GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sunday, November 15, 2020 | 10AM THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN PENTECOST
Wherever you are worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you through the scripture, prayers, music, and sermon. We are called to worship by the promises of God in whom we place our faith and trust. Scripture and Hymn settings can be found on pages 5-9 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read.
GATHERING PRELUDE
He Leadeth Me
Wm. Bradbury; arr. Whitworth
CHIMING OF THE HOUR WELCOME
WESTMINSTER
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Psalm 90
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Remembering all that God has done for us, let us worship God! HYMN 367
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR Hymn 367—Despite its familiar Thanksgiving PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison associations, the real concern Almighty God, of this text is to recall the harvest imagery Jesus used to You love us, but we have not loved you. describe the fulfillment of You call, but we have not listened. God’s sovereignty. The tune We walk away from neighbors in need, name commemorates the royal wrapped in our own concerns. chapel where the composer We condone evil, prejudice, warfare and greed. was organist for forty-seven God of grace, help us to admit our sin, years.
so that as you come to us in mercy, we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.
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ASSURANCE OF PARDON RESPONSE | HYMN 581
Glory Be to the Father GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen. In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and preached. We seek to better understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more faithfully.
PROCLAIMING THE WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST READING
Judges 4:1-7
CHILDREN’S SERMON
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
SECOND READING
Matthew 25:14-30
SERMON
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON “Taking Risks”
Hymn 716—This text on THANKSGIVING stewardship was one of about 450 submissions in a search HYMN 716 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending for such hymns conducted by BEACH SPRING the Hymn Society of America REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR in 1961. These words are well AFFIRMATION OF FAITH unison grounded by their musical I believe in God the Father Almighty, and sitteth on the right hand of setting, an early American maker of heaven and earth; God the Father Almighty; shape note tune named for a and in Jesus Christ from thence he shall come to judge Baptist church in Harris his only Son our Lord; the quick and the dead. County, Georgia. who was conceived by the Holy I believe in the Holy Ghost; Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
Confessions define what we suffered under Pontius Pilate, as a community believe, was crucified, dead, and buried; affirming our beliefs about he descended into hell; God, Jesus Christ, the Holy the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, Spirit, and about humanity, the church and the world. The Apostles’ Creed affirms the OFFERTORY historical nature of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and confirms the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
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DOXOLOGY | HYMN 607
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye Heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen! PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THANKSGIVING
THE LORD’S PRAYER unison Our Father, who art in heaven, For thine is the kingdom, hallowed be thy name, and the power, thy kingdom come, and the glory, forever. thy will be done, Amen. on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Hymn 612—The author wrote this text when only nineteen years old in response to a HYMN 612 request from the organist of the Brick Presbyterian Church BENEDICTION in New York City, who wanted another Thanksgiving text to POSTLUDE sing to this Dutch tune. He regarded the usual text (see no. 336) as too full of conflict .
SENDING We Praise You, O God
KREMSER
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON Now Thank We All Our God
arr. Paul Manz
Please remain seated at the postlude. An usher will come by to dismiss your pew. Celebrating in Worship Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr
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Judges 4:1-7 4 The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. 2 So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Haroshethha-goiim. 3 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years. 4 At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. 7 I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’”
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Matthew 25:14-30 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
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Copyright© Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission. Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2021 9
Volunteers are needed to assist with these upcoming initiatives by the Urban Ministries Committee. If you are interesting in volunteering, you may sign up at GSPCMOBILE.ORG/SIGNUP or by contacting Pastor Rebekah or Laurie Shorter.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 & 18
8 - 9:30 A.M. We will be handing out sack lunches and snacks from the parking lot at Guesnard House.
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The Sanctuary Flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Margaret Sue & Guy Oswalt by their family. 300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org Member PC(USA)
Staff REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Pastor & Head of Staff rebekah@gspcmobile.org REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON Associate Pastor alexandra@gspcmobile.org TOMMY WATTS Director of Music & Organist Communications tommy@gspcmobile.org
ADULT BIBLE STUDY Women’s Bible Study—Tuesdays at 10AM via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter or Mary Elizabeth Perry Sunday Book Study Group Sundays at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter Presbyterian Women P.W. Circle & Bible Study Second Monday night of each month via Zoom (12/14, 1/11, 2/8, 3/8, 4/12, 5/10) Contact: Bligh Jones
SAMANTHA ANSELMO Children’s Choir Director
KATY PARTRIDGE Office & Property Manager katy@gspcmobile.org DAWN HEARN Bookkeeper dawn@gspcmobile.org
Worship with us via Live-stream on
BARBARA WILLIAMS Hostess barbara@gspcmobile.org SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton ARTHUR LEWIS Sexton
Sundays at 10 a.m.
@GSPCMOBILE 12