The worship service today will be led by Rev. Carolyn Cordray-Floyd, a retired clergy member of our congregation. She is filling the pulpit for Rev. Drew Hart and Caroline as they attend their daughter’s wedding. Our best wishes to Drew and Caroline in this momentous time in their families lives. May God richly bless the union of Rachel Hart and Malcolm Cabello.
If there are no children needing to use our nursery, our volunteers attend worship. Children are certainly welcome in the sanctuary, but if you do need to make use of the nursery, please tell the usher and he or she will see to it that care will be provided. Thank you for your understanding.
Today is All Saints Sunday and we honor our family members and friends who have passed since November of 2022. This year we will also celebrate children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that have been born during this time. We invite a family to stand as the name is read, a candle is lit and a bell is tolled – white for the deceased and green for a new birth.
Prelude – “Near to the Heart of God,” – arr. by Lani Smith
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship
Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. (Isaiah 2:5) Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
Hymn – “Forward Through the Ages” – UMH #555
Refrain:
Forward through the ages,
In unbroken line,
Move the faithful spirits
At the call divine.
- Forward through the ages, in unbroken line,
Move the faithful spirits at the call divine.
Gifts in diff’ring measure, hearts of one accord,
Manifold the service, one the sure reward; [Refrain] - Wider grows the kingdom, reign of love and light;
For it we must labor, till our faith is sight.
Prophets have proclaimed it, martyrs testified,
Poets sung its glory, Heroes for it died. [Refrain] - Not alone we conquer, not alone we fall;
In each loss or triumph lose or triumph all.
Bound by God’s far purpose in one living whole,
Move we on together to the shining goal! [Refrain]
Psalm 150 – Hymnal page 862
Children’s Message – Genesis 1:37 and 1:31
Sharing Concerns and Joys
Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Hymn – “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” – TFWS #2051
- I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. - I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell. - When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. - If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk ’till rising sun. - In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun. - When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise. - I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.
Gospel Reading – Mark 12:28-34
28One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
29Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord,30and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength.31The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
32The legal expert said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have truthfully said that God is one and there is no other besides him. 33And to love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices.”
34When Jesus saw that he had answered with wisdom, he said to him, “You aren’t far from God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- L: The Word of God, the Word of Life.
- P: Thanks be to God!
Sermon – Interwoven with God’s Love
Lighting of the Celebratory Candles
The Giving of God’s Tithe and our Offerings
Choir Anthem – “Peace be with You” – by Mary McDonald
*Doxology
Heavenly Creator, we are indeed thankful for the blessings you have seen fit to bestow upon us. Grant that these offerings may serve you in the building up of your heavenly kingdom within us and around us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Sacrament of Holy Communion
*Hymn – “Let All Things Now Living” – TFWS #2008
- Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the Creator triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who guides us and leads to the end of our days.
God’s banners fly o’er us,
God’s light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night,
‘Til shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
as forward we travel from light into light. - The law God enforces: the stars in their courses,
and sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim the Divine,
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing,
With glad adoration a song let us raise,
‘Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving
To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!
*Postlude – “Let All Things Now Living”
Lyrics to Special Music
Peace Be with You
Peace be with you; my peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid, I am with you. I am with you. Peace be with you; my peace I give unto you. I am the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father but by me. I am going to the Father to prepare you a place with me. If you love me; if you love me. Peace be with you; my peace I give unto you. Peace be with you; my peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid, I am with you. I am with you. Peace be with you; my peace I give unto you. My peace, I give unto you.
Helping Lead Today’s Worship
- Pastor: Rev. Carolyn Cordray-Floyd
- Liturgist: Debbie Biskner
- Choir Director: Steve Grattan
- Organist: Kathy Cay
- Sanctuary Choir
- Audio Tech: Ellen Hoover
- Streaming Tech: Brian Miller
- Computer Tech: Joe Kaidan
All Saints Sunday
Members and Constituents
- Barbara Bates
- Tim Beatty
- Betty Christler
- Joan Cook
- Nelda MacLean
- Ann Morse
- Beulah Parraghi
- Gary Peacock
- Meredith Reuter
- Donna Rock
- Alvastine Stewart
- Elmer Welics
- Joanne Westrick
- Paul Williams
Loved Ones
- David “Duke” Anderson, father of Joel Anderson
- Jan Glodich, cousin of Carol Kandell
- Joyce Hurford, aunt of Roslyn Sampeer
- John Kresin, brother-in-law of Kathy & Carl Kelly
- Maynard Little, Jr., brother of Vernita Arnold
- Donald Long, nephew of Judy Parent
- Richard Long, brother of Judy Parent
- Mark Maxon, nephew of Tom and Susan Hadden
- Darlene Hadden Mueller, niece of Tom and Susan Hadden
- Susan Parker, aunt of Brodey Hornby
- Gary Peter, brother of Ellen Hoover
- Ellen Petho, sister of Betty Rowley
- William Philp, friend of Tom and Susan Hadden
- Ann Pollock, sister of Tom Reno
- Jeffrey Potter, fiancé of Nicole Warner
- Harv Punt, nephew of Lee and Marilyn Vander Esch
- Jack Rickert, father of Scott McNutt
- Jack Rickert, Jr., brother of Scott McNutt
- Gloria Smalldon, sister-in-law of Russ and Char Anglebrandt
- Roger Wahls, friend of Tom and Susan Hadden
- Ila Wahls, friend of Tom and Susan Hadden
- Jack Williams, brother of Shelley Voss