Living as the Early Church: Unity, Witness, and Sacred Ordinances

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
... ... ... ... ... ...
[00:01:37] Thank you.
[00:01:58] Let's pray.

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
I don't know

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning, Central!
[00:04:42] Welcome to church!
[00:04:43] I'm so glad that you're here this morning.
[00:04:45] My name's Anita.
[00:04:46] I'm the pastor here, and I welcome you in Jesus' name.
[00:04:49] I'm so glad that you have come, and I just pray that this service would be a blessing to you and to your families.
[00:04:55] We celebrate All Saints today, and it's one of my favorite days of the year.
[00:05:00] A couple of things that you need to know about.
[00:05:02] November the 16th, which is two Sundays from now, we will have a town hall meeting
[00:05:07] After church we'll have pizza and salad for lunch and then just a meeting to let everybody know what's going on with the church and where we are and where we're headed and dream about the future and we want all of you to stay and be part of that.
[00:05:20] So that's in two weeks.
[00:05:22] Also, I'd like to introduce Tommy.
[00:05:25] Is he, do I see him?
[00:05:27] We don't see Tommy.
[00:05:28] Tommy will be here with us next Sunday to help us out.
[00:05:32] We have hired him as our accompanist, so when you see him, welcome him, and we will carry on from there.
[00:05:41] Also, another thank you, we have a guest soloist today.
[00:05:44] James is singing a beautiful solo today, so we welcome him and his family as part of our worship experience this morning.
[00:05:51] If you are here to light a candle in memory of a loved one that has passed this year, there will be a place in the service where I will call you up.
[00:05:59] We'll come up to this table and light a candle.
[00:06:02] One person from the family is invited, or the whole family.
[00:06:05] If you'd like to come, you do that however is comfortable for you.
[00:06:10] Okay?
[00:06:10] Are you guys ready to worship God together?
[00:06:13] Amen.
[00:06:14] Let's take a look at the video, see how you can be involved in this community of faith, and let's worship God together.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Hey, good morning church.
[00:06:51] Let's stand and worship together.

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
There is now a hope that lasts beyond our days For the one that once was buried lives again
[00:07:21] Now the tomb is bare and empty and the stone is rolled away Praise the risen one who overcame the grave All you brokenhearted, all you wanted
[00:07:56] Let there be dancing Let there be dancing in the darkness And let our song break through the night Lift your voice and sing
[00:08:48] Let there be dancing.
[00:09:04] Sing it loud.
[00:09:11] Let there be dancing in the darkness And let our song break through the night Lift your voice and sing that Christ is King For Jesus is alive Hallelujah Death is undone Hallelujah
[00:09:42] Jesus has won, Hallelujah We overcome, O in Jesus, O in Jesus Hallelujah Death is undone, Hallelujah Jesus has won, Hallelujah We overcome, O in Jesus, O in Jesus
[00:10:20] Lift your voice and sing that Christ is King for Jesus is alive.
[00:10:29] Lift your voice and sing that Christ is King for Jesus is alive.

[00:10:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Yeah, amen to that.
[00:10:50] I love it.
[00:10:51] Let's pray.
[00:10:52] Father God, as we enter into your glorious presence today, help us to lift up your name.
[00:10:58] Help us to fill up our hearts with your mercy and your grace, Lord.
[00:11:02] Help us to truly come face to face with you through our worship and learning today.
[00:11:07] And we ask in the name of Jesus.
[00:11:09] Amen.

[00:11:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
I believe in the blood of Jesus that washes white as snow I believe that the power of the gospel still makes the broken whole I believe that the curse of sin was broken when they rolled away that stone I believe, I believe, I believe
[00:11:51] As I bow before you, Lord, I will rise in confidence I will see your goodness, Lord, in the land I'm living in No matter where I go, no matter where I've been I will see your goodness, Lord
[00:12:21] I believe that the walls will stop falling We fall down on our knees I believe that the lame will go walking The blind are gonna see I believe that the gates of hell will tremble When the church begins to sing
[00:12:41] I believe, I believe, I believe As I bow before you Lord I will rise in confidence I will see your goodness Lord In the land I'm living in No matter where I go No matter where I've been I will see your goodness Lord In the land I'm living in
[00:13:20] Sing it to the daughters Sing it to the sons To every generation Look at what the Lord has done Sing it to the darkness That the light has come Sing it to the nations Look at what the Lord has done
[00:13:52] Look at what the Lord has done Sing it to the darkness The light has come Sing it to the nations Look at what the Lord has done
[00:14:14] I will see your goodness, Lord, in the land I'm living in No matter where I go, no matter where I've been I will see your goodness, Lord, in the land I'm living in

