out values; for their search for freedom; for their solemn vows; For growing up and growing old; for wisdom deepened by experience; for rest in leisure; and for time made precious by its passing; For your help in times of doubt and sorrow; for healing our diseases; for preserving us in temptation and danger; For the church into which we have been called; for the good news we receive by Word and Sacrament; for our life together in the Lord; We praise you, God. For your Holy Spirit, who guides our steps and brings us gifts of faith and love; who prays for us and prompts our grateful worship; We praise you, God. Above all, O God, for your Son Jesus Christ, who lived and died and lives again for our salvation; for our hope in him; and for the joy of serving him; We thank and praise you, Eternal God, for all your goodness to us. Give thanks to the Lord, who is good. God s love is everlasting. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 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 this day our daily bread, and 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. 7
THE SENDING * HYMN 643 Now Thank We All Our God Nan danket alle Go CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Please take your seats as the pastor gives the congregation a charge to live the life of faith and then speaks words of Godʹs blessing on all gathered. CLOSING VOLUNTARY Chorale Improvisation on Nun danket alle Go Sigfrid Karg-Elert The service ends with notes of praise and affirmation on the organ. Stay connected with Kirk in the Hills 8 Rev. Dr. Nathaniel D. Phillips, Senior Pastor Rev. Fernando Rodríguez Rev. Angela Ryo Rev. Jasmine L. Smart Rev. Dr. Norman M. Pritchard, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Keith O. Provost, Parish Associate Glenn A. Miller, Director of Music & Organist Dennis N. Curry, Associate Director of Music & Carillonneur