November 1, 2026
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Austin Pemberton
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Leader: We gather as people who belong.
All: With God, with each other, with the world.
Leader: Praise the LORD!
All: Sing to the LORD a new song.
Leader: Praise God among the communion of saints.
All: Let the people of God rejoice in their creator.
Leader: Let them praise the LORD with dance,
All: and celebrate with musical instruments,
Leader: because the LORD delights in them,
All: and adorns the despairing with welfare.
Leader: Let all the saints jump for joy;
All: let them cry out with gladness where they rest.
Leader: Let high praises of God be in their throats:
All: word and song that overcome injustice,
binding rulers in chains and the powerful in iron shackles; bringing justice to them, and honor to all God's faithful.
Praise the LORD!
OPENING SONG: “Here I Am to Worship”
Light of the world you stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you.
CHORUS
So, here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely, Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days oh so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above
Humbly you came to the Earth you created
All for love’s sake became poor.
REPEAT CHORUS
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross.
SING CHORUS TWICE
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Rev. Lottie MacAulay Friedman
Beloved God,
who was known to our mothers and fathers,
and even to our spiritual forebears, have mercy on us.
We do not always love as you would have us love.
We do not always do as you would have us do.
In our stubbornness, we turn from you when we should turn toward you. Hold us, dear One – comfort us when we mourn the passing of friends and family, and help us to know that they are rejoicing in your presence.
We praise you for the grace you shower on us, constantly forgiving our sins, especially the ones that we don’t share with any but you.
Hear now the silent fears and worries of our hearts.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Please observe a brief moment of silence to rest in God’s presence, to listen to God’s voice and to experience God’s peace
SONG OF BLESSING:
The Lord bless you, and keep you
And give you peace
The Lord bless you and keep you
And give you peace
PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you
Response: And also with you
SONG: “Everlasting God”
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign for ever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer….
CHORUS:
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
REPEAT AND SING CHORUS TWICE
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 25:14-30
14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once 16 the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
SERMON: “Power of the Potluck”
Rev. Dr. Austin Ashenbrenner
SONG: “Sanctuary”
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary,
Pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You.
REPEAT
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
Austin Ashenbrenner and Rev. Tasha Hicks McCray
COMMUNION SONGS: “Above All” and “Above All Else”
“Above All”
Above all powers, above all kings,
Above all nature and all created things.
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man,
You were here before the world began.
Above all kingdoms, above all thrones,
Above all wonders the world has ever known.
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth,
There’s no way to measure what You’re worth.
Crucified, laid behind a stone.
You lived to die, rejected and alone.
Like a rose trampled on the ground,
You took the fall, and thought of me
Above all.
REPEAT – AND SING LAST 2 LINES TWICE
“Above All Else”
Jesus my passion in life is to know You
May all other goals bow down to
This journey of loving you more
Jesus You’ve showered Your goodness on me
Given Your gifts so freely
But there’s one thing I’m longing for
Hear my heart’s cry
And my prayer for this life
Above all else
Above all else
Above all else
Give me Yourself
REPEAT AND SING CHORUS TWICE
CLOSING SONG: “Blessed Be Your Name”
Blessed be Your Name, in the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Blessed be Your name, when I'm found in the desert place. Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
BRIDGE:
Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say
CHORUS:
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name, On the road marked with suffering, though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name
BRIDGE:
Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say
CHORUS:
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord Blessed be your name (SING TWICE)
CHORUS:
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
BENEDICTION
OFFERING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE/ LORD’S PRAYER:
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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen