We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Prelude: All Creatures of Our God and King/ Geistliche Kirchengesang— in the Style of Haydn’s Sonata in D Major
Gathering Hymn: Hymnal #358 For All the Saints
Announcements:
Today:
- 9:00 Sunday School for all ages. Pre-k – 7th meet downstairs; the High School and Adult Class meets in the Sanctuary.
- 10:30 Worship in the sanctuary.
- 6:00 pm, Reformation Service with our sister churches. A time of refreshments and fellowship will follow.
This Week:
- 5:00 pm, Tuesday, Reformation Day Party. Join us for dinner and bring a fall dessert to share. All are welcome; there will be fun outside activities, and learning about key reformers. Medieval-themed costumes are welcome!
- 4:30 pm, Wednesday, Music Practice.
- 5:00 pm, Wednesday, Son Light Puppeteer practice.
- 5:30 pm, Wednesday, Kids’ Quest for grades pre-k-4th and the Middle School Youth for grades 5th-7th begin. Meal provided.
- 6:15 pm, Wednesday, High School Youth Group at the Community Center for grades 8th-12th. Meal provided.
- 6:30-7:30 pm, Wednesday, “The Study of Eschatology”
- 6 am, Thursday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
- 6:30 pm, Thursday, Loving Him Well (Women’s Study) at the church.
- 8:45 am, Friday, MOPS meets at the church.
- 8 am, Saturday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
General:
- 5:00 pm, November 6th, Deacon meeting.
- 5:30 pm, November 12th, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s. (Address in bulletin) Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, November 12th, “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community groups at the church. We will enjoy a fellowship potluck together and sing as a large group. Then we will break into smaller groups for study and prayer.
- 6:00 pm, November 12th, Piedmont Area “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community group (address in bulletin).
- 5:00 pm, November 14th, Session Meeting.
- November 19th, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
- 5:00 pm, November 19th, we will give thanks together in a worship service and share a traditional thanksgiving meal. We’ll be asking you to both RSVP and sign up to bring food to share with your church family. It will be most helpful for all supplies to be at the church by Wed, November 15th.
- November 22nd, there will be no Wednesday Evening activities.
- November 26th, there will be no Sunday School.
- During the month of October, our Ministry Focus is the Elementary School’s Coat Drive. If you are contributing any new or gently used coats, please bring to the basket in the Foyer by October 29th.
- Days 306-335 of the Family Devotional are available to be picked up from the basket on the table in the Foyer.
- This November we will be blessing some families in need with Thanksgiving meals. Check your email and text for the link to sign up. Bring all items to the church by November 12th.
- We are in need of a Children’s Church teacher for the date of November 26th. If you are willing to teach this day, please let Emily or Kristen know.
- Please take a Mercy Bag from the basket in the Foyer and bless a person who is in need. This bag includes toiletries, a McDonald’s gift card, and a Christian tract.
Responsive Call to Worship: Psalm 84: 1, 4, 10 – 12
Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
All: Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Leader: For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
All: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Leader: For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.
All: No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Leader: O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
All: Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Songs of Faith #2 Reformation Song
We Confess Our Sin
Call to Confession: Based on Hebrews 4: 15
Leader: Remember that our Lord Jesus can sympathize with us in our weakness, since in every respect he was tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with boldness approach the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Knowing this is true, let us in faith freely confess our sins.
Silent Confession of Sin
Corporate Prayer of Confession:
All: Lord, Your Word tells us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. But our lives are often a poor reflection of who You are. Forgive us, we pray, for being too distracted and focused on our selfish concerns and ambitions. May we know what it is to be truly humble, to deny ourselves and to take up our cross to follow your Son. It is in the giving of ourselves to You that we find true grace, mercy, and peace. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Responsive Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 103: 8 – 12
Leader: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
All: He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Leader: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Hymn of Assurance: How Deep The Father’s Love for Us
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Ordination And Installation of Daniel B., Thomas C., Clay K., Oriah L., and Aaron S. as Deacons
Hymn of Response: Facing a Task Unfinished
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God/Martin Luther. A Christian hymn that describes God as our defense. The hymn was written in 1529, in the days of castles, when they were used as metaphors to describe God as our defense. The hymn is a cornerstone of Christian hymnody and was written by one of the most famous and beloved Christians in history. It is a reminder that God is our fortress to hide us and protect us in time of need.
Doxology
We Hear God Speak
Small Talk
(Following this time, a nursery is available, Toddlers’ Church for ages 2-4, and Children’s Church for ages 5-8.)
Prayer of God’s People
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, The power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Navigating Life Seen Through a Glass Dimly Romans 14: 5 – 9
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 10-29-23 sermon notes
Audio Only:
Hymn of Response: Give Thanks
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Hymn: Step By Step
Postlude: All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above/Bohemian Brethren’s Gesangbuch, 1566