A Good Start

First Sunday of Advent Year A November 30, 2025 Matthew 24:36-44 A Good Start Prelude Greeting Good Morning to everyone hear, it is good to see you, and I thank God that you were able to make it here safely, also good morning to those who are joining us online. We have changed our platform to youtube. I usually post the service on Facebook later. I am also glad to see you all here, and Glad that through technology – we are able to be united in the spirit of God during this worship service. If you look around, you can tell that it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well actually it looks like advent – the time of preparation for Christ. Advent is not the count down to Christmas, it is a season within itself. A season for us to be intentional about our relationship to the spirit of love in the world. As you know each of the 4 Sundays of Advent has a theme. The theme for the first Sunday of advent is hope. Hope is not having a positive attitude, it is not finding a positive solution to our own problems. Biblical hope is waiting on God and trusting God to provide. The word wait appears in the OT over a hundred times. In all circumstances, we are encouraged to wait on God. Once again waiting is not standing still – it is anticipation the presence of God in our lives. God is our light when we can’t see in the darkness, that is why we light so many candles in church. Advent Lighting First Reader: The prophet Isaiah calls to us from the past to imagine the future when God’s reign will be fully realized and recognized throughout creation. When that time comes, God “shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4). All: Today, we choose to live in hope, believing that the time of God’s reign has come and is coming among us. Second Reader: We light this candle of hope as a sign of our promise to follow the Light as we answer God’s call to transform our hope into reality today and in the days to come. Light the first candle of the Advent wreath. (United Methodist Board of Discipleship) Call to Worship Beloved, once again, we embark on the Advent path that points us to the coming of Jesus. We journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits. We remember the signs and the times that heralded the arrival of the baby Jesus, God Incarnate. We journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits. We tell the stories once again as we learn how to discern the signs and the times, watching for glimpses of God’s here-and-not-yet kingdom among us. We journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits. Come, let us worship God who shines a light to guide us on the path to peace and flourishing for all creation. Come, let us worship as we journey together toward the day that all the earth awaits. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2025 Song O Come O Come Emmanuel UMH 211 A Sermon for all Ages Children’s Sermon: “The Gifts God Gives Us” Theme: Spiritual Gifts Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (optional) Gather the children Good morning, friends! I’m so happy to see you today. I brought something with me… (hold up a wrapped gift box) Object Lesson: The Gift Box Ask: “Does anyone like getting gifts?” “What kind of gifts do you usually get? Toys? Books? Games?” Those are all great gifts! But today I want to talk about a different kind of gift—one that doesn’t come from a store. God Gives Us Gifts Too The Bible tells us that God gives each of us special gifts—spiritual gifts. These aren’t wrapped in paper, and they don’t need batteries. But they are just as exciting because they help us love God and help other people. Examples of Spiritual Gifts for Kids Ask a few questions and let them raise hands: • “Some of you are really good at helping—that’s a gift!” • “Some of you love to sing or create art—that’s a gift!” • “Some of you are great listeners—that’s a gift!” • “Some of you love to pray for others—that’s a gift!” • “Some of you are wonderful at being kind—that’s a gift!” Each child has something special God put inside them. The Gift is Not for Keeping Now, here’s something different about God’s gifts: They are not for keeping all to ourselves. God wants us to use them to help the church and the world. Just like a flashlight is made to shine, and a pencil is made to write, your gift is made to share. Body of Christ Illustration Hold up the gift box again. “This box is like the church. Inside, God puts different gifts for different people. If everyone had the same gift, it wouldn’t be as special. But when we all share our gifts together—helping, praying, singing, leading—we become the body of Christ.” Closing Thought You might be small, but your gift is BIG. God has placed something important inside you. And when you use your gift, God smiles! Closing Prayer “Dear God, thank you for giving each of us special gifts. Help us discover them, use them, and share them so your love can shine in our church and in our world. Amen.” Responsive Reading (with music) Psalm 122 UMH 845 Passing of the Peace Scripture Matthew 24:36-44 Sermon A Good Start The Post-it Note I hope you had a most meaningful and relaxing Thanksgiving. I did hear of one poor woman who had to patch up a friendship with a co-worker at the office. It seems that Mary was planning her Thanksgiving Day meal. Her in-laws were all going to be there, and she was in quite a tizzy trying to make sure everything turned out perfectly. She had post -it notes everywhere, reminding her of things she needed to pick up and things she needed to do. Her friend Sharon stopped by her desk at lunchtime on Wednesday. “Are you ready for lunch? This is the day you promised to take me out to Appleby’s for my birthday.” “Oh, yes indeed, Sharon!” said Mary as she tried to cover herself for having forgotten Sharon’s birthday. Sharon was a sensitive sort who got her nose bent out of shape at any perceived slight. Mary thought everything was just fine as they got into the car. But then, as she settled into her seat, Sharon, in a very sarcastic voice shouted, “Thanks a lot, Mary!” Mary asked, “What’s wrong now?” Her friend pointed to the post-it note stuck to Mary’s dashboard. It read, “Take out the turkey!” Staff So this is the Sunday where we make the big switch from fall harvest to advent. Thanksgiving was only 3 days ago, but I feel that I have aged so much since then. People picked up their final leaves of the season, we have had one of the biggest snow storms in ages, Wilmington has won the state championship. Eating turkey seems like a distant memory. In three days the world has literally been turned upside down. Today is the first Sunday of Advent, where we start at the end of the story. Matthew 24 is the beginning of the end of Jesus’ story. He has not been crucified yet, he is still alive to give is last lesson to his followers. He warns us to stay woke, to pay attention to life. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. We need to be prepared for the times when God breaks into our normal routines. Jesus ways that you never know when God will catch us off guard and change our lives forever. I think that there is one thing that we hate more that change. That is being caught off guard. I think that is why we spend so much time creating routines, rituals and plans. We don’t like surprises, we want to be prepared for everything that happens to us. We work so hard at creating a world that we understand, and yet life still happens. Being caught off guard is a natural part of life, but we spend billions to avoid it. Everyday the world shifts under our feet just a bit, and we have to choice but to adapt, or better yet, to transform. Every day we have an encounter with God – sometimes a big encounter, most of the time a small encounter. Coming face to face with God is uncomfortable, and it leaves us feeling vulnerable. But each time we meet with God we are changed for the better. Advent is the time when the coffee pot gets overturned. Jesus challenges us to let God enter our lives in new and refreshing ways. Matthew 24 is a warning and a promise. Jesus uses a flood, a kidnapper and a thief to shake us up our of complacency. The flood that caused Noah to build an ark, the kidnapper who took one farmer out of the field and left the other, and a thief who broke into a house in the middle of the night all have one thing in common – they were unexpected. Jesus says that you can’t prevent the unexpected, but you can learn how to respond to it. Jesus advice is to pay attention, and not get so distracted with life that you don’t recognize God knocking at the door. Be Prepared at all Times There was once an absent-minded professor who became so absorbed in his work that he forgot the simplest details. One morning his wife said, "Now Henry, remember, we are moving today. Here, I'm putting this note in your pocket. Don't forget." The day passed by and the man came home to his house. He entered the front door, and found the place empty. Distraught, he walked out to the curb and sat down. A young boy walked up to him, and he asked him, "Little boy, do you know the people who used to live here?" The boy replied, "Sure, Dad, mother told me you'd forget." How often do we become so absorbed in "the little things of this world" that we forget who we are and whose we are and where we are going... Donald L. Deffner, Seasonal Illustrations, Resource, 1992, p. 6. There is a story called What is the world like. God and a man are walking down a road. The man asks God, What is the world like? God replies, I cannot talk when I am thirsty. If you could get me a drink of cool water, we can