Watchword for the Week
Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither
the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:13)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2017)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
(Psalm 78:1-7 – The Message translation, adapted)
Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth,
bend your ears to what I tell you;
I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths,
Stories we heard from our fathers,
counsel we learned at our mother’s knee.
We’re not keeping this to ourselves,
we’re passing it along to the next generation –
God’s fame and fortune,
the marvellous things he has done.
He commanded our parents
to teach his Word to their children
so the next generation would know,
and all the generations to come –
Know the truth and tell the stories
so their children can trust in God,
Never forget the works of God
but keep his commands for ever.
Hymn 127 * O worship the King, all glorious
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
PRAYER of APPROACH
Eternal God, Maker of the skies above,
lowly Christ, Lover of the earth and its people,
unfettered Spirit, Giver of gracious gifts,
you are present among us.
O hidden mystery, sun behind all suns,
soul within all souls, in all we touch,
in all we meet, you are present among us.
As bearers of your image,
we come to be reshaped;
dependent on your mercy,
we ask to be made new.
We confess that, at times, it is too easy to fall
asleep to the injustices around us,
the injuries that do not leave us bleeding,
the pain that does not cause us to cry out,
the worry that we do not lose any sleep over,
the suffering that does not pain our own hearts.
We know that we are to be present. We know
that we are one body, interconnected, and
interwoven. And yet there is aching within our
body that we are numb to.
(Silence)
For all we should be
and all we can amend,
God, in your love, renew us.
For all you have in store for us
and all you may demand of us,
God, in your love, prepare us.
For the life of the world
and the love of its people,
God, in your love, commit us.
Chorus Kyrie eleison (Taizé)
As we sing this chorus, you are invited to light
your candle and place it on the altar.
WORDS of ASSURANCE
Hear and believe these words of Jesus:
Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace.
Come and follow me.
Glory to the Creator who gives us life,
Glory to Jesus whose love remakes us,
Glory to the Spirit, companion on our journey.
Glory be to God! Amen.
Hymn 760 * Gloria in excelsis Deo (Taizé)
CHILDREN’S TIME
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NT p. 258 (257)
St. Matthew 25:1-13 NT p. 37
People may stand for the Gospel reading.
The word of God: Thanks be to God!
Hymn 276 * Wait for the Lord (Taizé)
SERMON Dipl. Theol. Geeske Brinkmann
(Humboldt University, Berlin)
Chorus The kingdom of God (Taizé)
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
The kingdom of God is justice and peace
and joy in the Holy Spirit. Come, Lord,
and open in us the gates of your kingdom.
DEDICATION PRAYER (in unison)
Gracious God, receive our gifts,
tokens of thanks for your extravagant
blessings, signs of trust in your coming
reign of justice, peace, and love.
As oil fuels a lamp, so may these gifts
fuel our own discipleship. Amen.
NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS
Response: Eternal God: hear our prayer.
The LORD’S PRAYER
(Please pray in your own preferred language / version.)
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 trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us. And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and
the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn 749 * Soon and very soon
(Hymn of the Month, November 2017)
BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)
ORGAN POSTLUDE
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