November 8, 2020 - Pentecost Season Devotion - The Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost
This Sunday, November 8, 2020 – The Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost
Join us for worship this Sunday, 9:30 a.m., "Thanks Be To God, All Made Ready!"
Thanks be to God for those who have given their time and leadership as we now worship again in our sanctuary!
You will find more details below, including, signing up for worship, signing up to volunteer, what to expect, and children's activity sheets. You can also access these details on our website and on our Facebook page!
Worship each Sunday will be a 30-minute service including live music by our worship leaders, a children's message and a message from Pastor Jamie. Holy Communion will be offered as the service ends. If you prefer, if your timing is better, from 10:15-10:30 a.m., you are invited to drive up to the curb of the sidewalk in front of the building, and receive Holy Communion in your vehicle.
Each Sunday we will make every attempt to live stream the service for you at 9:30 a.m.
We hope you join us for worship this Sunday! We look forward to seeing you soon!
You can access the bulletin for this Sunday, November 8, here.
You can access children's activity sheets for this Sunday here.
You can sign up to attend worship this Sunday here.
You can access details and what to expect as we share indoor worship here.
You can access the signupgenius and ways to assist our indoor service here.
“vs. 1
People get ready,
There’s a train a-comin’
You don’t need no baggage,
You just get on board
All you need is faith,
To hear the diesels hummin’
You don’t need no ticket;
You just thank the Lord.
vs. 2
So people get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
Coast to coast
Faith is the key,
Open the doors and board them
There’s hope for all among
Those loved the most
ref:
Thank the Lord,
Thank the Lord,
Thank the Lord, ooh
(repeat)
vs. 3
There ain’t no room,
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind,
Just to save his own
Have pity on those
Whose chances grow thinner
For there’s no hiding place
Against the Kingdom’s throne
ending:
Thank the Lord,
Thank the Lord,
Thank the Lord,
Thank the Lord
(repeat 2x)”
“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. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Much of what we experience, we try to get ready for.
The last several months have left us feeling not very well prepared; at times, very unprepared, and not ready at all for what might be next.
Surprises come our way, yet, we try to at least get ready for the expected, such as school assignments, appointments, work schedules, important calendar events.
Jesus reminds us we are to be ready for him. As Christians, we know The Bridegroom is coming.
Jesus gets Jesus’ people ready for the train that is coming, so we are ready to get on board, so we trust anew there is no ticket needed, the faith and grace given to us is all we need, so we are ready for every sign of love, so we are ready to thank the Lord!
Jesus comes to us through his signs of love, and through his faithful presence. Jesus tells us we do not know when or where he will come, only that he will. His presence may surprise us; the fact that he is present should never catch us off guard!
As we hear in his parable today, Jesus invites us to be ready to see and to answer to and to call upon every sign of love, signs of light, wisdom, goodness and grace.
Are we ready? Are you ready? Faith is the key! The doors are open! There’s hope, real hope! You are among those who are loved the most!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the good news is Jesus is ready, he is ready to get us ready, for our sake. Thanks be to God, Jesus gets us ready, ready for every sign of love!
Let us pray: Loving God, we give you thanks for blessing us with every good gift sent from heaven above. By your Spirit, keep us strong and faithful, ready to get on board where you are taking us and gracing us; ready to see you, ready to answer you, to call on you, and to praise you always. May we trust anew this Thanksgiving season; you are ready to provide us with every sign of love, granting us all we need and so much more, as we serve you and glorify you alone. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.