SPOTLIGHT ALL OUR SAINTS ON THIS “ALL SAINTS DAY – 2020”:
Participating in today’s worship: Bill, Laura, Marilyn, Sheri, Steve V. and Steve L. plus all NEC residents in the Theater Room (or by phone) including Garnet, Fern, Bev, Lisa, Bob, Betty, Janet, Ann, Betsy
LAURA reads Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;
he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.
He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.
He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in;
they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.
BILL – shares a prayer of praise
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, Alleluia
SHERI reads Psalm 43
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
SHERI – shares a prayer of confession
PRECIOUS LORD Words & Tune:Thomas Dorsey,1938
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, help me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near
When my life is al-most gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, help me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home
MARILYN READS Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat;
therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.
They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.
They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,
and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.
And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father–the one in heaven.
Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
The greatest among you will be your servant.
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
STEVE: Discussion of Worship Perspectives, Joys and/or Concerns…
- MWPC – those who have died since All Saints Day 2019 HERE
- Confluence of pandemics (COVID-19, racial injustice, income inequality, climate);
- HEALTH UPDATES:
- Betty’s “gorilla glue” update
- JOYS:
- Listing of Saints who have gone on before us…
- Merle is doing well though still in “lockdown”
STEVE: Prayer, including Joys & Concerns shared above
- Joys & Concerns shared above
- concluding with The Lord’s Prayer
O when the saints go marchin’ in,
O when the saints go marchin’ in,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marchin’ in.
O when the sun refuse to shine,
O when the sun refuse to shine,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the sun refuse to shine.
O when the moon goes down in blood,
O when the moon goes down in blood,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the moon goes down in blood.
O when the stars have disappeared,
O when the stars have disappeared,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the stars have disappeared,
O when they crown Him Lord of all,
O when they crown Him Lord of all,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When they crown Him Lord of all.
O when the day of judgment comes,
O when the day of judgment comes,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the day of judgment comes.
O when the saints go marchin’ in,
O when the saints go marchin’ in,
Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marchin’ in.