discuss that the world is like. There is a village nearby, go and get me a drink. The man goes into the village and knocks at the door of the first house. A beautiful young woman opens the door. His jaw drops, but he manages to say I need a glass of cool water. Of course, she says smiling. But it is midday. Would you care to stay for some food? I am hungry he says looking over his shoulder. And your offer of food is a great kindness. He goes in and the door closes behind him. Thirty years go by. The man who wanted to know what the world was like and the woman who offered him food have married ad raised five children. He is a respected merchant and she is an honored member of the community. One day a terrible storm comes in off the ocean and threatens their lives. The merchant cries out Help me God. A voice from the midst of the storm says where is my cup of water? I think all of us know What it is like to get so busy with the life in front of us that we forget our relationship with God. TS Eliott says that we get comfortable with living and partly living. Advent is time to reclaim our relationship. A Jewish doctor says that she remembers her relationship with God when she washes her hands to treat a patient. She says a prayer of purification to remind her that she is doing God’s work with her hands. A businessman says that during Christmas he stops by the tree in the hallway of his building, it helps him to get in touch with his connection to the Holy. What are some ways that you can pause in your daily life to give honor to God? • Jesus warns us that it is our routines, rituals and plans to lull us to sleep in the spiritual life. They can rob God of the power to change our hearts. Between the times - Karl Barth o We live between Creation and re-creation, looking backward to what God has done, assured of God’s presence in the current moment, and (Advent!) looking at what God is doing/culminating Kingdom of God Matthew 24 is called apocalyptic literature. There are these stories all throughout the bible. They are stories of how God’s transformation breaks into everyday life. It is popular to talk about these stories as endtime stories. Transformation is unsettling – so we are afraid of it. But in God’s world, for every ending, there is always a new beginning. o Jesus talks about 2 people being in a field and one is taken and one is left behind. In our popular understanding God kidnaps one person and take that person to heaven and leaves the other person behind to go on about their life with no hope of salvation ever. The verbs that get translated “swept away” and “left behind” could have been “hauled off” and “forgiven” which makes much more sense in the context of the rest of this passage But what if we take that popular assumption of left behind and turn it upside down. What if the one left behind and goes on with life gets a chance to realize their sins and pray for forgiveness and learns God’s grace? What if that person gets the chance in life to change their lifesstyyle and they find the true definition of salvation. I don’t believe it is possible to continue to go through life and have no hope, no peace, no light. Life means that God is with us. The bible says that God is a God of the living. My friends, each one of us lives in the shadow of the apocalypse - the dark reality of the end of our time and the end of the world's time. That is the warning of Advent. But there is also good news. There is also the promise of Advent - the promise that in the darkness, in the shadows, in the unpredictable anxiety of our unfinished lives, God is present. God is in control, and God will come again. With each candle we light, the shadows recede a bit, and the promise comes closer. With each candle we light, we are proclaiming that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome it. The promise is that wherever there is darkness and dread in our lives, wherever there is darkness and dread in the world around us, God is present to help us endure. God is in charge, and hope is alive. And as long and as interminable as the night seems, morning will come - in God's good time and God's good way. Susan R. Andrews, The Offense of Grace, CSS Publishing Company o “what if this week, as our homework, we take stock of their lives, asking what it is that they most fear about an uncertain future, and then reminding them of the promise that whether or not their immediate fears are realized, we were created for more than fear because Jesus, the Son of Man and Son of God whose coming birth we anticipate, has promised to come always to be both with us and for us” (David Lose, Workingpreacher.com) • Charles Dickens story of Ebenezer Scrooge is also a warning tale of taking our everyday life too seriously. We all know the story. Like Dickens’s beloved character Scrooge, the future is never set, but it is always coming. We are left to prepare for the future. Lighting candles in the midst of growing darkness is the Christian way. Not giving into the darkness is the epitome of discipleship. We know not the details of the future. We know not just how dark it may get, but we know that the light of a single candle can hold it off. Let is pray……. Song We’ve a Story to Tell the Nations UMH 569 Prayers of the People In the hushed anticipation of your coming, O Lord, kindle in us the desire to remain awake; that we might be ready for your coming and eager to pray. O God, in days to come, the mountain of your house will be established, and your joy shall reign. We pray for the church (especially…), that you might teach us your ways and that we might walk in your paths. Come, Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer. Out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and you, O God, shall judge between the nations. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth. Come, Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer. In your Kingdom, O Lord, wolves lie down with lambs and children play with serpents without fear. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those in distress of any kind (especially…); that you would heal all injuries, comfort all grief, and settle all wrongs. Come, Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer. In your Kingdom, O Lord, even the wilderness and dry land are glad and rejoice. We pray for those who rejoice this week as they celebrate their birthday (especially… and anniversaries…); that they might obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing might flee away. Come, Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer. In the fullness of time, O God, you sent your son to be born of our sister Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God with Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that you might be always present with those whom we love but see no longer. Come, Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer. Come among us, O God, and hear our prayers; so that when your Son Jesus comes among us with great might, and in manger mild, we might recognize his face and his voice, and come to adore him. Amen. Written by Fr. Rick Morley and posted on rick morley, Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “A prison cell (is one) in which one waits, hopes…and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside. (N)ot a bad picture of Advent.” Today we begin the season of Advent, recognizing in some ways how we, ourselves, live behind the bars which can only be opened from the outside. Gratefully, we seek to follow the One who came to set people free. And, when we claim that freedom, we become people who can open the doors for those still bound by fear, poverty, or pain. Our financial gifts today will help keep the ministries of this congregation able to serve those whose lives are restricted (name a particular ministry, or a particular Advent effort of your congregation). Your generosity today may well be the gift which allows someone to know the freeing power of the Holy. Let us receive our morning offering, tithes and gifts. Prayer of Thanksgiving Generous God, Thank you for all you have given us. Thank you for the ways we’re set free in Jesus, the Christ. Receive now these offered gifts. Help us use them to transform the world as we work to be the strong hands and feet of the Body of Christ, here and now. Open us each day to more ways to give in this season of giving, so we might both make change and BE the change you desire to lean us all toward true freedom. Amen. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook We do not leave this sanctuary and leave God behind. God’s call to prepare our hearts, our minds, our communities and our world for the coming Christ is clear. May this call be ever before us; guiding us, inspiring us, enabling us to be Christ’s body — his hands, his feet, his heart — in this, God’s world. May the grace, hope, peace and love of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, be with us all, now and forever. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Community Time – Sharing of Joys and Concerns Benediction Advent people, go from this place in the blessing of God who journeys with us, guiding our path as we wait, watch, and work for the day when we beat swords into plowshares and follow the path of peace until God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2025. Additional Illustrations

Benediction is the beginning of Service

