St John United Church of Christ
Melbourne,
IA
Welcome to worship with
us!
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“No Matter Who You are or Where You are on Life’s
Journey, You are Always Welcome Here!”
October 25, 2020 | 9:30 AM | Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Invitation
to Prepare: Happy Reformation Sunday!
Helen Keller wrote, “The best and most beautiful things in the world
cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt in the heart.”
Matthew 22:36-39
36 “Teacher,
which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He
said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is
the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second
is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Call
to Worship: (Psalm 1)
Together:
1 Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches
over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Hymn
386 (NCH): The
Church’s One Foundation
Gathering
Prayer
Happy are we, O God, when our hearts are full,
our ways are yours, our spirits enlivened by
your call.
Happy are we, O God, when our lives are guided
by delight.
We gather here today for just that, holy
God.
We gather to draw on all you would give us
to be more fully yours. In Jesus’ name.
Scripture
Reading: Leviticus 19: 1-2,
15-18 (NRSV)
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak
to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be
holy, for I the Lord your
God am holy. 15 You shall not render an
unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great:
with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You
shall not go around as a slanderer among
your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 You shall
not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or
you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not
take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love
your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Sermon:
How Do You Love?
Posted online at:
https://tonyswebstudios.blogspot.com/2020/10/how-do-you-love-leviticus-19.html
Moment of Silence &
Reflection:
Invitation
to Offering:
Anyone who has ever loved knows that to love is to give –
to give from the place we feel it most.
This giving may be sacrificial,
but the sacrifice is compromised if it cannot be
done joyfully.
May we join together in the delight of
giving?
Let us remember
the gifts you have been given.
Remember
to share them with the community, your church.
(They can
be sent to the church office.)
Sharing
your gifts, the fruits of your labor, is great
because
God
is good! All the time!
All the time!* God is good!*
Let
us share in the goodness of our God!!
Doxology:
Praise
God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done;
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen
Prayer of Dedication:
We give thanks, O God, for all that you
have given us. With what you see before us, God, we
demonstrate our deepest love. Receive our gifts as sweet offering before you. May
they be the blessing to others that they have been for us. We offer this prayer in the name of
the Creator, the Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Pastoral
Meditation & Prayer:
The Lord is with you
Let
us be in quiet meditations of our own hearts and minds.
…
Lord's Prayer: (ALL)
Hymn
4 (NCH): Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.
Closing
Announcements:
Benediction:
Remember, as you go forth, the words our commandment to love,
Walk well in the way of love with speech, thoughts and
action.
Let the warmth of God’s love be with you and guide you.
May the LORD bless you and keep you,
May holiness shine upon you, with you and be gracious to you,
May the Creator turn to you and give you peace, now and always.
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New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
Portions
of Gathering and Offertory Copyright 2020 Local Church Ministries, Faith INFO
Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland,
OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this
material for use in services of worship or church education. All
publishing rights reserved.