ORDER OF WORSHIP
- Prelude – Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above, Brian Brill
- Welcome, Prayer, & Call to Worship – Rev. Ohle
- Hymn – Rejoice In God’s Saints, UMH 708
- Psalter – Psalm 8
- Scripture Reading – Revelation 7:9-17, Mattew 5:1-12
- All Saints Candle Lighting – These Are They – Rev. Ohle
- Hymn – Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Dean McIntyre
- Service of Holy Communion – Rev. Ohle
- Hymn – The Lord’s My Shepherd, Stuart Townend & Stoneleigh Worship Band
- Benediction – Rev. Ohle
- Postlude – Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above, Brian Brill
OPENING PRAYER
Good morning. My name is Rev. Val Ohle, pastor of Union Grove United Methodist Church. I’m so glad you are able to worship with me, especially today as we celebrate All Saints Day and Holy Communion.
Today’s service is a bit different than you’re used to. If you haven’t done so yet and would like the service to be more interactive, please pause the video and gather one candle for each person you want to honor today, and also enough juice and bread for those present with you.
A quick update on re-opening. Obviously, I was unable to get everything done in order to open the church to in-person worship by today.
I’ve set a goal to re-open on Sunday, November 29, the first Sunday of Advent, with a special “Hanging of the Greens” service and so that we can celebrate Christmas at Union Grove. Information will be forthcoming. Be sure to sign up for our email list to watch for more details.
At the end of today’s video, you’ll find information on how to find our website, Facebook page, contact me, sign up for our email newsletter and worship bulletin list, and where you can safely send your offerings by mail or through a secure online service.
We now begin our All Saints Day Service. From time to time, you will see words appear on the screen. Just say them with me.
Let’s begin with prayer:
Grace to you and peace from God who is, and was, and is to come.
P: Amen.
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of kings on earth.
P: Amen
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.
P: Amen
Father, we come together today in Your name. We follow in the footsteps of those who have come before us and as examples for those yet to come. Be with us today, Father. Send Spirit to empty us of ourselves and fill us with your will. Take away my words and speak through me that all may hear what you will have them hear. Let us join with the Communion of Saints in holy worship, praise, and prayer.
In Jesus’ name.
P: Amen
CALL TO WORSHIP
Since its earliest centuries, the church has set aside a day to remember the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in the faith, stretching across the centuries and around the globe. However hard it might seem to follow the way of Jesus in our own time and place, this is a day to remember that we may be struggling, but we’re not alone.
Now hear this call to worship:
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
P: as the day rises to meet the sun
P: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us sing to the Lord: let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!
PSALTER: PSALM 8
O Lord our Governor:
P: How exalted is your name in all the world!
Out of the mouths of infants and children:
P: Your majesty is praised above the heavens.
You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries:
P: to quell the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers:
P: the moon and stars you have set in their courses.
What is man that you should be mindful of him?:
P: the son of man that you should seek him out?
You have made him but little lower than the angels:
P: you adorn him with glory and honor;
You give mastery over the works of your hands:
P: You put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen:
P: Even the wild beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea:
P: and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
O Lord our Governor:
P: how exalted is your name in all the world!
SCRIPTURE READING
O God, most holy and praised: As Your Son gathered disciples to himself to teach them your ways, so your Spirit has gathered us in this time and place. Make us alert and attentive as we read and reflect on Jesus’ words; help us take them to heart and live into them so that your will is truly done on earth as in heaven. We pray in the name of our true Teacher, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Revelation 7:9-17
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.
They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
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, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that 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.
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.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 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.”
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The scriptures of God for the People of God.
P: Thanks be to God.
ALL SAINTS CANDLE LIGHTING – THESE ARE THEY
P: Heaven and earth are full of your glory: Hosanna in the highest!
Fourteenth-century mystic Meister Eckhart said, “Do not think that saintliness comes from occupation; it depends rather on what one is. The kind of work we do does not make us holy, but we may make it holy.
P: Heaven and earth are full of your glory: Hosanna in the highest![i]
Glory to you, O Lord, from the whole company of heaven, from the saints in glory, from your people on earth.
Father, we give you thank that in the darkness of this world your saints shine.
May we, with them, have a share in your everlasting kingdom; through Christ, our Lord,
P: Amen
We give you praise for holy men and women who have been an inspiration to us, for those who have set us an example to follow.
We remember those who were fully dedicated to you and your glory, those holy martyrs who looked forward to entering your kingdom, men and women who stood up for the faith and set themselves against evil.
May your church be inspired by their lives, seek to keep before it their dedication and follow after their vision.
We pray for all who are seeking to fulfill their vocation, for all who seek to quietly dedicate themselves to you and your glory.
Lord of the saints,
P: Strengthen our faith.
