All Saints' Day Service

Sharing Community in Christ

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Call to Confession

Leader: 1 John 3.1-7

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.      Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

Time of silent confession

Declaration of Pardon

Leader:

Who is in a position to condemn?  Only Christ. And Christ died for us. Christ rose for us.  Christ reigns in power for us.  And Christ prays for us.  Know my friends that you are a forgiven people.  Live your lives in the peace of Christ.

Congregation: Gloria Patri

Announcements and Passing of the Peace

Encountering the Word

Prayer of Illumination: Open My Eyes, verse 2

The Gospel: Matthew 5.1-12

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

Congregation: Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Responsive Hymn: Take My Life and Let it be.

Tithes and Offerings

Prayer of Dedication: Take Thou our Minds, Dear Lord, verses 1-2

Participating in the Spirit

Liturgy of Saintly Light

Everyone lights a tea-light for a departed saint and places it on the Lord's Table, declaring their name (or names, if multiple).

Prayer of the Saints

Leader:

Blessed are you, Lord our God, creator of the Covenant people.  We give you thanks on this special day for your gracious willingness to for a people to do your will in this world.       We give you thanks for all of those who have gone before us.  We think of all those prophets and priests named and unnamed in the Bible.  We think of all those holy fathers and mothers of the church through the ages.  And we think of those who have returned to you in the last year: Lorraine Huffman, Ed Gallagher, Bob Lunn      We also give you thanks for all those you have called out in today's world to do the hard work of proclaiming your justice and bearing your peace: we give you thanks for your Church.  We thank you for all those gathered here today, those who are in our community, and those who are beyond our boarders.       And we give you thanks for all those who will come after us.  As we gather in your Spirit of self-giving love, we know that there are saints yet to come, those called out to continue your work after we are gone.       As we lift our voices in prayer on this day, O gracious God, we do so with gratitude, knowing you hear our prayer, for you are faithful still.

Affirmation of Faith: Apostles' Creed

Closing Hymn: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Benediction