CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Questions for Reflection:
What do you have to offer to the building of a better world, God’s kingdom on earth?
Prelude “Spirit, Open My Heart” Ruth Duck,1994, sung by Keisha Prime
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living. As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving. Spirit, open my heart. Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story. In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.
Call to Worship
Clothe yourselves with faith and love; be confident in your salvation in Christ Jesus. The Lord is with us! Let us worship God.
Opening Prayer
God of righteousness, you overcome those who abuse their power and lift up those who suffer. Even now, when evil seems to hold sway, we know that you will have the last word. Keep us faithful as we wait and watch for your coming righteousness, when you will welcome all your children into your kingdom of justice, peace, and love. Amen.
"Take my Life and Let it Be" Frances Ridley Havergal, 1874, sung by Keisha Prime
Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in cease-less praise.
Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing, Always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee
Prayer for Illumination
Shine your light on your Word, O Lord; by your Spirit let us see your wonder. For your justice outruns our sense of fairness; your love overwhelms our deepest affections. Open our eyes, unstop our ears, and show us your most excellent way. Amen.
Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures: Psalm 92:1—5
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!
Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 25: 14—30
“
For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master. Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Sermon “ With What Shall I Come Before the Lord? ” The Rev. Russell Lehman
Music “On Eagles’ Wings” Michael Joncas, 1978 sung by Keisha Prime
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in his shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”
Refrain
And he will raise you up on eagles’ wings, bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear:
Under his wings, your refuge, his faithfulness your shield.
Refrain
You need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day;
Though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come.
Refrain
For to his angels he’s given a command TO guard you in all of your ways;
Upon their hands they will bear you up, let you dash your foot against a stone.
Refrain
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Prayers of Intercession
Holy God, you welcome us into your joy and entrust us with your gospel. In hope for the world to come and with love for the world you made, we offer our prayers for your church, your earth, and your people.
For your church, in this community and around the world, that your good news may be proclaimed to all . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For oppressors, that they might know justice, and those oppressed, that they might know peace . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For your creation, that we may be the caretakers you intend . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For the young, that they might be nurtured in love . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For the old, that they might be secure in your care . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For those who fight the demons of addiction, that they might find relief . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For those who face an early death and those they leave behind, that they might be comforted . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For all those who care for the suffering and those in their charge, that they would be freed from pain and fear . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
For all of those about whom we worry and those whose troubles are known only to you . . . God of grace, hear our prayer.
All this we pray with gratitude for your eternal love and extravagant grace; in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
A Statement about Offering our Gifts
Friends, trusting in God’s providence, we share not only the gospel of Christ but our lives as well. In this time of pandemic and separation, let us remember that we are still the church, Christ’s body at work in the world.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Prayer of Dedication
For all that you are and all that you do, we give you thanks, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We wait in hope for the coming of your realm and offer these gifts to further your kingdom on earth; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Charge
Encourage one another and build each other up, faithfully working together for the kingdom of God, as we await the day of Christ’s coming .
BLESSING
May the God of creation work wonders in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Postlude "O What Shall I Render?" Latin American hymn and melody sung by Keisha Prime
O what shall I render
For love so unbounded
That led Thee, dear Savior,
For sinners to die?
Receive, I beseech Thee,
My heart’s humble offering:
Thanksgiving and praises,
My glad heart upraises
To Thee, Lord, on high.
Thanksgiving and praises,
My glad heart upraises
To Thee, Lord, on high.
?Conque pagaremos
Amor tan inmenso?
Que diste tu vida
Por el peccador;
En cambio recibes
La ofrenda humilde,
La ofrenda humilde,
Senor Jesucristo,
De me Corazon,
La ofrenda humilde,
Senor Jesucristo,
De mi Corazon.
And when the night draweth
Its curtains of darkness,
My eyes view Thy glories
The heavens declare;
And back of the starlight
I know God my Father,
Or waking or sleeping,
Is lovingly keeping
Me in his deep care.
Is lovingly keeping
Me in his deep care.