November 23, 2025 Luke 1:68-79 Christ the King Sunday Commitment Sunday Benediction is the beginning of Service Prelude Greeting Call to Worship We gather for worship today to celebrate our gifts. We are celebrating the gifts we give to this church, the pledges we are making for the upcoming year. We gather for worship today to celebrate our community. We are celebrating the love and support that we give to one another; the constant quest that we are on to be united by God’s grace. We gather for worship today to celebrate our future. We are celebrating a future full of outreach, a future full of service, a future full of worship and a future full of growth. We are celebrating a future with hope. We gather for worship today to celebrate our visions. We are celebrating the visions of those who have come before us, the visions that brought us to where we are today and the visions that we see today for the future. Let us gather in celebration! Let us worship God! (Rev. Sarah Weaver) Opening Prayer We come this day, rejoicing, in the presence of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. At his birth the angels proclaimed his name to be Emmanuel, God with us. Today in this place, in this time of worship, may we truly feel the power and presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. May our hearts and spirits be warmed and challenged to proclaim with our lives, "Christ is Lord!". AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Song All Hail the Power of Jesus Name UMH 155 A Sermon for all Ages Object Lesson: “The Flashlight King” Props Needed: • A flashlight (preferably a bright one) • A paper crown (or toy crown) • A small blanket or towel to drape over the flashlight at first ________________________________________ Start With a Question Hold up the paper crown. “What is this? What do kings usually look like? What do kings usually do?” (Let the kids answer.) Say: “Most kings live in castles, have lots of power, and want people to listen to them all the time.” ________________________________________ Introduce Jesus’ Kingship Now hold up the flashlight—but keep it covered with the blanket so it is not shining yet. “Today is Christ the King Sunday, and Jesus is our King. But Jesus isn’t like other kings. Jesus didn’t come with armies or gold or fancy clothes.” Point to the flashlight: “He came to bring something much better than all of that.” ________________________________________ The Reveal: Jesus Brings Light Uncover the flashlight and turn it on. Let the light shine. “Zechariah says in our Bible story that Jesus came to bring light to people who sit in darkness. Jesus is the King who lights the way.” Move the flashlight around so it shines on the children or the wall. “When we don’t know what to do… When we feel afraid… When the world feels confusing… Jesus shines His light to show us the way.” ________________________________________ Compare Crowns Hold up the paper crown next to the shining flashlight. “Most kings rule with a crown and power and thrones. But Jesus rules with light, love, kindness, and peace.” Place the crown gently on the flashlight (symbolically crowning it). “Jesus is the Light King—the King who helps us see. The King who guides our feet into the way of peace.” ________________________________________ Make It Personal Ask the children: “What are some ways we can shine light like Jesus this week?” Let them answer (examples: sharing, helping someone, being kind, saying sorry, praying, listening). ________________________________________ Closing Line “So today, remember: Jesus is our King—our Light—and we can help shine His love wherever we go.” ________________________________________ Prayer “Jesus, thank You for being our King of Light. Help us shine Your love this week and guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.” Scripture Luke 1:68-79 Sermon Benediction is the beginning of Service There was a sense of anxiety as our seminary classmates gathered that day. To a person they had been surprised when the professor announced that there would be a final exam. Everyone was asking, "How can you have a final exam in preaching?" How could one prepare? What sort of questions might be asked? Throughout the year there had been lectures on sermon preparation and style, but mostly it had been a course of practice and critique. Finally, the professor, who was himself a splendid and engaging preacher, strode into the room and a quiet fell. The familiar blue books were distributed. "Gentlemen," he began, "you may use your Bibles for this exam. You have three hours. There is just one question and it has three parts. Here it is: You have one last sermon to preach in your ministry. It's your last best shot. Choose your text and theme, explain why you have chosen them, and give a full, detailed outline for the development of that sermon." That morning and that question have left lasting marks upon this preacher's life and his ministry! Today brings us that one last shot in this church year. Today the church brings to conclusion all that has been revealed and celebrated in the gospel story of God's work for our salvation since that story began with Advent's hope a year ago. Today it must come together for us into one concluding proclamation about Jesus Christ who is "King of kings and Lord of lords." And today we must address that ultimate question about Christ's lordship in our lives and in our world… I. A Year That Comes Full Circle Today is a strange and beautiful Sunday in the church year. • It is Christ the King Sunday, the grand finale of the Christian year. • It is the Sunday before Thanksgiving—when our tables are almost ready, our travel plans nearly set. • It is also the threshold of Advent, just seven days before candles are lit, hymns begin to shift, and we lean once again toward the manger. We stand today at a crossroads: an ending, a beginning, and a moment of gratitude—all at once. And what better Scripture to stand with us than Zechariah’s song in Luke 1? Because Luke 1 is the beginning of the story, yet Zechariah’s song reads as though he already knows how it ends— with Christ as King, with mercy triumphing over fear, with light breaking into darkness, with a kingdom not made by human hands. On this last Sunday of the year, Luke brings us back to the very first dawn of hope. ________________________________________ II. The Gospel of Luke—What We Learned This Year As we close the Christian year, let’s take a moment to remember what the Gospel of Luke has been teaching us: 1. God’s Kingdom Comes to the Ordinary Luke is the gospel where God comes to: • Zechariah and Elizabeth—older, tired, praying for years. • Mary—a young woman from a small town. • Shepherds—night-shift workers tending sheep. Luke teaches us that God’s kingship does not begin in palaces but in barns, homes, and small corners of the world. 2. Jesus Lifts Up the Lowly and Sets Captives Free From the Magnificat to the first sermon in Nazareth— “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…”— Luke reveals a King who: • blesses the poor, • feeds the hungry, • heals the broken, • touches the unclean, • welcomes the outsider, • forgives sinners, • and listens—deeply listens—to people no one else hears. Luke teaches us that Christ’s kingdom is upside-down: the last are first, the lost are found, the sinner is restored, and the forgotten are honored. 3. Jesus Is the King Who Walks Toward Jerusalem Luke’s Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem long before the cross draws near. He shows us that kingship in God’s kingdom looks like: • Courage • Sacrifice • Mercy • Self-giving love Luke teaches us a King who does not sit on a throne far away, but one who walks with us, even into death. 4. Luke Shows Us a King Who Will Not Stay Dead Luke ends with risen life, burning hearts on the road to Emmaus, and a promise: “You will be my witnesses.” Luke teaches us that death is not the final word, because the King is alive. ________________________________________ III. Zechariah’s Song: A Hymn for the End of the Year And so, on this final Sunday of the Christian year, we hear Zechariah sing: **“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.” (v. 68)** This is not a song for kings who sit on earthly thrones. It is a song for a King who redeems, who comes near, who remembers mercy. “He has raised up a mighty savior for us.” (v. 69) But notice—this mighty Savior begins as a child, in vulnerability, in humility, in love. Zechariah sings of: • mercy remembered, • covenant fulfilled, • enemies scattered, • fear lifted, • light breaking forth, • and a path of peace. This is the King he foresees. This is the King we celebrate. ________________________________________ IV. Why Christ Is King On Christ the King Sunday, we do not crown a ruler who: • taxes us, • conquers us, • or commands armies. We crown a King who: • breaks chains, • feeds the hungry, • heals the sick, • forgives sinners, • welcomes prodigals, • touches lepers, • calms storms, • and washes feet. He rules not with fear but with grace. Not with force but with truth. Not with wealth but with poverty of spirit. Not with domination but with mercy. Christ is King because: • He is the light that no darkness can overcome. • He is the love that death cannot destroy. • He is the peace the world cannot give. Kings of this world reign for a season. Christ reigns for eternity. Kings of this world cling to power. Christ gives it away. Kings of this world demand allegiance. Christ invites relationship. Kings of this world sit on thrones. Christ hangs on a cross— and that is where his kingship is revealed. ________________________________________ V. Preparing for Thanksgiving and Advent This week, many of us will gather around tables full of good things. And Luke reminds us: in Christ’s kingdom, there is