The Service in PDF format is at: November 22, 2020 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
AS WE GATHER…Today is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. This Sunday is traditionally filled with themes of Christ’s roles as King and Judge. But consider these words from Psalm 95: “We are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” We are God’s chosen sheep. He is our Shepherd. We follow Him as He goes to seek the lost, bring back the stray, and bind up the injured.
OPENING HYMN: “Down to the River to Pray”
(Previously recorded)
Arranged by Eric Bright © Words: Public Domain Music: 2007 Anthony K. Music
As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin’ about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord show me the way
Oh sisters let’s go down
Let’s go down come on down
Oh sisters let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin’ about that good ole way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord show me the way
Oh brothers let’s go down
Let’s go down come on down
Oh brothers let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin’ about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord show me the way
Oh sinners let’s go down
Let’s go down come on down
Oh sinners let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin’ about that good ole way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord show me the way
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
PSALM 95
Pastor: Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
People: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Pastor: For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
People: In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
Pastor: The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
People: Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
Pastor: For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Indeed, our heavenly Father has called us to be His people. He has led us to green pastures and still waters. Yet, there have been times when we have treated our fellow sheep with disdain, when we have wandered away from our Shepherd. But our Good Shepherd does not abandon us, and we confess our sins before Him and one another.
Silence for reflection
Pastor: Heavenly Father,
People: we confess that we have wandered away from
You. We confess that we have acted shamefully toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have sinned in our thoughts, words, and actions. We have failed by our inactivity. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, O Lord, that we might follow You to the green pastures and still waters of everlasting life.
Pastor: Our heavenly Father has heard Your confession and sent
His only Son, Jesus, to be our Good Shepherd. Jesus searches for each one of His sheep. He brings back those who have strayed. He binds up the injured. He even lays down His life for the sheep. By Christ’s death and resurrection, God forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen. We are sought by our Shepherd. We are forgiven in Christ.
Pastor: Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, You care for all people regardless of their wealth or heritage, and You have made us heirs of Your salvation. Strengthen us, that we care for the poor, weak, and lonely, and that all our neighbors may know Your gracious love; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Joyce Long
Reader: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
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 Spirit, Born of the virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy Christian Church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life + everlasting. Amen.
Pastor: Dear heavenly Father, You promise to seek the lost. We pray for all those who have wandered away from Your Church. We pray that You would strengthen us to reach out to them, to receive them with open arms and open hearts when they return home. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
People: Give ear to our cry.
Pastor: Lord, You promise to strengthen the weak. Send Your strength and courage to all those who need it, to the aging, the lonely, the tired, and the vulnerable. Protect and defend them from the wolves of this world. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
People: Give ear to our cry.
Pastor: Lord, You promise to rescue Your flock from all enemies. Guard and keep us from the enemies of sin, death, and Satan. Lead us away from temptation and always closer to the arms of our Good Shepherd. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
People: Give ear to our cry.
Pastor: Lord, You promise to bind up the injured. Bring Your healing to all those who suffer now through injury, illness, and oppression, [especially . . .]. Heal them according to Your good and gracious will. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
People: Give ear to our cry.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.
People: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”
(Previously Recorded)
Words & Music by Rick Founds© 1989 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing
Lord, I lift Your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing Your praises.
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay;
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky;
Lord, I lift Your Name on high.
Lord, I lift Your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing Your praises.
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay;
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky;
Lord, I lift Your Name on high.
DISMISSAL