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“Christ: Consider the Lilies” by Kelly Latimore
“Thanksgiving Eve Service”
November 27, 2024 7:00 pm
Rev Brian Brosz – St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Plato
Rev Al Fiene – Friedens United Church of Christ, NYA
Rev Scott Siefert – St. John’s United Church of Christ, NYA
Rev Adam Thompson – First Congregational Church, Glencoe
Welcome
Greeting
Rev Scott: We gather together with gladness in our hearts. This is a day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Call to Worship
Rev Scott: Come, children of God, with hearts full of gratitude!
All: We gather to give thanks for God’s abundant blessings.
Rev Scott: In this season of Thanksgiving, we remember the gift of relationships – with God, with family, with friends, and our community.
All: We celebrate the bonds that unite us in love and fellowship.
Rev Scott: Let us lift our voices in praise for God’s faithfulness throughout all generations. All: God’s love endures forever; God’s mercy never fails!
Rev Scott: Together, as one body, let us worship the Lord with joy and thanksgiving. All: With hearts open and hands raised, we give thanks to our God, who is good and whose love binds us together in unity. AMEN.
*Opening Hymn: Rev Brian “For the Fruit of All Creation” (New Century Hymnal #425)
Prayer of Invocation
Rev Scott: Gracious and Loving God, we come before You, seeking Your presence and trusting in Your promise to care for us. As the birds of the air and lilies of the field testify to Your faithfulness, may our lives reflect a trust that frees us from anxiety and binds us to Your peace.
All: Come, Holy Spirit, and fill this space with Your wisdom, guidance and love. AMEN.
Prayer for Transformation and New Life
Rev Scott: Faithful God, on this eve of Thanksgiving, we come to You with hearts of gratitude and a yearning for renewal. We confess that too often we are consumed by worry – about what we will eat, drink, or wear – forgetting that You are the source of all that we need.
All: Make us a people of gratitude and peace bringing new life and transformation to a world in need. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who calls us to abundant life. AMEN.
–Time of Silent Confession
Words of Grace: Rev Scott: Hear the Good News: Our God is faithful and full of compassion. When we confess our worries and doubts, God meets us with mercy and renews our hearts. In Christ, we are called to an abundant life, free from fear and filled with gratitude. Beloved, know this: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, transformed, and made new.
All: Thanks be to God! AMEN.
Passing of the Peace – Rev Scott
Scripture Readings
Matthew 6:25-33 – Pastor Adam –25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27And can any of you by
worrying add a single hour to your span of life?28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things.33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Pastoral Meditation
Rev Adam Thompson: “Seek Ye First”
Hymn of Response: Leader Rev Brian “Nun danket alle Gott (Now Thank We All Our God)” (New Century Hymnal #419)
Prayers and Concerns
Joys – Concerns – Blessings – Rev Al
Please share any special concerns, joys, and blessings.
Silent Prayer – Pastoral Prayer – Lord’s Prayer
ALL: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. AMEN.
Collection and Presentation of the Offering
Invitation to Generosity – (Today’s Offering Will Benefit SW Carver County Food Shelf) Pastor Al: On this Thanksgiving Eve, our hearts are full of gratitude for God’s abundance. Yet, we are reminded that many in our community face hunger and uncertainty. Tonight we have the opportunity to live out our gratitude by sharing with those in need. Let us give with generous hearts, trusting that our gifts will be multiplied in love and service.
Offertory Music: Rev Brian “Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works” (New Century Hymnal #3) *Hymn: Leader Rev Brian – “Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow”
*Prayer of Dedication
All: Bless these gifts, O God, that they may provide nourishment, comfort, and hope to those in need. Multiply them in love that they may be a sign of You among us. May these gifts reflect the generosity of Christ, in whose name we pray. AMEN.
Closing and Blessing
*Closing Hymn: Leader Rev Brian “Great is Your Faithfulness” (New Century Hymnal #423) *Benediction and Blessing – Rev Al
*Please to stand if able
Announcements
Welcome! Thank you for sharing your Thanksgiving Eve with us. It is a blessing to worship together and enjoy fellowship with our local churches in the United Church of Christ.
Today’s offering. Your gifts of generosity will benefit SW Carver County Food Shelf. You’re Invited for food and Fellowship! Immediately following the worship service led by Cheryl Bachmann.
St. John's United Church of Christ 
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