[00:14:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
One of the ways that we get to see the goodness of the Lord in the land that we're living in is to celebrate the saints who have gone before us.
[00:15:04] All Saints Day is as old as the church almost.
[00:15:08] And each year we remember those who are in the great cloud of witnesses now, where we firmly believe that those who have gone before are part of our community of faith and part of our life with Jesus.
[00:15:22] Even though we can't see them anymore for now So we've come to a time in our worship where we get to celebrate that And I would invite those who are remembering saints who have passed since last year If you would like to come If you'll come from wherever you are and just gather right down here And then we will call the names of those saints and allow you to light a candle So would you come forward?
[00:16:13] So then, with endurance, let's also run the race that is laid out in front of us.
[00:16:19] Since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let's throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, fate's pioneer and perfecter.
[00:16:32] He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of Him, and sat down at the right side of God's throne.
[00:16:54] We remember our saints.
[00:16:56] Robert Fosvett.
[00:17:10] Carl Wren.
[00:17:25] Lucille Deaton Martha Troutman Debbie Brannon
[00:17:55] Sandy Harbinson

[00:19:00] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
[00:19:19] Amen.
[00:19:32] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy

[00:20:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy

[00:20:36] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
of the Lord Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[00:21:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
SEPTEMBER

[00:21:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
God, we give you praise for all your saints who have finished their lives here on earth and now rest in peace with you.
[00:21:55] We thank you for their witness in our lives.
[00:21:59] Lord, please give us grace to follow the example of their faithfulness as we live out our days.
[00:22:08] In the name of Jesus, we pray.
[00:22:11] Amen.
[00:22:20] So as we continue to pray and remember together, every person in this room knows a saint who has gone before or who lives and breathes and maybe sits beside you today.
[00:22:36] So I want everyone to have a chance to light a candle, to remember someone, to give thanks for someone as a great reminder that all of us really are part of this great cloud of witnesses.
[00:22:53] So Matt's going to play us some music in a minute and we're going to come forward.
[00:22:57] And as you do, you can use the candles that are here on the side and just take the light
[00:23:03] Use the big candle and light a candle to remember someone and then pass it on to the person behind you.
[00:23:23] So come on both sides and please light the ones that are on the ladder first because you'll be able to see them the best.
[00:23:34] If that gets full, there are candles in the windows.
[00:23:37] If you don't want to come all the way to the front, you're welcome to do that.
[00:23:40] But would you just come and let's all remember and celebrate the cloud of witnesses that we get to be part of.
[00:23:47] Let's worship.

[00:26:10] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Thank you for watching!
[00:26:42] and more.
[00:28:24] Thank you.

[00:29:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
And think about all the generations that have allowed the light of Christ to shine so that you might be where you are right this moment and give thanks.
[00:29:37] Let us pray.
[00:29:39] Lord, it is good to be considered among your community.
[00:29:45] We give thanks to you for who you are and we praise your holy name.
[00:29:50] We remember our saints this day with grateful hearts.
[00:29:56] And we ask that you would inspire us to be that kind of person for somebody in our lives.
[00:30:09] Lord, we ask that you would be with us when we make choices that lead us far from your community.
[00:30:19] That you would forgive us when we stray, lift us up when we fall,
[00:30:26] and set our feet in your path when we're lost.
[00:30:34] We pray for hope and healing and comfort.
[00:30:40] We bless you for provision and strength and courage.
[00:30:47] Hear every prayer of every heart, oh God, this morning.
[00:30:53] For we lift them all to you.
[00:30:58] We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior, who taught his followers to pray.
[00:31:05] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
[00:31:10] Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[00:31:17] Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
[00:31:26] And lead us not into temptation,
[00:31:29] but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever amen as you continue in worship and offer your offerings remember that your gifts allow us to continue to be church for this community for this world and they matter
[00:31:54] Thank you so much for all the ways that you give.
[00:31:58] You can give online at the QR code.
[00:32:01] You can come and bring and leave your offering here in the toolbox or the offering plates.
[00:32:06] Either one.
[00:32:07] One is not more special than the other.
[00:32:09] They just look different.
[00:32:11] Make your choice.
[00:32:12] It's all good.
[00:32:13] And may God be praised and glorified by every gift and every giver.
[00:32:18] Amen.

[00:32:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
It's a good metaphor.
[00:32:24] They look different, but they're just equal.

