November 11, 2018

1. November 11, 2018 Welcome to OPC

2. Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

3. Prelude“Prelude in F Major” ~J.S. Bach Lighting of the candles

4. *CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Sisters and Brothers, welcome to this holy and sacred place, where we honor what is good and right.

5. P: Today we praise and honor our God, the one who shows us what is holy and just. L: As we worship, let us consider the many ways we are blessed.

6. P: With deep gratitude in our hearts, we worship the God who gives us all that is good. • L: Let us honor the spirit and act of sacrifice this day.

7. P: May we conform our lives to Ruth, Boaz, and the widow, who alloffered from what they had for the sake of others.

8. L: May God transform our hearts to be like God’s heart. • P: May we be sent forth today with a loving, giving heart. • L: Let us worship and praise God.

9. P: Let us worship and praise our God!

10. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.1 God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;Crown Thine ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.

11. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.1 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,for the facing of this hour.

12. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!From the fears that long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise.

13. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.2 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days,for the living of these days.

14. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.3 Cure Thy children’s warring madness, bend our pride to Thy control;Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.

15. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.3 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

16. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.4 Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may beArmored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.

17. *HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.4 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee,that we fail not them nor Thee!

18. *PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison) Merciful God, we confess that we take so many things in our lives for granted, including all our privileges, our sweet freedom, and those who sacrificed much to secure it for us.

19. We are blessed to have so much, and yet sometimes we don’t even notice. Instead of offering sacrifices, we just want more. We have wonderful friends and family, and yet we forget to tell them we love them,

20. or how important they are to us. We are mean to those who care so much about us. Forgive us, Loving God. Help us to see how beautiful the people and things around us are.

21. Help us to see the Holy all around us, and have mercy on us when we don’t. (silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

22. ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Friends, hear the Good News: In the beautiful life, sacrificial death, and awesome resurrection of Jesus Christ, we learn that God’s love has no bounds.

23. In Christ we are forgiven, and are empowered to begin anew. Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel. P: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to our God. Amen.

24. CHOIR ANTHEM “America, Our Heritage” ~Steele “God Bless America” ~Berlin

25. Time With Young Christians

26. A Litany for Veterans

27. L: God of love, peace and justice, it is your will for the world that we may live together in peace. You have promised through the prophet Isaiah that one day the swords will be beaten into ploughshares. Yet we live in a broken world,

28. and there are times that war becomes unavoidable. Today we recognize with humility and sadness the tragic loss of life – physical, emotional, spiritual – that comes in war. We pray for your healing to be never ending for all who have

29. served and suffered. (Please bow your heads in a moment of silence.) In this moment, as we gather here free from persecution and war, we give thanks for those that have served with courage and honor.

30. Those that are in our presence that are either in active duty or reserve duty, and the fathers, mothers, siblings, spouses, and grandparents of those that are currently serving, please rise.

31. ALL: God, we praise you for those that are willing to serve. We give thanks for their great and daily sacrifices. Strengthen all Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen,

32. and Coast Guardsmen to serve with honor, pride, and compassion. Do not let their hearts be hardened by the actions they must take on our behalf. Strengthen their families.

33. Keep them surrounded in your love and peace.

34. L: Those that are in our presence that have served in the military in the past, please rise. P: God, we praise you for those that have previously served in the military.

35. We thank you for those that put the welfare of others ahead of their own safety. Let us all be inspired by their self-sacrifice in service to those who needed protection.

36. L: Those that are in our presence who have lost a loved one in war, please rise. P: God, we praise you for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.

37. We ask that you comfort those that still feel the pain of their loss. Keep us mindful that you have promised to comfort those who mourn.

38. Bring healing to their souls.

39. L: Those who have gathered in your name in safety because of the sacrifices of others, please rise. P: God, we praise you for granting us these freedoms. Let us honor those who have served by working for

40. peace. Let us never forget those that are serving and those who have served, and let us never let go of your promise of peace.

41. PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Ruth 2:8-13

42. Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men notto bother you.

43. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’But Boazanswered her,

44. ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for yourdeeds, and mayyou have a full

45. reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’ Then she said, ‘May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.’

46. SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 12:38-44

47. As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for thesake ofappearance saylong prayers.

48. They will receive the greater condemnation.’ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are wortha penny.

49. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put ineverything she had,all that she hadto live on.’

50. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!