The Hungry Fantine

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Service of Worship

O For The Wings Of A Dove
Felix Mendelssohn
Public Domain

Opening Prayer
We come, for God gathers us here,
with that community called faith:
where the hungry are served first,
where the thirsty drink life’s water.
We come, for God welcomes us here
into that home called grace:
where the naked are clothed in robes of hope;
where the stranger is embraced as the long-lost prodigal.
We come, for God reunites us here,
sisters and brothers in that family called love:
where the imprisoned model justice,
where the sick are cradled in God’s peace.

Opening Hymn — #530 Are Ye Able

1. “Are ye able,” said the Master,
“To be crucified with me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered,
“To the death we follow Thee.”

Refrain
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.

2. Are ye able to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

Refrain

3. Are ye able when the shadows
Close around you with the sod,
To believe that spirit triumphs,
To commend your soul to God?

Refrain

4. Are ye able? Still the Master
Whispers down eternity,
And heroic spirits answer,
Now as then in Galilee.

Refrain

Are Ye Able
Earl Marlatt | Harry S Mason
Public Domain

Scripture Reading — Matthew 25:31-45 (NRSV)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Children’s Time with Ms Becky

Announcements, Joys and Concerns, and Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

God of us all,
Too many are hungry and too many are thirsty.
Too many are lonely and too many are in pain.
We feel the need, even in our own hearts and beings.
We wish we had the answers and solutions,
But we are falling short.
Help us to see clearly where we are called to help,
And to know confidently of our gifts to do the work you call us to.
In preparing us to serve, help us heal from our own brokenness,
Revive us, renew us, and restore us to wholeness.
Be with those whose need for healing and help weighs upon our hearts
And ease the anxiety we feel, releasing us from the chains of need
To be providers to the needy.
All this we ask, knowing that you are capable of all,
That you hear all, and that you already know all.
Send your Spirit, heal your people,
And be the hope we so desperately seek.
Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, 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 — Marshall

My Tribute
Andraé Crouch
© 1971 Bud John Songs, Inc.
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

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

Thank you, Lord,
for all the gifts you have entrusted to us.
Help us to remember
that all we have comes from you
and is to be used to serve you.
Make us faithful and trustworthy servants,
always ready for your return.
Amen.

Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
The Hungry Fantine

Closing Hymn — #432 Jesu, Jesu

Refrain
Jesu Jesu
Fill us with Your love
Show us how to serve
The neighbors we have from You

1. Kneels at the feet of His friends
Silently washes their feet
Master who acts as a slave to them

Refrain

2. Neighbors are rich and poor
Neighbors are black and white
Neighbors are near and far away

Refrain

3. These are the ones we should serve
These are the ones we should love
All these are neighbors to us and You

Refrain

4. Loving puts us on our knees
Serving as though we are slaves
This is the way we should live with You

Refrain

5. Kneel at the feet of our friends
Silently washing their feet
This is the way we should live with You

Refrain

Communion Blessing and Benediction

It is not enough to acclaim Jesus Christ
as our Lord and King.
Our mission in life is
to make his kingdom a reality among us
and to bring it to those around us
by our words and deeds.
The way to do this is to live as he lived:
for others, in love and service.
May almighty God bless you for this task:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
and to give shape to his kingdom. Thanks be to God!

Postlude – Hani

Menuet Gothique
Leon Boellmann
Public Domain