[00:32:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
You live among the least of these The weary and the weak And it would be a tragedy For me to turn away
[00:32:52] All my needs you have supplied When I was dead you gave me life How could I not give it away so freely And now I follow you into the homes of the broken
[00:33:21] Follow you into the world.
[00:33:27] Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God.
[00:33:33] Follow you into the world.
[00:33:38] Use my hands and use my feet to make your kingdom come.
[00:33:48] To the corners of the earth until your work is done Because faith without works is dead And on that cross your blood was shed So how could we not give it away so freely
[00:34:18] And I'll follow you into the homes of the broken I'll follow you into the world Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God I'll follow you into the world I'll follow you into the homes of the broken
[00:34:50] Follow you into the world.
[00:34:55] Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God.
[00:35:01] Follow you into the world.

[00:35:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
So I forgot to do something in all of the excitement.
[00:36:00] I forgot to tell the kids they could go to kids' church.
[00:36:03] So maybe they're down there, like,
[00:36:06] Cut and flips or something, but I saw the leaders go down, so we're good.
[00:36:10] So if you are in the room and you are kindergarten through fifth grade and you haven't made it to kids worship yet and you want to go, you'll meet right here at this door.
[00:36:19] We'll get you there.
[00:36:20] Yeah, Matt will take you down if anybody wants to go.
[00:36:23] Sorry about that.
[00:36:24] I just had a lot on my brain and I forgot to say it.
[00:36:27] Also, look at the end of your pews.
[00:36:31] You have this beautiful fall orangey colored piece of paper.
[00:36:35] And it is our final daily Bible reading for the Bible year.
[00:36:41] If you're just joining us, we started reading the Bible together in January in Genesis.
[00:36:47] And this is the last one.
[00:36:48] We'll finish it up.
[00:36:49] Can you believe that?
[00:36:50] It seems like yesterday.
[00:36:52] But here we are.
[00:36:54] So take that with you and that can continue to be part of your devotion as you go through the week.
[00:37:01] All right.
[00:37:03] Now I have a question for you.
[00:37:05] Is there anybody that likes movie sequels?
[00:37:10] Anybody a fan of sequels?
[00:37:12] What do you like about them?
[00:37:17] The characters?
[00:37:19] Okay, what else?
[00:37:21] I like that the story goes on.
[00:37:24] That the story continues, yeah.
[00:37:26] If you don't like them, why not?
[00:37:34] You can't remember what's coming next.
[00:37:36] You remember the first one, but can't remember the second one.
[00:37:38] What else?
[00:37:41] What if the second one's not good?
[00:37:44] Not as good as the first one, right?
[00:37:45] We always judge the second one by the first one.
[00:37:48] Top Gun fans?
[00:37:50] Yeah, mm-hmm.
[00:37:51] So, but I love a good sequel.
[00:37:53] What's the sequel that everybody's waiting on right now?
[00:37:57] Comes out at the end of the month.
[00:37:58] What?
[00:37:59] Wicked, yes.
[00:38:01] I can't wait.
[00:38:02] For the second Wicked movie to come out, to see the end of the story.
[00:38:06] I just love when you turn the page, or in this case, you know, you get your popcorn and sit down with the movie and wait for the rest of the story, and you know that there's more to the story.
[00:38:18] Well, that's kind of where we are in the Bible today.
[00:38:21] Today we turn the page from the Gospels, the stories of Jesus' life and death and resurrection, to the book of Acts.
[00:38:30] And that's where we learn that there's more to the story.
[00:38:33] There's more to the story of Jesus in the world and there's more to how we are part of that story.
[00:38:41] Acts is the place where the church starts.
[00:38:43] It's where it's born.
[00:38:45] It's the story where Jesus' story comes to life in us.
[00:38:50] We live it out and share it with the world.
[00:38:54] And we find in the very first few chapters of this sequel that church
[00:39:00] At its very core is about community.
[00:39:05] So leading up to today's scripture, which is at the end of the second chapter of Acts, let's just say it has been a day in the town.
[00:39:15] It's Pentecost, which is a harvest festival that's been going on long, long time.
[00:39:21] It's an ancient Jewish festival.
[00:39:24] People are gathered, the scripture says, from every nation under heaven, from everywhere.
[00:39:28] They've all come for the party.
[00:39:31] And the Holy Spirit comes like a mighty wind and tongues of fire and people are being able to understand the words that have been spoken in their own languages and Peter stands up to preach and he claims that Jesus is Christ and Lord and calls all the crowds to repentance and the people listen.
[00:39:53] Three thousand, it says, were added that day to the church.
[00:39:59] What would y'all feel like if 3,000 people came to Jesus between now and when we say amen in about 30 or 45 minutes?
[00:40:09] Can you imagine what kind of day that would be?
[00:40:11] Oh my goodness, it was that kind of day.
