Sunday, November 18, 2018
St. James United Church of Christ
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 18th, 2018
For Meditation and Reflection
“The loving parts of your personality have no trouble loving. That is all they do. You experience the loving parts as gratitude, appreciation, caring, patience, contentment and awe of life.” – Gary Zukav
Welcome and Announcements
A warm welcome is extended to all. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here in this safe and sacred place.
Call to Worship
Pastor: We are grateful for the gift of life itself, mindful that to respect life means both to celebrate what life is and to insist on what it can become.
People: May we find it in ourselves today to work toward a better world.
Pastor: May we make use of that energy to take part in the lifting of burdens.
People: May our gratitude find expression in the care of others, both near and far.
Pastor: May we find ways to live and grow on the margins.
People: May we leave behind us a trail of encouragement and hope.
Pastor: As we come and as we go, we pray that each of us, will know that we have been in a sacred place, and that our lives have been made stronger.
All: Welcome to worship.
Opening Hymn: #397 – Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers
Opening Prayer
Thanks be to God, Source of all Life and Being for all things around us and within us.
For health, food, drink and warm clothes. For family, friends, good neighbors, and even enemies who pray for us. Thanks for curiosity, laughter, and the ability to learn. For truth, courage and beauty. For hospitals and libraries, theaters, parks and lakes.
We lament that so often we take common things for granted. The bed that gave us rest last night, and the new day that greeted us on waking up. The pleasures of a warm shower and the feel of a soft towel on our skin. The aroma and flavor of the toast and coffee we had at breakfast. The smooth roads and paths on which we traveled safely here.
May we always give thanks for these quiet, repetitive gifts, that make it good to be alive, and good to be here together in this sacred place.
Enriched by this time spent together may we become part of a more caring, compassionate world; may we find the courage to make more ethical choices in our relation-ships; may we foster behavior to preserve and enhance our environments. As we marvel at life, let us celebrate the times we are creators of a better world, and when we leave behind us a trail of encouragement and hope.
This is our prayer. Amen.