Sunday Devotional for November 3, 2024 - All Saints' Sunday

November 3, 2024
All Saints’ Sunday
SILENT MEDITATION: “You are a broken vessel, made whole in God. You are broken open to spill the power, hope and love of Christ into the lives of others. You were created to be an image-bearer of God’s glory. It is God in you and through you. God is the source.” - Alexandra Hoover
PRELUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: We remember, O God, and praise you,
People: For the countless saints of history who have blazed a trail of courage and steadfast faith through time.
Pastor: We remember, O God, and praise you,
People: For the tender touch of loved ones, the example of heroes, the healing words of comforters, the remarkable acts of fearless ones.
Pastor: We remember, O God, and praise you,
People: For the gentle strength of grandparents, the loyalty of friends, the kindness of strangers who were angels in disguise, the joy of children, the sacrifice of parents.
Pastor: We remember, O God, and praise you,
People: For the love of Jesus, shown forth in the lives of all disciples across the ages, young and old, dead and living, articulate and silent, known and unknown, brilliant and ordinary.
Pastor: We remember, O God, and praise you.
*HYMN OF PRAISE:
For All the Saints
PROFESSION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Beloved God, who was known to our mothers and fathers, and all believers who have gone before us: have mercy on us.
We do not always love as you would have us love. We do not always do as you would have us do. In our stubbornness,
we turn from you when we should turn toward you.
Hold us, Holy One - comfort us when we mourn the passing of friends and family, and help us to know that they are rejoicing in your presence.
We praise you for the grace you shower on us, constantly forgiving our errors, especially the ones that we don’t share with any but you. Hear now the silent fears and concerns of our hearts.
SILENCE FOR REFLECTION AND CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE
REMEMBERING OUR SAINTS
FRIENDS & LOVED ONES
NOW AND FOREVER EMBRACED BY GOD
SCRIPTURAL WORDS OF COMFORT
MEDITATION: Safely Home
CHILDREN’S TIME
*HYMN:
Soon and Very Soon
*OUR LORD’S PRAYER (debts)
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Revelation 21:1-6
THE MESSAGE: Becoming Saints - Ouch!
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY RESPONSE
We Give Thee But Thine Own
We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Pastor: Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to God.
Pastor: Let us give our thanks to the Holy One.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…
THE SERAPHIC HYMN (sung)
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of Sabaoth,
Heaven and earth are full, are full,
Of the majesty of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest!
REMEMBRANCE AND SHARING OF ELEMENTS
…
BLESSING
CHILDREN’S BLESSING
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
All: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world as your saints, in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*HYMN OF DEDICATION:
When We All Get to Heaven
THE COMMISSION
Pastor: Hold fast to the faith of God’s saints, past and present.
People: In our living and in our dying, we belong to God.
Pastor: Trust the example they left for us to follow.
People: In our loving and in our service, we are heirs with Christ.
Pastor: Walk in the footprints that the saints left for us to follow.
People: In our journeys of faith, we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
THE BENEDICTION
CLOSING RESPONSE
God Be with You (insert)
POSTLUDE
Thoughts for Reflection:
1. Which “saints” in your life passed on the faith to you? Give God thanks for them.
2. And if any of those “saints” are still around, make the time to thank them in person.
3. And just perhaps, YOU are a saint to someone in the next generation. Make sure you pass on your faith in Christ to them.