Blessed are you, Lord our God. You have called us to a world full of good things. We thank you for all who have set out to improve our world. We pray for all who work in conservation, for those who care for others, for all who have sacrificed themselves in the service of others, for those who seek to live simply that others may simply live.
Lord of the saints,
P: Strengthen our faith.
We give you thanks for those who taught us the faith, for those who gave generously and sacrificially for us, for all who have led us in the ways of goodness and truth. We pray that our homes and our work may be places of holiness.
Lord of the saints,
P: Strengthen our faith.
We pray for all who are being persecuted or suffering for their faith, all who are facing mockery and scorn, all whose faith is being tested at this time. We pray for all in sickness and for those approaching death.
Lord of the saints,
P: Strengthen our faith.
Lord, grant us a share in the inheritance of your saints in glory. May we, at last, be part of the church which is victorious. We give thanks today for all your saints:
- For those saints and prophets of long ago.
- For the Apostles and early Christians who led the way by following The Way.
- For the warriors who gave their lives that we may be free.
- For the peacekeepers and first responders who gave their lives in service to others.
- For those whose lives were stolen by acts of violence, fear, oppression, and hate.
- For the 229,686 here in the US and the 1,188,105 around the world whose lives were cut short by the ravages of COVID 19.
- For all those who’ve passed through the doors of Union Grove United Methodist Church or who have been laid to rest on its grounds, and for …
- Vanessa Thomas
- Wayne Ure
- Gene Hurst
- Kay
- J.R. Van Arsdall
- Ellie, Age 3
- Christa Connatser
- Bill Alloway
- Amanda Murphy
- Jeffery Lawhorn
- Lucy Simpson
- Pat Givens
- From the Brestel family: Jeff Brestel, Ross & Peggy Brestel, Beverly Peters, Marvin & Lillace Brott, AJ and Bernice Brestel, Ralph, Janice, Merle, & Jack Brestel.
- From the Hobson family: Bud & Lila Hobson, Ed & Merva Block, Dennis & Erma Walsh, Nyle & Marietta Leypoldt, Wanda Heath, Morris & Dee King
- From the Rozzell Family: David Michael Rozzell, John Wesley “Jack” Rozzell, Fred Mapes, Angie Hollifield
- From the Ohle family: Gordon & Barbara Ohle, Dee McDonald, Gene Paul Sorenson.
- From the Hilton Family: Bobbi June & Charles Hilton, Rusty Hilton
Lord, we join our praises with theirs.
Lord of the saints,
P: Strengthen our faith.[ii]
Let’s pray:
We give you thanks, O God, for all the saints who ever worshipped you, whether in arbors or cathedrals, wooden churches, or cement meeting houses.
We give you thanks, O God, for hands lifted in praise: manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil, strong hands and hands gnarled with age, holy hands.
We thank you, God, for hardworking saints, whether hard-hatted or aproned, blue-collared, or three-piece-suited. They left their mark for you, for us, for our children to come.
Thank you for the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us. Bless the memories of your saints.
May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love. [iii]
We ask these things today in the name of your son and now, with the confidence of your children, we pray to you in the words he taught us to pray:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”
[i] All Saints Liturgy from The Book of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals
[ii] All Saints Liturgy from Radiance of His Glory: Prayers for the Church, Years A, B & C, David Adam
[iii] A Prayer Meditation for All Saints Day, (Written by Safiyah Fosua); https://www.umc.org/en/content/united-methodist-meditation-for-all-saints-day
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Because the Service of Holy Communion can only be carried out by clergy in the United Methodist Church, I will not be posting the transcript of this portion of worship. I encourage you to watch the video at the beginning of this post.
CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
Next week, we’ll resume our series on the Sermon on the Mount. For now, let’s pray:
Lord, your saints come from every nation and every tribe. Such is the beauty of your kingdom, where every race and people are honored and recognized as being made in your image. Help us live lives of peace and reconciliation that pay homage to the diversity of your great cloud of witnesses.
Amen.
Now hear this benediction:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask when you go out, be a blessing and be blessed, love, and know you are beloved, and go in peace. God be with you.
Amen.
Even though we can’t meet together in person, the church still has expenses that need to be met. If you are able, please consider making an offering or paying your tithes through the online service provided by Holston Conference. It’s safe. It’s free. It will help us continue ministry at Union Grove.
Just visit http://www.holston.org/churchoffering, and follow the instruction for making your offering. When asked, please choose Smoky Mountain District and Union Grove UMC Blount – Friendsville.
If you are not comfortable using a debit or credit card online, you can mail your offerings/tithes to:
Smoky Mountain District
Holston Conference
PO Box 905
Alcoa TN 37701-0905
Please be sure to make your checks payable to Smoky Mountain District and write “Union Grove UMC Friendsville” on the memo line!