always room for one more at the table. This week, we give thanks—but not just for blessings. We give thanks for: • God’s mercy, • God’s promises, • God’s faithfulness through this past year, • God’s presence in every high and low, • God’s kingdom breaking in—often quietly, often unexpectedly. And next Sunday, Advent begins. We start again at the manger, at the beginning of Luke’s story, at the small spark of hope. We end today with a King enthroned on a cross, and we begin next week with a baby wrapped in bands of cloth. The Christian year turns like a wheel— from hope to birth, from ministry to death, from resurrection to mission, and back again to hope. ________________________________________ VI. “To Guide Our Feet into the Way of Peace” Zechariah ends with a promise: “…to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (v. 79) Is that not exactly what we need now? • In a world noisy with division. • In a season that can overwhelm us. • In a year that has been heavy for many. • In a nation that aches for healing. • In homes where there is worry and weariness. Christ the King comes to guide our feet— not into comfort, not into ease, but into the way of peace. Peace that forgives wrongs. Peace that feeds the hungry. Peace that shelters the lonely. Peace that seeks justice. Peace that refuses hatred. Peace that whispers hope. Peace that restores community. Peace that begins with us. This is the kingdom. This is the King. This is the way. ________________________________________ VII. A Final Word as the Year Ends So as we close the Christian year: • Look back with gratitude. • Stand in the present with reverence. • Step into Advent with hope. And as we crown Christ as our King today, let us remember: He is not far away. He is not unreachable. He is not finished with us. He is the King who: • hears your prayers, • knows your struggles, • carries your burdens, • strengthens your spirit, • and calls you by name. And he is the King who will come again— not in terror but in love, not to condemn but to heal, not to destroy but to restore. Let us follow him into the new year. Let us walk in his mercy. Let us trust his grace. Let us rejoice that: **Christ is King— yesterday, today, and forever.** Finally, Some of us are uncomfortable with the thought of having a king in our lives. But let us be reminded that Christ is a new kind of King, of a new kind of kingdom. Christ opens up a world which encourages us to serve as well as lead. To bring others to the spiritual table where we are fed. To be grateful for the gifts that God has given us. Christ kingship makes our lives and the lives of those around us better. Our response to Christ’s love is to live in holiness. It was a theologian, that said that following Christ isn’t so much about doing something to make you holy, it is making holy whatever you do in life. Wherever you are and whatever you do, let Christ’s spirit be present also. Christ’s presence opens doors for wonderful things to happen in the world. If Christ comes with you to work, than can you treat your colleagues with anything less than kindness, respect, fairness and love. If Christ comes to the dinner table with you, can we treat family any less than royalty. When Christ is our king, we allow his spirit to flow in our lives. We acknowledge Christ’s sovereignty in every situation. To God be the glory! Say it with me: To God be the glory! Now I want you to repeat that phrase after me, like a refrain. Each time I speak a line, I want you to respond with: To God be the glory! Ok? Let’s try it! “The weather is beautiful today!” [To God be the glory!] The beginning of the season of advent has come upon us! [To God be the glory!] We haven’t met our financial budget this month….we are short about $800. [To God be the glory!] [What? I can’t hear you….let’s try that again…..To God be the glory!] The bathroom sprung a leak, and flooded the tiles. [To God be the glory!.... what? It’s a bit harder this time?] The turkey burned, but there’s plenty of Brussel sprouts and spinach! [To God be the glory! ….] [Come on ….help me now….. what else is going on in your week?....] [allow people to shout out phrases….. followed by “To God be the Glory!”] If we can find the glory of Christ in every situation, then Christ is indeed our King. Let us pray…… Amen. Song Crown Him with Many Crowns UMH 327 Pastoral Prayer (Do not Print) Father of Blessings, As we gather this morning, and as we look forward to Thanksgiving here in a few days, we can't help but pause for a minute and give you thanks. We often think as if we are independent creatures. As if what we have is a result of our own strength. As if we are owed things. But in truth we are deeply dependent. Our simple existence is gifted. The air we breathe, the crops that provide our food, the sun in the sky, the earth beneath our feet – we made none of this. We uphold none of it. All of it is from you who created and sustain all things. We did not knit ourselves together in our mothers' wombs – you did. We do not keep our hearts beating and our bodies working – you do. We take the things you have made and with our hands that you have designed and our minds that you have formed we make of them objects and hold them up to heaven and say “Look at how great we are.” And in your fatherly grace, you forgive us for even this presumption, although in truth they are all from you. Even more than all of this, we do not deserve salvation. We do not deserve to be Your sons and daughters. We rebelled against You, and by all rights we should have been consumed. But You spare us, You paid the price we cannot pay, and You offer us life that we cannot earn. Every physical blessing and every spiritual blessing flows from You. Forgive us for our ungratefulness, Father. Hear our gratitude: thank You for all that You provide. Even though after all of that we might be chastened, we thank You and still come with our requests. We come believing that You are so unbelievably generous that, even with all You have done, You might give us still more. So, Lord, hear our prayers for those on our minds and hearts this morning. Bring healing to those who are sick or in pain. Comfort and uphold them in the face of life's challenges. Carry them through this broken world and bind up the ways this brokenness has affected their lives. Protect those in dangerous places: those in situations made dark by sin, those who work to serve and protect others, and those who are far away. Make Yourself known to them and wrap Your Spirit around them to keep them safe. Provide for us our daily bread. Give us confidence in life's hard times, a confidence that flows from the knowledge that You are in control. Not a sparrow falls without Your care, and we are no sparrows, we are Your children. Teach us to give thanks, to look at this world not out of fear or out of possessiveness but out of the security that rests in knowing that all of this is from You. We give You praise, for from You and for You and to You are all things. We pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom and in whom we have true blessing. AMEN (Pastor Eric Tonjes) Lord’s Prayer UMH 894 Stewardship Moment Litany Litany of Dedication for Stewardship Pledges L: Almighty and Everlasting God, we give You thanks this day as we gather the pledges of support for Your Church in the coming year. We bring them before You with eager anticipation and hope. P: Hear us, O God, as we give You our thanks and praise. L: For those whose lives have been touched by Your Spirit, who have increased their commitment, P: We give You thanks and praise. L: For those who are responding to Your creative grace by pledging for the first time, P: We give You thanks and praise. L: For those who are tithing, and even exceeding a tithe, P: We give You thanks and praise. L: For those whose lives are in transition or turmoil and who feel they cannot pledge, but who continue to be a vital part of our community, P: We give You thanks and praise and we pray for calm in their lives. L: For committee workers who have labored in this effort to enable Your people to make a pledge of support for Your Church, P: We give You thanks and praise. L: That each one of us, and Your whole Church, become more faithful to the call of service in Jesus Christ, P: We ask Your continuing guidance and care. L: That these pledges may emerge as real gifts, thereby enabling the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ to move forward through this congregation and the Church Universal, P: In the name of Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves to this action. Amen and Amen. (Linway United Presbyterian Church) Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, you have given us life and freedom. Everything we have and everything that we are is a gift from you. You call us to be stewards of this gift. As caretakers of all that you have provided, we give back now. We dedicate these gifts to you. Bless these tithes and offerings. Help us to always use your gifts wisely. Lead us as we share them generously with others. Help our faithful stewardship to show Christ to others. We pray these things in the name of our Messiah, Jesus the Christ. Amen. (Christian Smith) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Oh Jesus, You are the King of Glory, You are the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. And we pray that your Kingdom will reign forever in our hearts and in this world. Lord, we pray for your Kingdom to come here now, bringing a kingdom of justice, righteousness, hope, love, peace, mercy and grace for all. Lord, we ask that you rule in our