Crandall United Methodist Church

Special Music: Stefanie

 

Centering Words:

 

Hope. Holy hope. Who guided you to God’s rumbling wellspring? Who needs you to point the way to God?

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:    God is from everlasting to everlasting.

People:   The Holy One inhabits all eternity and everything that is, or was, or ever will be.

Leader:    God is the source, guide, and goal of our lives.

People:   We acknowledge God as the center of our lives and of our world, not ourselves.

Leader:    We come today to worship God.

People:   We come with thanks and praise.

Leader:    Let us humble ourselves before God’s holy presence.

People:   May God teach us the ways of life as we pray.

 

ALL: In the stillness of this moment, awaken us to the astonishing truth that your love is like the celebratory love of a couple on their wedding day. Help us choose again to live in your love and to yield every aspect of our lives to your divine rule. Amen.

 

Hymn: “Give Thanks”

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

give thanks to the Holy One,

give thanks because he's given

Jesus Christ his Son.

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

give thanks to the Holy One,

give thanks because he's given

Jesus Christ his Son.

 

And now let the weak say "I am strong";

let the poor same, "I am rich

because of what the Lord has done for us

 

And now let the weak say "I am strong";

let the poor same, "I am rich

because of what the Lord has done for us

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

give thanks to the Holy One,

give thanks because he's given

Jesus Christ his Son.

 

 

Give Thanks with a grateful heart,

give thanks to the Holy One,

give thanks because he's given

Jesus Christ his Son.

 

And now let the weak say "I am strong";

let the poor same, "I am rich

because of what the Lord has done for us

 

And now let the weak say "I am strong";

let the poor same, "I am rich

because of what the Lord has done for us

 

Give thanks!

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

Beloved of Christ, get up and get dressed, it is time to go to a wedding!

Trade your sweats for your fancy clothes. Kick off your well-worn sneakers and lace up your dancing shoes!

Christ has already chosen you! Will you choose to live in Christ’s love?

We choose God’s saving love again.

We choose holy joy for our lives.

We choose the Risen Christ.

Halleluia! Amen!

 

*Gospel Reading: Matthew  25:1-13

 

¹ “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ 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.’ ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Time with Young Friends:  “Jesus Loves Me”

 

Children’s Message: “Thanks-giving”

 

Hymn: “Thy Word is a Lamp”

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

and a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,

think I've lost my way,

still you're there

right beside me,

and nothing will I fear

as long as your are near.

Please be near me to the end.

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

and a light unto my path.

Now I will not forget

your love for me and yet

my heart forever is wandering.

Jesus, be my guide

and hold me to your side,

and I will love you to the end.

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet

and a light unto my path.

 

Sermon: “Enter the Gates”  Psalm 100

 

¹      Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

²      Worship the Lord with gladness;

come into his presence with singing.

³      Know that the Lord is God.

It is he that made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴      Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name.

⁵      For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

 RESPONSE TO THE WORD  

 

Hymn: “Great Is the Lord”

 

Great is the Lord, he is holy and just;

by the power we trust in his love.

Great is the Lord, he is faithful and true;

by his mercy he proves he is love.

 

Great is the Lord and worthy of glory!

Great is the lord and worthy of praise.

Great is the Lord; now lift up your voice,

now lift up your voice:

Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

 

Great is the Lord, he is holy and just;

by the power we trust in his love.

Great is the Lord, he is faithful and true;

by his mercy he proves he is love.

 

Great is the Lord and worthy of glory!

Great is the lord and worthy of praise.

Great is the Lord; now lift up your voice,

now lift up your voice:

Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

 

Great are you, Lord, and worthy of glory!

Great are you, Lord, and worthy of praise.

Great are you, Lord; I lift up my voice,

I lift up my voice:

Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

 

Great are you Lord! Great are you Lord!

 

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns:        

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer   

 

SENDING FORTH

 

Hymn: “He Has Made Me Glad”

 

I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart,

I will enter his courts with praise.

I will say, "This is the day that the Lord has made."

I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.

 

He has made me glad, he has made me glad.

I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.

He has made me glad, he has made me glad.

I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.

 

I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart,

I will enter his courts with praise.

I will say, "This is the day that the Lord has made."

I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.

 

He has made me glad, he has made me glad.

I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.

He has made me glad, he has made me glad.

I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.

 

Benediction