K H P C (U.S.A.) FAMILY SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER 24, 2016 When someone is kind to us, when an event turns out well, when a problem is solved, a relationship restored, a wound healed, there are very concrete reasons to offer thanks: be it with words, with flowers, with a leer, a card, a phone call, or just a gesture of affection. Henri Nouwen A Christ-centered Community Called to Deepen Faith, Serve Others and Foster Fellowship
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 Today is Thanksgiving. On this day, we focus as a nation on one thing: our thankfulness to God for all that He has blessed us. We gather in church in worship to offer thanks and we look forward to reunion with family and friends throughout the weekend. We have much to be thankful for, most especially God s love for us! This morning s worship service will hopefully be familiar as we say, Thank You repeatedly to our God. May the joy that accompanies Thanksgiving fill all our hearts this day! The following prayer invites us to prepare our hearts for worship and our lives for faithful living: Loving God, you have so made us that we cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from your mouth. Give us a hunger for your Word, and in that food satisfy our daily need; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 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/prayer-request/prayer-request form. 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. 2 ON THE COVER The Best Supper, Jan L. Richardson - used with permission In The Painted Prayer Book Jan writes that this piece was inspired by the image of Wisdom s Feast in Proverbs 9, [it] evokes the myriad meals that have fed me in body and soul. As I created this image, I was visited by memories of so many of the tables where I have found hospitality. Those memories are embedded among the pieces of this collage. Circling the table once again, I capture glimpses of those with whom I shared those sacred meals. I remember how we savored every scrap, how we lingered long after the last bite was consumed. Jan L. Richardson. janrichardson.com
FAMILY SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING 9:30 a.m., Sanctuary O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 THE GATHERING OPENING VOLUNTARIES Partita on Kremser Hymn prelude on Kremser Flor Peeters Craig Phillips * Those who are able are invited to stand at the ringing of the tower bell. * 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 praised! * HYMN 551 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come St. George s Windsor * PRAYER OF APPROACH PRAYER OF CONFESSION Generous God, you are the Creator of all that is good. As we gather together to worship you with joy and thanksgiving, and to offer our praises to you, fill us with your Holy Spirit. Overflow our hearts with your abundant love. May our words, our music, and our praises bring glory to your Holy Name, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Holy and merciful God, your glory shines light into all of our dark places. We have tried to hide our sin. We have concealed it from others, but you search our hearts and know us. You know even today on a day set aside for giving thanks that we are slow to thank you for how blessed we are. Lord, we admit today that without you, we would be nothing. Have mercy upon us, and forgive our hard-heartedness. Show us once again your faithful love. Grant us thankful hearts and open lives, so that the love we know in Jesus, your Son, would shine forth from our lives into a world that needs the gospel. Through the Spirit, we pray all these things in the name of Jesus, our Savior. KYRIE ELEISON Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Leo Sowerby * Those who are able are invited to stand. 3
ASSURANCE OF PARDON * OUR PRAISE FOR THE GIFT OF GOD S FORGIVENESS You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed, Well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happiness. God our Father, Christ our brother, with the Spirit ever blessed; Hold us in your love for ever; let our hearts in you find rest. WELCOME THE WORD CHORAL PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION For the harvests 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 READING Colossians 3:12-17 (Pew Bible, New Testament, page 201) Paul instructs us in what the Christian life looks like. PSALM 136:1-8 God s love is ev- er- last-ing. The antiphon will first be sung by the choir and then repeated by the congregation. All will sing the antiphon following the verses as indicated. 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. ANTIPHON. 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. ANTIPHON. 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. ANTIPHON. 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. ANTIPHON. 4
WORD WITH THE CHILDREN 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 And Be Thankful Rev. W. Adams, III THE THANKSGIVING * HYMN 559 We Gather Together Kremser 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. 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. * DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth 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. 5
THE LITANY OF THANKSGIVING 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 family; for living together and eating together; For family amusements and family pleasures; For children; for their energy and curiosity; For the young; for their high hopes; 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. 6
PRAYER FOR OTHERS 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. THE SENDING * HYMN 554 Let All Things Now Living Ash Grove 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. Please be respectful of those who wish to remain in a worshipful frame of mind. 7
KGHI GJ KLM HGNNO 1340 WMOK LQJR LSIM RQST BNQQUVGMNT HGNNO, MGWLGRSJ 48302 (248) 626-2515 kirkinthehills.org Office Hours Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Open Door Hours Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Worship Services during Advent Sunday, November 7 9:00 & 11:15 a.m. Matthew 24:36-44 Sunday, December 4 9:00 & 11:15 a.m. Matthew 3:1-12 Sunday, December 11 9:00 & 11:15 a.m. Matthew 11:2-11 Sunday, December 18 9:00 & 11:15 a.m. Matthew 1:18-25 Service of Comfort and Hope Wednesday, December 21 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Stay connected with Kirk in the Hills 8 William L. Adams III, Pastor Troy Hauser Brydon, Pastor Jessica Hauser Brydon, Temporary Supply Pastor Glenn A. Miller, Director of Music & Organist Dennis N. Curry, Associate Director of Music & Carillonneur