hearts, lead in this world and govern over your kingdom. (Rev. Abi) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Though the days increase in their darkness, the Lord of light and love reigns supreme. May the power of God’s love be in your hearts and reflected in your lives now and always. Go in peace, and may God’s peace be with you. AMEN. Nancy C. Townley, “Worship Connection: November 20, 2022,” Ministry Matters, https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/4411/worship-connection-november-20-2022. Accepting a Human Messiah In contrast to the theology of the cross and our suffering/dying king. Robert Capon in Hunting the Divine Fox presents a wonderful picture of our typical American Messiah -- and it doesn't look much like Jesus on the cross. . . . almost nobody resists the temptation to jazz up the humanity of Christ. The true paradigm of the ordinary American view of Jesus is Superman: "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It's Superman! Strange visitor from another planet, who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American Way." If that isn't popular christology, I'll eat my hat. Jesus -- gentle, meek and mild, but with secret, souped-up, more-than-human insides -- bumbles around for thirty-three years, nearly gets himself done in for good by the Kryptonite Kross, but at the last minute, struggles into the phone booth of the Empty Tomb, changes into his Easter suit and, with a single bound, leaps back up to the planet Heaven. It's got it all -- including, just so you shouldn't miss the lesson, kiddies: He never once touches Lois Lane. You think that's funny? Don't laugh. The human race is, was and probably always will be deeply unwilling to accept a human messiah. We don't want to be saved in our humanity; we want to be fished out of it. We crucified Jesus, not because he was God, but because he blasphemed: He claimed to be God and then failed to come up to our standards for assessing the claim. It's not that we weren't looking for the Messiah; it's just that he wasn't what we were looking for. Our kind of Messiah would come down from a cross. He would carry a folding phone booth in his back pocket. He wouldn't do a stupid thing like rising from the dead. He would do a smart thing like never dying." [pp. 90-91; this book has been reprinted, along with two others under the title The Romance of the Word: One Man's Love Affair with Theology] Robert Capon, quoted by Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes Working for Christ’s Kingdom The application to those of us who love Jesus Christ is clear. What He loved and desired, we should love and desire and work to complete. His work is to see lost men saved and built up. His work is to see this world redeemed. His work is to see this unfinished world be brought to completion. We who love Him are called to complete the task. Hellen Keller once said, "The world is moved along not only by the mighty shove of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." That's who we are and that's what we are called to do. There was once a farmer who had two mules. One was named Willing and the other was named Able. However, Willing was willing but was not able. Able was able but was not willing. The farmer did not get much done. Christ needs people who are willing and able. And the ironic thing is that when we subordinate our desires to His desire, when we enlist as privates in His army, when we serve as priests in His temple, which is the world, when we give ourselves in His service, it is then that we are lifted up. In losing ourselves we find ourselves. That is the nature of His kingdom. King Duncan, Collected Sermons,www.Sermons.com Scratching God’s Hand Fred Craddock tells about a family that was taking a lovely Sunday afternoon drive, when suddenly the children began shouting, “Stop the car! There’s a kitten by the road!” The father kept on driving, but his children wouldn’t quiet down. He tried to reason with them. The kitten was probably someone’s pet. It might have a disease. The family already had too many pets. It did no good. The children insisted that a loving father would stop the car for a stray cat. So finally the father drove back to the spot and reached for the scraggly kitten. The ungrateful little beast scratched him! Fighting an instinct to strangle the kitten, the father packed it into the car and took it home. Once at home, the children created a bed for the kitten out of their softest blankets. They fed the kitten droppers full of milk. They petted and fussed over the kitten. Soon, the kitten was purring and rubbing on family members, especially the father, as if he were its best friend. The father looked at the scars on his hand left by the frightened and ungrateful kitten. Then he looked at the comfortable, well-fed kitten rubbing against his leg. Had he suddenly become more worthy of love? No. His intentions toward the cat had always been to do it good, not harm. Something had happened to the kitten that made it feel secure, loved, accepted. How often does God try to bless us? And how often do we respond by scratching God’s hand? King Duncan, adapted from a sermon by Will Healy,www.Sermons.com Fallen and Trapped In October 1987, l year old Jessica McClure of Midland, Texas fell down an abandoned well. She was found on a ledge 22 feet below the surface. There she was, crying for her mother, in the cold darkness of this well. Her plight captured the attention of the entire nation. The people of the town gathered to rescue her. Hour after hour for two and a half days they worked. Federal Express here in Memphis, you will recall, flew down a special drill bit to aid in the rescue. I very distinctly remember the hour that she was rescued, because it was on a Friday night and I was home watching TV when they broke in to show the dramatic pictures. Anyone who did not have a tear in their eye when that little child was pulled out is hopeless. Saved, thank God, she was saved. Friends, each one of us are in the same condition morally and spiritually as that litt1e girl. We have fallen into the darkness of sin and there we are trapped. We cannot extradite ourselves, although the tragedy is that we think that we can. Someone must dig and dig until we are released from this darkness and despair. What we need is a Savior. That is what Jesus did for us on the cross. By his death he redeemed us from the consequences of sin. In Christ, God did for us what we would never have been able to do for ourselves. Brett Blair and Staff, Collected Sermons,www.Sermons.com Christ the King This is Christ the King Sunday. We have heard the whole story; we have all the information. So now—how do we recognize Jesus as King? We “independent, stand on our two feet, nobody tells us what to do, rugged individualist” Americans, how do we recognize Jesus as King? In Luke’s story of the crucifixion nobody there seems to recognize Jesus as King. Luke has painted us into his story as well. He describes the people who do nothing except to stand there and watch. “And the people stood by, watching.” That’s us, isn’t it? Grinding poverty is slowly destroying our urban youth and we just stand by and watch, preferably from a distance, preferably from inside a gated community. Watching the world turn secular, we know that there is a spiritual side to life but it just can’t crack our tightly wound schedules. We think about a Bible study but just can’t tolerate the idea of one more thing to attend. We won’t even pull off the road to watch a sunset for fear that we will be late to the next appointment. In trying to do everything, we are doing nothing of lasting value for our souls. When a king passes by in your life, you don’t just stand and watch. You respond. Bill McDonald, How Do You Recognize a King? Several years ago I heard a Scottish preacher share a parable from his homeland. He said that it was a tradition that after Jesus had died on Good Friday and had descended into Hell to set free the sinners therein, he was met by the Devil. The latter said to Jesus, "Now that you’ve left the earth, what plans do you have for your work." The legend says that Jesus responded, "Why I’ve left Peter, and James, and John, and a host of others to carry on my work." To which the Devil replied, "... and if they should fail, what other plans do you have?" Jesus then said, "I have no other plans; I’m counting on them." As Daniel Tiger asks, “Can you find something good in this?” In one episode, Daniel goes to the bakery and chooses the best birthday cake in the shape of a tiger just like him. He helps mold it until it looks stunning. He carries it home, but it gets jostled about a bit, and when he opens the box, the cake is sunken and misshapen. And his friends will be there any moment! Daniel is devastated. His cake is ruined. But his father reminds him, “When something seems bad, turn it around, and find something good!” “Daniel, can you find something good still in this cake?” Daniel at first has a hard time….but then he realizes, it still tastes good! He samples it to see. No matter how it looks, it’s still a great cake, and he shares it with his friends. Sometimes, we too look at the surface when it comes to God. We look at our lives and see only a shrunken cake. We live in a state of shrunken hopes and sullen disappointment that things don’t ever go quite as we hope they will. But God reminds us…..look further. Taste and see that the Lord is good! Take time….ponder, think, pray…..with thanks and praise. Glorify God! Because God has done something in YOUR life that is very, very good!

Is Jesus on His way now?

