NOV 1, 2026 ORDER OF WORSHIP

 

THE FIRST WORD Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

Pastor: For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function. 

People: So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

WELCOME Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist

 

PRELUDE Dr. Troy Banks

 

INVOCATION (Remain Seated) Liturgist

God of every generation, we thank you for the saints who have gone before us and for the faith they passed down to us. As we worship today, remind us that we are part of something greater than ourselves. Strengthen us to live faithfully, love boldly, and follow Christ wherever he leads. Amen.

 

**CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist

 

Leader: We come to worship the God of every generation.
People: The God who was, who is, and who is to come.

Leader: We remember the saints who walked before us, those who taught us, loved us, prayed for us, and showed us the way.

People: We give thanks for their lives and their witness.

Leader: And we remember that the story of faith continues through us.

People: We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Leader: So with saints on earth and saints in heaven, let us worship God together.

People: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord our God. Amen.

 

** WORSHIP SONG     In Christ Alone

 

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song; 

this Cornerstone, this solid ground, 

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace 

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease; 

my Comforter, my All in All; 

here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone who took on flesh; 

fullness of God in helpless babe. 

This gift of love and righteousness 

scorned by the ones He came to save; 

til on that cross as Jesus died 

the wrath of God was satisfied; 

for ev'ry sin on Him was laid; 

here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay;

Light of the world by darkness slain.

Then bursting forth in glorious day, 

up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory, 

sin's curse has lost its grip on me: 

for l am His and He is mine,

bought with the precious blood of Christ!

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death; 

this is the pow'r of Christ in me.

From life's first cry to final breath, 

Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man 

can ever pluck me from His hand; 

til He returns or calls me home, 

here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand!

 

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

 

**DOXOLOGY    

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

PASTORAL PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER

 

SCRIPTURE READING Revelation 7:9-17 NRSV Liturgist

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 

10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!” 

11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, 

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom 

and thanksgiving and honor 

and power and might 

be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 

14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

15 For this reason they are before the throne of God 

and worship him day and night within his temple, 

and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 

16 They will hunger no more and thirst no more; 

the sun will not strike them, 

nor any scorching heat, 

17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, 

and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, 

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE Liturgist

Leader:  The Word of God for the people of God.

Congregation:  Thanks be to God.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC Dr. Troy Banks

 

SERMON “Practicing our Faith: Belong” Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

**UMH HYMN #711 “For All The Saints” vs 1,4,6

For all the saints who 

from their labors rest,

who Thee by faith before 

the world confessed;

Thy name, O Jesus, 

be forever blest.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

O blest communion, 

fellowship divine!

We feebly struggle, 

they in glory shine;

yet all are one in Thee,

for all are Thine.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

From earth's wide bounds, 

from ocean's farthest coast,

through gates of pearl streams 

in the countless host,

in praise of Father, Son, 

and Holy Ghost.  

Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

HOLY COMMUNION/RECOGNITION OF SAINTS

 

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty (almighty God),
Creator of heaven and earth:
God of Abraham and Sarah,
God of Miriam and Moses,
God of Joshua and Deborah,
God of Ruth and David,
God of the priests and the prophets,
God of Mary and Joseph,
God of the apostles and the martyrs,
God of our mothers and our fathers,
God of our children to all generations.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

The pastor may lower hands.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The pastor may raise hands.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup.

When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

The pastor may raise hands.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

The pastor may raise hands.

Renew our communion with all your saints,
especially those whom we name before you—
Name(s) —(in our hearts).

Silence may be kept for the remembrance of names.

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
strengthen us to run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and for ever.

Amen.

HYMN “Just As I Am, I Come Broken”

Just as I am without one plea

But that thy blood was shed for me

And that thou bidst me come to thee

O Lamb of God I come, I come

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

Just as I am and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To thee whose blood 

can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God I come, I come

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

Just as I am I would be lost

But mercy and grace 

my freedom bought

And now to glory in your cross

O Lamb of God I come

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desp’rate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned 

By the blood of Christ, the lamb

And I’m welcomed with open arms

Praise God just as I am

Praise God just as I am

 

FELLOWSHIP BLESSING Youth Representative

 

God, thank you for the people who have shown us your love.

Thank you for the people gathered here today.

Bless our food, bless our time together, and help us share your love with others.

Amen.

**BENEDICTION Rev. Jacob T. Jackson

POSTLUDE Dr. Troy Banks

(Please be seated as the postlude closes our service)