ORDER OF WORSHIP
November 5, 2023 10:30 AM
TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE ”Organ Prelude” Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 107)
Leader: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
PEOPLE: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from trouble
Leader: and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
PEOPLE: Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town;
Leader: hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
PEOPLE: they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their
distress;
Leader: Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
PEOPLE: He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
Leader: And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in;
PEOPLE: they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.
INVOCATION
God our Creator, we come together here in this company to give thanks for all that you have provided for us and to make known our devotion to you and all the universe that you oversee, from the time before time to that time in eternity, Amen.
**OPENING HYMN: “God of Our Fathers” Blue #262
CALL TO CONFESSION
As humans, we are flawed and sinful creatures, and time and again we come to ask for forgiveness. Please join me in our shared prayer of confession.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Oh God, who appointed Christ our high priest, may he intercede for us as we confess our shortcomings. We are lame when we don’t walk by faith. We are blind when we don’t seek your truth. We crave self-fulfillment, rather than righteousness. Our sins keep us in bondage to ourselves. Through Jesus, release us from our captivity, and in him forgive us as we go about our lives in faith.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Remember that Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by God, the Father. We confess our sins with the assurance that Christ intercedes on our behalf as through him we are forgiven. Amen!
**GLORIA PATRI.
**APOSTLES CREED (Traditional)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting.
Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” Blue #379
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from your mouth. Make us hungry for this heavenly food, that it may nourish us today in the ways of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING Micah 3: 5-12 Rob Ferguson
EPISTLE READING 1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13
GOSPEL READING Matthew 23: 1-12
SERMON MESSAGE Stern Words from Jesus John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:
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
COMMUNION HYMN “Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread” Blue #505
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Prayer after Communion
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “Eternal Light, Shine in My Heart”
**DOXOLOGY (Traditional)
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
**CLOSING HYMN “Go with Us, Lord” Blue #535
BENEDICTION
May the strength of God sustain us; may the power of God preserve us; may the hands of God protect us; may the way of God direct us; may the love of God go with us this day and forever. Amen
POSTLUDE “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
https://www.newburghpresby.org/
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
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