November 9, 2025 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 Is Jesus on his way now? 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Year C Prelude Greetings Welcome to everyone joined us in the God moment. Welcome – this is a busy service, promise to keep it moving. Ending service early. Call to Worship (From Psalm 145) One: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised! Many: We’ve come together as God’s people, eager to offer our praise! One: God’s greatness is unsearchable. Many: With one voice, we declare God’s mighty acts: One: Justice, kindness, saving grace – these mark God’s every move. Many: Surrounded by this company of people who love God, let us worship the Lord our God! (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Invocation God of Love, Divine Traveler, We see only a fraction of your presence, God. We know you only in part, as we experience this world with our senses, our experiences, and what is tangibly in front of us. How does the sacredness of each earthly breath draw us closer to your presence on this side of Heaven? May we grasp the beauty of this world, even on the gloomy days. May we cherish our relationships here on earth even when times are challenging. May we know that God is forever present with us and will care for us as we arrive at our eternal home on the other side of Heaven. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Michelle Torigian) Song I Want Jesus to Walk with Me UMH 521 A Sermon for all Ages Can I borrow our young people for a minute. Tuesday is a special holiday. Does anyone know what it is? Can you tell me what a veteran is? Do any of you know any veterans? Do you have any veterans in your family? Well I have hear some special cards for you to make, you can color the picture and write a special note saying Happy Veteran’s Day. I made one for my son at the park district on Friday. You can make a card for someone that you know. Or if you want to make the card later in church you can give it to me, and I will make sure that our veterans get it. I am going to ask all of our veteran’s to stand. And I want our young people to give them a special blessing – Let us all say Thank you for your service! Children’s Sermon: “Jesus Is on the Way” Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–17 Theme: Waiting faithfully for Jesus to come [Visual or Object] Bring a picture of the 3I/Atlas spaceship (or just say “a visitor from space”) and a small flashlight or star ornament. Story / Conversation Leader: Have you ever waited for someone special to come visit? Maybe a grandparent, or a friend from far away? How do you feel while you’re waiting? (Let the children answer — excited, impatient, happy.) Well, did you know that right now, something amazing is traveling through space? There’s a little visitor from far, far away called 3I/Atlas. It’s moving through our solar system — kind of like a tiny traveler in God’s great big universe. Even though we can’t see it with our eyes, scientists say it’s still on its way. That reminds me of Jesus. During Advent, we say “Jesus is coming.” We can’t see him flying through space like a spaceship, but we believe he’s on his way — coming to bring light, love, and peace. (Shine the flashlight or hold up the star.) Every time we show kindness, help someone, or pray, it’s like we’re turning on a light — getting ready for Jesus to come. Message Jesus doesn’t want us to just sit and wait. He wants us to get ready — by being loving, helpful, and kind right now. When we do those things, we’re showing that we believe Jesus is on the way, and we’re making room for him in our hearts and in our world. Prayer Let’s pray together: Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus, the light of the world. Help us to wait for him with joy, to love others, and to shine your light every day. Amen. (Chat GPT 5) Modern Affirmation of Faith UMH 885 Service of Baptism and Reception into the Church UMH 33 The word sacrament means God moment – the moments when God’s is present in our life. In the Methodist church, there are 2 sacraments. Communion and baptism. As a congregation we just have communion. Today we get to witness God’s presence in baptism. We are blessed to witness God’s presence in the Rickmon family, as three members of their family will be baptized today. We can be grateful to God for having us present in this special moment. We pray that God will continue to unfold in your lives and in the lives of our congregation. Prayer of Illumination God of wisdom, open your word to your people today, and open the hearts of your people to your Word. Let us receive the truth that your Spirit is speaking to the church, trusting that it will nourish and strengthen us. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Haley Ballast) Scripture 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 Sermon Is Jesus on his way now? So have you heard about the mysterious object that has been flying through space for months. Supposedly it is getting faster and faster and is scheduled to reach earth by December 19th – Just in time for Christmas. Now in the milky way galaxy everything including comets and space objects revolve around the sun – this mysterious object seems to have a mind of it own. It is called 3I/Atlas. 3 means that is the 3rd such object ever discovered, I means that it is intergalactic- not from this galaxy and Atlas is the telescope that discovered this object which is the size of Manhattan Island. The internet has been chattering about his object since last summer. Some people say that is a strange comet, others say that there is life on board this strange ship, some say that it is accelerating as if it has a motor, some say that is seems to be surveying all of the planets and is now headed to earth. There is so much chatter about his object that I have lost track of what is real and what is not. As it heads to earth, we are not sure if we would go outside and witness this object or if we should run and hide. I guess that depends on whether the life on board is friend of foe. And if they know about the bibles story of end times. What if it is Jesus coming back to earth just in time for the second coming? What if this the Left Behind series in action. I mean we honestly don’t know what or who is on board. There have been rumors of Jesus return for centuries. All of the chatter has caused all kinds of hysteria. Paul addresses the hysteria of the second coming in our scripture in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. The people are convinced that Jesus is coming back. Paul tells them to calm down and to keep the faith. Paul reminds all of us that in chaotic times it is our faith that sustains us. The Lectionary very heavily edited this text. Paul tells the Thessalonians that what they are experience in not the end of the world. Before the day of the Lord there has to be major protesting in the streets and the lawless one must be revealed for who he really is. Even Paul says this prophecy is not about current events – it is about cosmic events. This is the ultimate battle between good and evil. That is a battle that is fought everyday. We used to have a bishop who said that Jesus has come back to earth several times in several different forms. Actually even Paul says that we don’t have to worry about whether Jesus is on his way – Jesus is already here. The battle between good and evil is fought in our hearts. Everyday we have to choose how to live. We have to decide if we are going to serve Christ, or the lawless one – the anti Christ. 2. Advent: Jesus Is On the Way As Advent approaches, we are reminded again that Jesus is on the way. Not just as a baby in a manger two thousand years ago, but as the living presence of God still breaking into our world. The Greek word parousia—often translated as “coming”—can also mean “presence.” That means Advent is not only about waiting for Jesus to arrive someday. It’s about recognizing where he is already showing up: • In a word of kindness, • In a shared meal, • In the work of justice, • In the quiet strength of prayer. The question isn’t just “When will he come?” but “Are we making room for him now?” 3. What Does It Mean to Be Faithful Today? Faithfulness today doesn’t always look like heroic acts. It looks like daily courage—showing up for others, telling the truth, doing what’s right even when no one notices. To be faithful is to keep our eyes on Christ rather than on fear. It’s to care for creation instead of consuming it. It’s to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, comfort the grieving. Faithfulness means refusing to let cynicism have the last word. In modern days—when our attention is pulled in a thousand digital directions—serving God might mean slowing down, praying deeply, listening carefully, and acting compassionately. 4. Holding Fast to Hope Paul ends this passage with a blessing: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father… comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.” Notice that—good work and good word. Faith is not passive waiting; it is active hope. While the universe spins and comets pass, we are called to serve, to build, to love, to stand firm. Maybe Jesus’ coming is not so much about escape from this world, but about renewal—God breaking in to heal and restore. And maybe our role, in this Advent season, is to help clear the path. Conclusion: On His Way Just as the 3I/Atlas moves steadily through space, unseen by most but real nonetheless, so Christ is already on his way. The question isn’t whether he’s coming—it’s whether we’re ready to meet him. So as Advent draws near, let’s be found faithful: • praying when the world panics, • serving when others withdraw, • giving when others hoard, • loving when it’s hardest to love. Because faithfulness—steady, quiet, courageous faithfulness—is the surest sign that we believe Christ is, indeed, on His way. (Second Half of the sermon is ChatGPT 5) Song Jesus Lover of my Soul UMH 479 Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer Closing Prayer for Facebook As we abide together on this side of Heaven, May the Christ of Hope lead us to righteousness and justice, May the Spirit of Strength fill our hearts with courage, May God, our Joyful Creator, graciously settle our hearts with peace. May we find ourselves on journeys seeking glimmers of paradise and the presence of the Divine among us. