November 2012 Archives

THE PROPETIC LESSON Joel 2:21-27

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mathew 6:25-33

SERMON "Living Without Regret"

WORSHIP NOTES

In today's worship we celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday. The music and liturgy revolve around this most important of human activities -- giving thanks for the many gifts we receive from God. Our central text is taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount where he encourages his followers to live free from anxiety and worry.

As part of our response to God's gracious Word, you are encouraged to come forward and present yourself and your gifts of offerings, pledges, and groceries.

THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 12:38-44

THE HEBREW SCRIPTURE Ruth 3:1-5,4:13-17

SERMON "The Story of Ruth"

WORSHIP NOTES

As is our tradition here at Westminster, we observe the second Sunday of November as Stewardship Sunday where we commit our time, talents, and treasures in service to God's kingdom.

Our worship today centers on the story of Ruth as an illustration of stewardship, faithfulness and God's constant care for us in the midst of our lives. We begin with words from 1 Corinthians reminding us of the source of all our gifts. We read from the gospel of Mark the story of the widow's mite as well as a portion of the book of Ruth. The Affirmation of Faith is taken from a section of the Confession of 1967 emphasizing our relationship to Creation and our Creator.

THE EPISTLE LESSON Hebrews 12:1-3

THE GOSPEL LESSON John 11:32-44

SERMON "Unbound"

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to worship at Westminster on this All Saints Sunday. The first Sunday in November is reserved for our remembrance and celebration of those who have gone from our lives and who have join the communion of saints with our Lord God in heaven.

The focus of this service is not on the experience of death and loss, but rather on the celebration of life and the witness to the resurrection. Those "saints" whom we remember by name in worship today are individuals from this congregation who have died since last All Saints Sunday in November 2011. As the name of each person is read aloud, a bell is tolled, and a family member or designee take light from the Christ Candle to light another candle, which is a visible reminder of the presence of the deceased who gather with us at the table for the communion of the saints. As we worship, we recall the ways in which we, like these individuals, live out our response to God's call upon our lives within this community and in mission to Christ's church and the wider world.

Communion today will be received by intinction. After coming forward to receive the elements, you may wish to step behind the communion table to light a candle in celebration of the memory of someone from your life who is now among the communion of saints.