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November 8 Worship

 

CCLI license #1913561

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Questions for Reflection:

What does it mean to live in hope? It must mean more than just waiting; how do we live as a people of hope?

Prelude     “Spirit, Open My Heart”    Ruth Duck,1994, sung by Keisha Prime

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

People of God, listen: the Lord has done marvelous things.  Teach your children all that God has done so that they may live in hope and die in peace.

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, you are our hope and our salvation, for in Jesus Christ you have conquered death.  Increase in us our faith and keep us watchful, that we may welcome Christ with joy when he comes to set the whole world free. Amen.

Music           “Blessed Assurance”    Fanny Jane Crosby 1873  sung by Keisha Prime

Sung by Keisha Prime

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain
Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Refrain

Prayer for Illumination   

By the power of your Holy Spirit, speak to us of your promises that we might hear your truth and enjoy you forever; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures: Psalm 78: 1—7

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God,  and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 25: 1—13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids1 took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.  As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.  But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'  Then all those bridesmaids   got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.  But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.  Later the other bridesmaids1 came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'  But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.'  Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Sermon              “ Keeping Hope”             The Rev. Russell Lehman

Music          People Get Ready  by Crystal Lewis      sung by Keisha Prime

Sung by Keisha Prime

Lord I'm ready now
I'm waiting for Your triumphant return
You’re coming so soon
This world has nothing for me
I find my peace and joy solely in You
Only in You.
I want the world to see that
You're alive and living well in me
Let me be a part of the harvest
For the days are few
He’s coming soon

People get ready Jesus is comin’
Soon we'll be going home
People get ready Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own

There will be a day
When we will be divided right and left
For those who know Him
And those who do not know
Those who know Him well
Will meet Him in the air
Hallelujah
God is with us
Those who do not know
They will hear "Depart, I knew you not"
For my friends you see
There will be a day when we’ll be counted
So know Him well, know Him well

People get ready Jesus is comin’
Soon we'll be going home
People get ready Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own
People get ready Jesus is comin’
Soon we'll be going home
People get ready, Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own.

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Prayers of Intercession (pastor/people)

God of life, you created the world and called it good. In Jesus Christ you came to redeem us; his resurrection is our promise of eternal life. By the power of your Spirit you claim us, strengthen us, and prepare us to live with you in glory.

In sure and certain hope, we pray for your world, that we may live into your coming reign of justice and peace. . .Eternal God, hear our prayer

For the church, wherever it thrives and wherever it struggles— keep us faithful to your gospel. . . . Eternal God, hear our prayer.

For those who govern—grant them wisdom and a commitment to justice. . . Eternal God, hear our prayer

For planet Earth—heal its wounds and make us better stewards of its wonders and gifts. . . Eternal God, hear our prayer

For those who are dying—calm all fears and welcome them into your peace. . . . Eternal God, hear our prayer.

For those who suffer from anxieties and ills—give them relief. . . . Eternal God, hear our prayer.

For those who endure the days and nights without food or shelter— feed and protect them. . . . Eternal God, hear our prayer.

For those who suffer in silence— comfort those who carry secret sorrows. . . . Eternal God, hear our prayer.

For all who seek your peace . . . Eternal God, hear our prayer.

With thanks that you hear our prayers, spoken and unspoken, we entrust all of life to you, gracious God, our Alpha and Omega, our only hope in life and in death; through Jesus Christ we pray. 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 

Freely we have received; freely we give, with gratitude and joy.
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

Gracious God, receive our gifts, tokens of thanks for your extravagant blessings, signs of our enduring hope in your coming reign of justice, peace, and love; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Charge

Keep awake, for Christ is coming.  Live as people of hope until He comes to gather us to His welcome table, where we will feast in joy.

BLESSING

May the grace of God surround you, the love of God uphold you, and the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal hope as you wait and work for the kingdom of our God.

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.