Not Far

October 31, 2021
Scott
Worship

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Service of Worship

Andante with Variations
F. Mendelssohn
Public Domain

Opening Prayer
In all our weakness and strength, with our youth-filled spirits and aging bodies,
     we come to be your people, O God.
Strong in faith and eager with questions, singing our praise and whispering our prayers,
     we come to be your people, O God.
Filled with saintly determination yet mindful of our human limitations,
     we come to be your people, O God.
Made strong in your endless love for us, we know ourselves to be yours and
     we come to be your people, O God.
May we truly become your people today. Amen.

Opening Hymn — #707 Hymn of Promise

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

Hymn Of Promise
Natalie Sleeth
© 1986 Hope Publishing Company
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Scripture Reading — Mark 12:28-34 (NRSV)

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Living God, maker of heaven and earth, we come into your presence and we know ourselves to be recipients of great and wonderful gifts — the earth, the sky, the waters — given to us here in such abundance and beauty. We lead enormously privileged lives. Don’t let our comfort blind us to the newness you are making in our midst — a newness that is taking us in directions we would not choose on our own; a newness that moves our safe horizons out beyond what we can control.

This much does not change: you are our God; we are your people, bound to you by the love of Jesus Christ and by the call of your Holy Spirit. Faithful God, hold us deep in that truth even as you move us into your new creation.

Creating and re-creating God, take us in our uncertainties and make us new. We pray in the name of your Son, who has gone ahead of us into your new future and who beckons us follow. Amen.

Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory — Barry and Leah

Down To The River To Pray
Traditional
Public Domain

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen…

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

Holy God, architect of the universe, you have wonderfully made every delicate intricacy of this world! Then you placed human beings in the center of it, as we stumble our way through living our lives in union with your will and in harmony with creation. As we offer our tithes and gifts this morning, we thank you for sending your Jesus to show us the way in simple language: loving you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. May our gifts be dedicated toward making both a reality. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Sermon – Scott
Not Far

Litany of the Saints
We bless your holy name, O God, for all your servants who, having finished their course, now rest from their labors. Give us grace to follow the example of their steadfastness and faithfulness, to your honor and glory; through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

Remembering Our Saints
(Names of members of our church who died since last All Saints’ Day.)
Response after each name: Absent from the body. Present with the Lord.

Lorna Beth King, January 19, 2021
Gene A. Gesch, March 7, 2021
Richard Donaldson, March 12, 2021
Karen O. Day, March 20, 2021
Wilfredo C. Untalan, July 17, 2021
Romeo C. Pangan, September 12, 2021

Remembering Family Members Who Were Not Members of This Church
(Others who have died this past year but formally were not members of this church.)
Let us pray in silence as we rejoice and keep festival in honor of all the saints. (Pause)

(Pastor:) Almighty God, your saints are one with you in the mystical body of Christ: give us grace to follow them in all virtue and holiness until we come to those inexpressible joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

Closing Hymn — #711 For All the Saints (v. 1-4)

1. For all the saints
Who from their labours rest
Who Thee by faith
Before the world confessed
Thy name O Jesus
Be forever blest
Alleluia

2. Thou wast their Rock
Their Fortress and their Might
Thou Lord their Captain
In the well fought fight
Thou in the darkness drear
Their one true Light
Alleluia

3. O may Thy soldiers
Faithful true and bold
Fight as the saints
Who nobly fought of old
And win with them
The victor’s crown of gold
Alleluia

4. O blest communion
Fellowship divine
We feebly struggle
They in glory shine
Yet all are one in Thee
For all are Thine
Alleluia

For All The Saints
William Walsham How | Ralph Vaughn Williams
Public Domain

Benediction

The Spirit of God is upon you and has anointed you. You are the salt of the earth and you bring light to the world. You are not too young or too old, you are not too rich or too needy to bring good news to the impoverished, to give a hand to the broken-hearted, and to live out freedom and pardon through the gifts you have been given. So remember to pack peace in your toolbox, hope in your briefcase, love in your lunch box, and may integrity, honesty, and joy be your designer wear of choice. Do not be frightened, for you are never alone. The God in whose image you are made will walk with you and guide you today, tomorrow, and every day. Amen.

Postlude – Hani

Allegro assai from Drottningholmsmusiken
J.H. Roman
Public Domain