Bulletin

Welcome to United Christian Parish! Use the bulletin as guidance as you worship.
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NOVEMBER 2 ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

WELCOME

SONG

CALL TO WORSHIP *                                                      
One: Come, people of light, gather in the presence of the Holy One—the One who has come so we may not remain in darkness.
All: We come to worship the light that shines in all places, and calls us to shine as well.
One: You are the light of the world. A lamp is not hidden—it glows in the open. Let your light shine before others.
All: We remember the saints who shone with courage and grace. Now, in our time, we are called to glow in the dark.
One: Let us worship God, source of light, hope, and transformation.

OPENING SONG (#440) *
“Let There Be Light”
Let there be light,
let there be understanding,
let all the nations gather,
let them be face to face.

Open our lips,
open our minds to ponder,
open the door of concord
opening into grace.

Perish the sword,
perish the angry judgment,
perish the bombs and hunger,
perish the fight for gain.

Hallow our love,
hallow the deaths of martyrs,
hallow their holy freedom,
hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,
your Spirit turn to language,
your people speak together,
your Spirit never fade.

Let there be light,
open our hearts to wonder,
perish the way of terror,
hallow the world God made.

CALL TO CONFESSION *

PRAYER OF CONFESSION *
All: Radiant and merciful God, you have made us to shine with your love, but we confess that we often hide our light. We are silent when we should speak, we hoard when we could give, we stay comfortable when we are called to risk. The saints before us lit the way—but we have not always followed. Forgive us, O Light Eternal. Cleanse the shadows within us. Ignite our hearts again, that we might glow in the dark with your justice, compassion, and joy. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON *
One: Hear this good news: The Lord says, “I have come into the world as light, so that all who trust in me will not remain in darkness.” If we walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, we share fellowship with one another, and we are made whole.
All: In Christ, we are forgiven, renewed, and called to shine. We walk forward as people of light. Thanks be to God. Amen.

GLORIA *
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE

MINUTE FOR STEWARDSHIP

OFFERING

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise Christ, all people here below;
praise Holy Spirit evermore;
praise Triune God, whom we adore.
Amen.

CHILDREN’S TIME

BELLS
“Faith of the Saints”
arr. by Michael Glasgow, with Drew Ludwig, trumpet

SCRIPTURE (Matthew 5:14-16; Luke 11:33-36; John 12:44-46)

SERMON

RECOGNITION OF SAINTS

COMMUNION

LORD’S PRAYER
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

PRAYER
All: Gracious and radiant God, we thank you for nourishing us at this table, for uniting us with saints of every time and place, and for calling us into the world to glow with your presence.  As we make our commitments today—of time, treasure, and trust—may we glow-in-the-dark,  may our lives reflect your light so that all may see and experience your love. In the name of Christ, amen.

CLOSING SONG *
“O Word of God Incarnate” (#598)
O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky:
we praise you for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.

The church from you, our Savior,
received the gift divine,
and still that light is lifted
o'er all the earth to shine.
It is the sacred vessel
where gems of truth are stored;
it is the heaven-drawn picture
of Christ, the living Word.

 The Scripture is a banner
before God's host unfurled;
it is a shining beacon
above the darkling world.
It is the chart and compass
that o'er life's surging tide,
mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
to you, O Christ, will guide.

O make your church, dear Savior,
a lamp of purest gold,
to bear before the nations
your true light as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
till, clouds and darkness ended,
they see you face to face.

CLOSING MESSAGE

POSTLUDE

*Rise in body or spirit