Nov. 8 Livestream

We had originally hoped to take the first steps toward in-person worship today. However, with the increase in COVID-19 cases, it’s best to put these plans on hold for the health of our members and the community. Please continue to stay safe as we all work together to find the healthiest way forward.

Responsive Call to Worship/ Pastor Dan
One: We come to worship, because we want to know God,
All: who helps us to leave behind the past, and to walk ahead on a path to new life.
One: We pause on this Sabbath day, because we want to know Jesus,
All: who offer us grace, and who inspires us to be givers.
One: We share in joyful acts of praise, because we want to know the Spirit,
All: who guides us to serve God with gladness!

Prayer of Invocation / Pastor Dan
One: Let us pray together.
All: God of this new day; we rejoice that you are God of all the earth! We worship you, Christ Jesus. Singing your praises fills us with joy, and blesses us beyond words. In you, Jesus, we find a treasure. In you, we experience a pure goodness that cares for and affirms everyone. In you, we receive a comfort that delivers us from all our fears.
In you, we come in contact with an exceptional love that surrounds and encourages, reassures and calms.
You are a true refuge, O God, in time of trouble. Your faithful support strengthens us in our weakness, fills us in our hunger, and finds us when we are lost. During every sacred time of worship, you bless us anew. Here and now, we are found.
Thank you, Gentle Shepherd, for watching over us and for leading us. Amen.

Hymn/ “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” #389

1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me;
   See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me.

REFRAIN
Come home, come home, Ye who are weary, come home;
Earnestly tenderly, Jesus is calling. Calling, O sinner, come home!

2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, Pleading for you and for me?
   Why should we linger and heed not His mercies, Mercies for you and for me?

REFRAIN

3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, Passing from you and from me;
   Shadows are gathering, death’s night is coming, Coming for you and for me.

REFRAIN

4. O for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me!
   Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me.

REFRAIN

Children’s Message/ Ashton

Prayers of the Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer/ Pastor Dan

Special Music/ “Keep Your Lamps” Anna and Aaron DiVesta

Scripture Reading/ Pastor Dan Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon/ Pastor Dan

Prayers of God’s Church concluding with the Lord’s Prayer/ Pastor Dan

Hymn/ “Hymn of Promise” #277

1. In the bulb there is a flower; In the seed, an apple tree;
   In cocoons, a hidden promise: Butterflies will soon be free!
   In the cold and snow of winter There’s a spring that waits to be,
   Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.
2. There’s a song in every silence, Seeking word and melody;
   There’s a dawn in every darkness, Bringing hope to you and me.
   From the past will come the future; What it holds, a mystery,
   Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.
3. In our end is our beginning; In our time, infinity.
   In our doubt there is believing; In our life, eternity.
   In our death a resurrection; At the last, a victory.
   Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

Benediction/ Pastor Dan

Postlude/ Anna