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Michelle Torigian) Stewardship Moment We are truly grateful to our guest for joining us this Sunday. We are in the midst of our stewardship campaign. Membership asks that we support the church with our gifts, our time, our talents, our presence and our witness. This is a time for each of us to assess that means. We are about halfway done with stewardship season. So this week we are passing out the church budget. Our guest do not have to take one if you don’t want. We are passing the budget, or spending plan out this week, and invite everyone to take a look at it. The highlights of this year is an increase in salaries and also several technological upgrades. Passing the budget out this week. Encourage everyone to look at it. A member of finance will speak more about changes in the budget next week. I will also ask members of the finance committee to stand. You can ask them questions, or there is a box outside in eh narthex to write questions down. You will be receiving a pledge card in the mail next week. Asked to prayerfully consider you pledge to the work of the church and we will turn the pledges in on November 23rd. Just a week ago, many of us observed All Saints Sunday, remembering those whose lives came to an end in the last year and lifting up some of the saints of the church. As our lives continue, each one of us has the opportunity to decide how we share our time, our talent and our treasure for the things we most desire. If all people were to know about us was captured on our credit card bill or our check book record, what would they show? If all our time was divided into categories, what portion would our “giving to others” time slot show? And if the demonstration of our talent could be seen, would it show up in a list of faith-related activities? Truly, all of us are challenged to offer our lives as stewards of God’s many gifts. This is the time in our service for you to respond to this invitation: with your offering of treasure, of time, and of talent. What does your offering say about you? How might you change what you offer if you were to look at your gift as a distinctive demonstration of your identity as a follower of Jesus, the Christ? Prayer of Thanksgiving Living God, as we present these gifts to you, we say “thank you” for the ways Jesus modeled true stewardship, sharing all he had as he taught, healed and witnessed to your love. Now please accept our gifts as signs of our true identity as disciples/followers of Jesus. Help us translate this money into acts of compassion, justice and reconciliation. Open our eyes to see a glimpse of the way your will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Encourage you to look at announcements. There is a lot going on this time of the year. November 23rd is our church conference, annual meeting. Lunch will be served that day, it will be a celebration of the end of our pledge drive. Encourage everyone to come to fellowship, and then stay for church conference. Church conference is open to everyone. I know there has been some tension in the past, but remember Paul’s word to hold fast to our faith in tough times. We have done an tremendous amount of work this year, and God is still working with us. Let us stand strong together, and feel God’s presence and listen to God’s word. God hold our future. Community Time Joys and Concerns Benediction Hear again the promise God made to his people long ago: Do not be discouraged! Be strong and courageous. Keep working, for I am with you. My Spirit remains with you and is living among you. So do not be afraid! “Benediction,” re:Worship Additional Illustrations

Those Who Weep Will Be Comforted

November 2, 2025 All Saint’s Day Luke 6:20-31 Those who weep will be comforted Year C Prelude Greeting Introit Invitation to Worship A thousand days are but a moment to God; All flesh is grass, and withers away. Still we treasure our days with those whom we love, And reluctantly give them back to God. On this day, we thank God for the saints in our lives. Let us worship God. In the beginning, God called the world into being, saying, “Let there be light!” In the fullness of time, Jesus came from God to us, saying, “I am the Light of the world.” In our everyday life, we see the work of the saints, The ones in whom God’s light shines. So let us give thanks for the saints this day, And let us worship God. We gather this morning to remember our call: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. We bring with us the events of the week in the world and in our lives, Trying to know how to be just and loving and humble in the midst of it all. We gather here, and see those who are doing justice, who are kind beyond measure, who set the example for humility. With gratitude for living saints, with thankfulness for the purpose of faith, let us worship God. “Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, ‘Hold Fast to What Is Good’. Used with permission. Song For all the Saints UMH 711 A Sermon for all Ages 🌿 Children’s Moment: “Seeds of Love” (Props: a fresh pomegranate and a small bowl or plate) Opening (Hold up the pomegranate.) Good morning, everyone! Do you know what this is? That’s right — it’s a pomegranate! It’s a fruit that’s full of hundreds of tiny red seeds. You can’t tell from the outside, but when you open it up, you find that all the good things — the juicy, sweet seeds — are hidden inside. Connecting Story A long time ago, people told a story about a mother named Demeter who loved her daughter Persephone very, very much. One day, Persephone had to go away for a while, and Demeter was so sad that she stopped making things grow. But after a time, Persephone came back — and when she did, flowers bloomed again and the world was full of life. It’s a story that reminds us something important — that love never really goes away. Even when someone we love has to go to heaven, that love is still here, like seeds planted in the ground. And God helps those seeds grow into kindness and memories that keep blooming in our hearts. Faith Connection Today is All Saints Day — a special Sunday when we remember people who loved us and taught us about God. Some of them might be in heaven now. We may miss them — and that’s okay. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” That means God is close to us when we are sad. Just like this pomegranate, our love for others is full of seeds — seeds that can grow into acts of kindness, generosity, and joy. Closing (Gently tap the pomegranate or scoop out a few seeds.) Each seed is like a memory, or a piece of love we can share. Maybe one seed is helping a friend. Another is saying “I love you.” Another is remembering Grandma or Grandpa and smiling when we think of them. Every seed of love we plant helps God make the world a little brighter. Let’s pray: “Dear God, thank you for the people we love and the people we miss. Help us plant seeds of love and kindness every day, until we see them again in your heavenly garden. Amen.” Scripture Luke 6:20-31 Sermon Those who weep will be comforted Here’s a 10-minute All Saints Day sermon based on Luke 6:20–31 (“Blessed are you who weep now… love your enemies… do to others as you would have them do to you”), weaving in the story of Demeter and the pomegranate as a tender reflection on grief and love. (Sermon totally generated by ChatGPT version 5) Sermon Title: “The Blessing Hidden in Our Tears” Scripture: Luke 6:20–31 Jesus looks at his disciples and says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” These are strange blessings—words that reach into the ache of human life. Jesus is not blessing pain for its own sake, but the deep, transforming love that pain can uncover. On All Saints Day, when our hearts remember those we have lost, these blessings speak directly to the mystery of grief and grace. The Story of Demeter and the Pomegranate There’s an old Greek story about Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and her daughter Persephone. One day Persephone is taken to the underworld by Hades. Demeter’s grief is so vast that the earth itself stops producing grain; nothing grows, the world turns cold. Eventually, Zeus intervenes, and Persephone is allowed to return—but because she has eaten six pomegranate seeds in the underworld, she must spend six months each year below and six months above. So the seasons were born—winter and spring, death and rebirth, grief and joy intertwined. It’s an ancient story, not Christian, but it tells a deep truth we know too well: love and loss cannot be separated. Where there is deep love, there will be deep grief. And where there is grief, love still lingers—ripening like seeds in the dark earth. Once there was a beautiful young girl called Persephone. Her mother was Demeter, the Goddess of the growing things. Demeter and her daughter lived in a world where it was always summer. Green things were always blooming and the sun shone warm and sweet. One day while she was out with her friends, Persephone felt a trembling beneath her feat and heard a rumbling. The ground split open and Hades, God of the underworld, appeared driving a chariot. He snatched Persephone and took her back into the earth with him. The ground closed up again with a huge roar and all that was left of Persephone was a bunch of flowers on the ground. Demeter searched everywhere, but she could not find her daughter. For days and days she looked for Persephone. Her grief was so great that the earth began to grow cold and all the green things died. There was no food, and a terrible hunger came to the people. In the underworld, meanwhile, Persephone came to see that Hades wasn’t as scary as she first thought. He had been so lonely in the underworld, he told her of his longing to keep her there with him. Persephone missed her mother and the bright world above ground. But her new status as Queen of the underworld and her love for Hades gave her