First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for Reign of Christ Sunday

November 21, 2021

Photo by Zach Long

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“Show us your ways, Holy One.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

Procession (from the “Partita on Diademata”) by Charles Callahan

Call to Worship

One: We come away for a while, from the demands of the world.
Many: We bring our attention to the things of God.
One: We come away from conflicts and competitions.
Many: We let peace and hope fill us again.
One: We seek to center in the things of God.
Many: We seek to remember what God’s Reign looks like.

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

Holy One, God of Us All,
Guide us.
Guide our hearts, and our minds,
guide our words and our actions,
guide our silence and our inaction.
Guide us.
Let us be filled with your love,
thrive in your peace,
soak up your hope.
Let us be brave enough to be
expressions of you,
let us become healed enough to be
signs of your love.
Amen

Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Word and Reflection

Mission Moment: Belinda Forbes, Missionary in Nicaragua

Children’s Time: Kings, Queens, and God

Passing of the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

Scripture Reading – John 18:33-37

Sermon: “Questions to Ask” – Rev. Sara Baron

Responding

Offering

Photo by Larry McArthur
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

Offertory: Offertory (from the “Fantasia” on Darwall’s 148th) by John S. Dixon

Prayer of Presentation

Holy One,
In giving, we receive.
In making commitments,
we find ourselves.
Bless the commitments made to
the church and to the kindom,
and bless the gifts that we give to
you and each other.
May they be received with grace
and used with wisdom.
Amen

Benediction (Franciscan, Traditional)

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort
them and turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.

Postlude

“Rejoice the Lord is King!” (Darwall’s 148th) arr. Benjamin M. Culli