Homecrest Presbyterian Church Worship of the Lord’s Day November 20th, 2016

Gathering Around the WORD Call To Worship (Psalm 95:1-6) O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

Gathering Hymn # 643 “Now Thank We All Our God” Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices; who, from our mothers' arms, hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

Gathering Hymn # 643 “Now Thank We All Our God” O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in God's grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next.

Gathering Hymn # 643 “Now Thank We All Our God” All praise and thanks to God, who reigns in highest heaven, to Father and to Son and Spirit now be given: the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore, the God who was, and is, and shall be evermore.

Gathering Around the WORD Call to Confession God demands our sincere and honest prayers. God demands the best that we have to offer because God has given his best to us, through Jesus Christ. With a thankful heart, let us come to God with a contrite spirit, seeking God’s mercy and grace.  

Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in unison) Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in unison) Loving God, we gather today rich in blessing, somehow believing that we merit the wealth and comforts that we enjoy. Forgive us, our God, for comfortably closing our eyes to the faces of the poor that stare blankly in our direction.

Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in unison) Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in unison) With bellies full of grain and meat, we offer token gestures to the hungry in our world and we feel we have done enough. Forgive us, God, for keeping a distance between "us" and "them," for closing our ears to the cries of the hungry.  

Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in unison) Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in unison) With hands tightly clasping our treasures on earth, we cannot reach out to our oppressed brothers and sisters around this world. Forgive us for clinging to our own possessions rather than to you. Unite us with hearts of thanksgiving that we may work to insure freedom and justice for all. Lord, have mercy on us.

Gathering Around the WORD Declaration of Forgiveness God extend his unconditional grace upon his people, even when we are thankless to God and to others. Because of God’s mercy and love, God is willing to forgive us of our shortcomings and of our sins. Thanks be to God, Amen.

Gathering Around the WORD Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

Gathering Around the WORD Passing of the Peace of Christ Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Proclaiming the WORD Message to the Youth/ Prayer of Illumination

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 9 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually. 12 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 13 O offspring of his servant Israel, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) 14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 15 Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 16 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 18 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) 19 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land, 20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 22 saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day.

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) 28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD in holy splendor; 30 tremble before him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD is king!" 32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) 33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. 35 Say also: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and rescue us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise. 36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting." Then all the people said "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

Proclaiming the WORD Why Should We Give Thanks? (1 Chronicles 16:8-36)

Responding Hymn # 367 “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song of harvest home. All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin. God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied. Come to God's own temple, come; raise the song of harvest home.

Responding Hymn # 367 “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” All the world is God's own field, fruit in thankful praise to yield, wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grown. First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear. Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

Responding Hymn # 367 “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take the harvest home; from each field shall in that day all offenses purge away; give the angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast, but the fruitful ears to store in God's garner evermore.

Responding Hymn # 367 “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” Even so, Lord, quickly come to thy final harvest home. Gather thou thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin, there forever purified, in thy presence to abide: come, with all thine angels, come; raise the glorious harvest home!

Responding to the WORD Affirmation of Faith (Based on Psalm 100) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns Our afternoon Bible Study groups will resume this afternoon. The Women's Group will NOT be meeting this Wednesday, Special Thanks for all those who participated in the Operation Christmas Child this year, as well as those who helped out in yesterday’s Thanksgiving Dinner.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns The Season of Advent begins next Sunday, 11/27. Limited copies of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Advent Calendar Devotional are available at $2 each. Please deposit the money into the box on the back table.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Prayer of the People & The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven. Halloweth be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts; as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Offering of our Gifts and our Lives

because of what the Lord has done for us!” Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Offering of our Gifts and our Lives #647 “Give Thanks” Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks because we’re given Jesus Christ, the Son. (2X) And now let the weak say, “We are strong”; let the poor say, “We are rich because of what the Lord has done for us!”

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Doxology and Offertory Prayer

Sending Hymn # 644 “Give Thanks, O Christian People” Give thanks, O Christian people, for workers of our day who heed the call to service and make it their life's way to go to feed the hungry, to tend to those in need, to work for equal justice, till all God's folk are freed.

Sending Hymn # 644 “Give Thanks, O Christian People” Give thanks, O Christian people, for leaders of our years who live to share with others our joy when Christ appears, to teach the ones who seek light, to guide the faltering feet, to lead the followers forward our living Lord to meet.

Sending Hymn # 644 “Give Thanks, O Christian People” Give thanks, O Christian people, for all who love the Lord, who live each day believing in God's eternal Word: to share Christ's love in living, to witness with each deed, to use the talents given to plant the gospel seed.

Sending Hymn # 644 “Give Thanks, O Christian People” Give thanks, O Christian people, for life in fellowship with all who trust our Savior their serving to equip: to ease another's burdens, to cope in joy and stress, to magnify God's message and Christ's great love confess.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World The Charge and Benediction

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Benediction Response #540 “Farewell, Good Friends” Farewell good friends! Farewell, good friends! Shalom, Shalom! Till we meet again, till we meet again, shalom, shalom.

Homecrest Presbyterian Church Worship of the Lord’s Day November 20th, 2016