Call to Worship
We come, for God gathers us here,
with that community called faith:
where the hungry are served first,
where the thirsty drink life’s water.
We come, for God welcomes us here
into that home called grace:
where the naked are clothed in robes of hope;
where the stranger is embraced as the long-lost prodigal.
We come, for God reunites us here,
sisters and brothers in that family called love:
where the imprisoned model justice,
where the sick are cradled in God’s peace.
Opening song – All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all.
O seed of Israel’s chosen race
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him, you heirs of David’s line,
whom David Lord did call
the God incarnate, man divine
and crown him Lord of all.
The God Incarnate, man divine
and crown him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet
and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet
and crown him Lord of all.
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe
on this terrestrial ball
to him all majesty ascribe
and crown him Lord of all.
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
and crown him Lord of all.
Prayer
May we share in the Lord’s kingship
by serving him in the poor and the humble
(pause)
God, Father of the poor,
your Son Jesus was born among us
poor, humble and dependent.
Open our eyes and our hearts and our hands
to honor him now as our Lord and King
by welcoming him in those who are hungry and thirsty,
in all who are abandoned and lonely,
in refugees, in the poor and the sick.
Let our love become free and spontaneous,
like the tenderness you have shown us in your Son.
Welcome us in the everlasting Kingdom
prepared for us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
31 “Now when the Human One comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left. 34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you who will receive terrible things. Go into the unending fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’45 Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life.”
Reflection
Song – Least of These
Sometimes I think we forget about others needs
to busy trying to reap life’s crops, to be sowing seeds
our own selfishness blinds our eyes until we can’t help others see
how can I lead a blind man to the Lord if my eyes are stuck on me
I was hungry then, did you give me food to eat?
when I was cold and tired, did you give me a warm place to sleep?
when life had knocked me down, did you help me to my feet?
what you’ve done for the least of these, you’ve done for me.
Some people are down and out, they feel all alone
and others don’t have a place that they can call their own
the worlds dragging them to the ground, lost and lonely
it is then that through our eyes God’s love is seen
I was hungry then, did you give me food to eat?
when I was cold and tired, did you give me a warm place to sleep?
when life had knocked me down, did you help me to my feet?
what you’ve done for the least of these, you’ve done for me.
When we get to heaven I hope Jesus will say,
“you were faithful servants, each and every day
you never turned your back on anyone in need
it was when you were serving them, that you served me.”
cause I was hungry then, and you gave me food to eat.
when I was cold and tired, you gave me a warm place to sleep.
when life had knocked me down ,you helped me to my feet.
what you’ve done for the least of these, you’ve done for me.
yes, what you’ve down for the least of these, you’ve done for me,
Prayers
Communion
Closing Song – Beautiful Savior
Beautiful Savior,
King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee,
truly I’d serve thee,
light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Fair are the meadows,
fair are the woodlands,
robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
he makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine,
fair is the moonlight,
bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine!
Blessing
As you have been fed, go to feed the hungry.
As you have been set free, go to set free the imprisoned.
As you have been received – give.
As you have heard – proclaim.
And the blessing which you have received
from the Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit
be always with you. Amen.
Please remember to fill in the form to let us know you were here!
https://forms.gle/jCYjdPK6Mkfqsxt67