reason to stay with him. She believed that she had important work to do deep under the ground. Persephone knew that if she ate or drank anything in the underworld, she would have to stay there forever. Even though Hades begged her too have just a sip, or one bite of food, she didn’t’. Demeter had finally learned where Persephone was. She insisted that she be returned to her. Hades sadly hitched his horses to his chariot and prepared to take Persephone back. But before they left, he offered Persephone one last thing to eat – a ripe, blood red pomegranate. Looking him in the eye, Persephone took six seeds and ate them. They went back above ground, up through a crack in the earth. Persephone threw herself into her mothers arms, joyous to be reunited. The earth again grew rich with flowers and the sun shone once more. But, because Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, it was decided that for six months of each year, she must return to the underworld with Hades, on Mabon, and winter would come to the world. In spring she would once again return to her mother, allowing the earth to bloom. The Blessing of Those Who Weep When Jesus says, “Blessed are you who weep now,” he is not denying the pain of Demeter’s winter or our own. He is naming it as sacred ground. The tears of those who love are holy. The ache we feel for the saints—our family members, our friends who have gone before us—is the measure of the love they left behind. And in God’s mysterious way, that love never dies. It goes down like a seed into the soil, and in time, it grows again—perhaps as peace, perhaps as kindness, perhaps as the courage to love others more deeply. Love That Keeps Returning Every spring in the story, Persephone rises again. Every spring, Demeter’s joy returns. And every time we remember the saints, tell their stories, laugh at their quirks, or carry on their compassion—we are seeing resurrection break through our winter. This is why Jesus calls us to love our enemies, do good, bless those who curse us. Because love—real, generous, risky love—is the only thing that survives the grave. It’s the only thing that can transform mourning into hope. A Word for the Grieving If you are missing someone today, if the world feels colder without them, hear this: Your tears are not weakness—they are seeds. Every act of love, every memory cherished, every kindness done in their name becomes part of God’s great harvest of life. The saints are not gone; they are with God. And God is with you—in the kitchen where you set one less plate, in the quiet moments where memory catches your breath, in the laughter that surprises you when you thought you could only cry. Closing Demeter’s grief turned to spring when her daughter returned. Our hope turns to joy when we remember that in Christ, love never leaves us. The saints we remember today live in the fullness of that love. And someday, when God makes all things new, we too will rise—like seeds breaking through the dark earth into the light. “Blessed are you who weep now,” says Jesus, “for you will laugh.” Amen. (ChatGPT 5) Song Kum Ba Yah (sing twice) UMH 494 Stewardship Moment As followers of Jesus, we claim our intention to learn from him, to claim him as our Lord, as the Christ, as the Master of our lives. If that’s our true identity, one way to demonstrate who we are is to see if our giving reflects what’s most important to us. If you were to check out your giving statement from the church, or the record on your credit card statement, or the graph of how your expenses are divided by category, you would have a visual description of what your dollars declare is important. As we remember “the saints” today, I’m grateful for ________________. (Use someone from your congregation who was a faithful giver or adapt this to fit your situation: “I’m grateful for my own parents who taught us not only with their words, but with their weekly offering checks and their end-of-life proclamations and legacy gifts.”) Today, we celebrate the giving of you saints! Prayer of Thanksgiving Alleluia! We give you praise, God of all life, for these gifts, and for the saints who are gathered to share in this offering. Receive this collection. Call each of us to your life and your service in the coming days, that together we might remember Jesus, and seek to live out his ministry each day of our lives. AMEN. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Litany of Remembrance and Celebration (Print) Henry Ward Beecher wrote, “What the heart once owned and had, it shall never lose.” Tonight we remember those whom our hearts have owned and had, and whom we know we will never lose. We recall those who have touched our lives in such a way that we will never be the same. We are grateful for the ways in which they have blessed our lives. We lite candles in memory of those who gave us the gift of life. We honor those who gave us birth and nurtured us, those who endowed us with a heritage and raised us. We remember mothers and fathers, grandparents and great-grandparents, and all our ancestors through the ages. We remember also those who were as mother or father to us, loving us by choice rather than chance. We lite candles in memory of those who have linked us into the ongoing chain of family life. We honor those who have shared our heredity and who have experienced our common bonds. We remember sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, relatives near and distant through time. We lite candles in memory of those who have walked beside us in so many ways. We remember those who have worked with us and played with us, who made our time on earth more enjoyable and our experiences in the world more memorable. We remember friends and co-workers and neighbors who lifted us and expanded our horizons. We lite candles in memory of those to whom we ourselves passed on the precious gift of life. We hold dear in our hearts those we have held dear in our arms. We remember children who have gone before us, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We remember those who lived only within the womb, those who lived a very brief time after birth, as well as those who lived on this earth for any number of years. We lite candles for those who have died In disasters, wars and violence of the world. For those who have sacrificed their lives so that we could have ours, For those whom we hold within our hearts. Robert koornneef A Service of Remembrance Invitation to Communion (Do not print words) The invitation is simple: come! Eat here, sharing in this feast. Not a meal to nourish the body, but more than enough to feed the soul. We receive the bread and wine connected to the ages: to the saint of old who felt unworthy, to the seeker eager to know God, to the teenager who wonders what it’s all about, to the child who eats with unburdened faith. Woven into this time, the tears and the hopes of generations. Come! No one will be turned away, for we know God as our Creator, Jesus the Christ as our host and the power of God’s Spirit to gather us in. Come! Remembering John Muir, renowned naturalist, who spoke of “great thousand-year days” experienced when hiking in the Sierras: Today, at this table, we share a thousand-year moment; for here we’re not just with one another in this sanctuary, but we’re surrounded by the “great cloud of witnesses” from Paul and Lydia on to the children among us. Communion. Page 13 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR ALL SAINTS AND MEMORIAL OCCASIONS This text is used by the pastor while the congregation uses A Service of Word and Table II (UMH 13–15) or III (UMH 15–16) or one of the musical settings (UMH 17–25). The pastor stands behind the Lord's table. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty (almighty God), Creator of heaven and earth: God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Miriam and Moses, God of Joshua and Deborah, God of Ruth and David, God of the priests and the prophets, God of Mary and Joseph, God of the apostles and the martyrs, God of our mothers and our fathers, God of our children to all generations. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: The pastor may lower hands. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The pastor may raise hands. Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup. When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." The pastor may raise hands. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. LORD’S PRAYER The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. The pastor may raise hands. Renew our communion with all your saints, especially those whom we name before you— Name(s) —(in our hearts). Silence may be kept for the remembrance of names. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, strengthen us to run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and for ever. Amen. Copyright: “The Great Thanksgiving for All Saints and Memorial Occasions” Copyright© 1972 The Methodist Publishing House; Copyright © 1980, 1981, 1985 UMPH; Copyright © 1986 Abingdon Press; Copyright © 1987, 1989, 1992 UMPU. Used by permission.” Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook May God grant you grace, that in pain you may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection. Amen – From United Methodist Book of Worship, Service of Death and Resurrection, pg. 142 Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benedictions Go into the world as the living body of Christ, bringing eternal life to all who seek God’s face. Amen. (Psalm 24, Revelation 21) Additional Illustrations There is a sound, God, when grief spills from the corner of an eye, and stains the earth with its wetness. It is not a quiet sound, although it may be difficult to hear, and it is not a strange sound; we know its compelling rhythms all too well, because it is, after all, the sound of your voice. You fill every tear with your nail-scarred presence, and breathe into every gasp, your comforting Spirit. And in every broken voice, you call, inviting us to find you in the weeping. Thank you for the grace that shouts in the pain of our world, and that teaches us to listen for life in the sound of tears.