[00:40:17] And as a result of this amazing day, Luke says this is what the early church began to look like.
[00:40:27] Acts chapter 2.
[00:40:29] Starting in verse 42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shared meals and their prayers.
[00:40:41] A sense of awe came over everyone.
[00:40:44] God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.
[00:40:49] All the believers were united and shared everything.
[00:40:53] They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.
[00:41:01] Every day they met together in the temple and ate in their homes.
[00:41:05] They shared food with gladness and simplicity.
[00:41:10] They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone.
[00:41:15] The Lord added daily,
[00:41:17] to the community, those who were being saved.
[00:41:21] This is God's word for God's people.
[00:41:25] Thanks be to God.
[00:41:27] Gracious God, thank you for this holy word.
[00:41:32] May we see you through it and be changed by it so that in our everyday lives might look a little more like you day by day.
[00:41:46] Amen.
[00:41:49] So as we celebrate All Saints today, I think about all the generations of faithful people that we remember that have gone before us and helped us to step into Jesus' story by the example of their lives.
[00:42:04] It is a good day to stop and remember all those who have shown us what it looks like to follow Jesus.
[00:42:12] And it's as a result of their faithfulness that we have faith.
[00:42:16] It is as a result of their faithfulness that we are still the church today.
[00:42:22] Now of course there are some saints who are famous.
[00:42:26] Can you name a couple?
[00:42:29] Who are famous saints you know of?
[00:42:32] Saint Patrick, Saint Andrew, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Teresa,
[00:42:42] The Apostle Peter who preached that wonderful sermon on the day of Pentecost.
[00:42:47] There are many, many famous saints, but most of the saints that we remember today aren't in history books and they don't have a feast day named after them.
[00:42:58] There are people who are probably in the photos on our phone, or if you're old like me, you got books where we kept pictures back in the day.
[00:43:06] You have some of those.
[00:43:08] Those are the people who shaped our faith in quiet and powerful ways.
[00:43:15] Maybe for you it's a parent or a grandparent who prayed for you in the times that you really needed praying for the most.
[00:43:26] Maybe it's a friend who walked beside you through a difficult season.
[00:43:30] Maybe it's somebody in this very room
[00:43:34] In this very church family who has shown you Jesus by the way that they loved you and invited you in.
[00:43:43] Are people popping in your mind?
[00:43:46] Take a minute and name those saints in your soul and be grateful.
[00:43:54] So what is it, as you think about these people, what makes a saint?
[00:44:01] What makes these people that came to your mind?
[00:44:04] What words would you use to describe a saint?
[00:44:08] Go.
[00:44:10] Love.
[00:44:12] Patience.
[00:44:16] Giving.
[00:44:16] Encouraging.
[00:44:19] Say it again.
[00:44:24] Dedicated.
[00:44:26] Committed.
[00:44:27] Honest.
[00:44:32] Kind.
[00:44:34] All Saints Day is about remembering all these saints living or passed on to glory and it's about celebrating all the generations that we don't remember who are part of God's community across the ages that link us to Jesus.
[00:44:51] I mean think about it if we have really good ancestry.com records
[00:44:56] We might go back as far as four or five generations.
[00:45:01] Does anybody know anything substantial about your great-great-grandparents?
[00:45:05] Anybody?
[00:45:06] That's only five.
[00:45:07] You do?
[00:45:08] Good.
[00:45:08] I know nothing.
[00:45:11] But not many of us know much more than that.
[00:45:16] But if you think about it, there is a line that is about 40 generations long that would touch us to Jesus.
[00:45:26] So 40 people, that's like, you know, maybe this side of the room.
[00:45:32] If we stood up in a line, I'm not going to make you stand up again, but if we stood up in a line down the middle and put hands on shoulders and each person represented a generation, it'd take about 40 of us to get all the way back to Jesus.
[00:45:47] That's not a lot if you think about it for 2,000 years.
[00:45:55] This line is full of people that we've never seen, that we will never know, who had a part in shaping our lives in the way of Christ.
[00:46:07] People in the first community, way back in the book of Acts, even their witness lasts across the ages and somehow impacts how we follow Jesus in 2025.
[00:46:19] So this celebration of saints, it's about all of them.
[00:46:24] and it's also about us.
[00:46:29] Because you see the word saint in the scripture and by your own definitions that you gave me just a minute ago doesn't mean a perfect person.
[00:46:39] Not one person said a saint is perfect.
[00:46:42] Not one.
[00:46:44] But a saint is simply somebody who belongs to Jesus.
[00:46:51] That includes you.
[00:46:53] That includes me.
[00:46:55] We belong to Jesus and we are in that line that connects people to him.
[00:47:01] We are part of that same story with all the saints filled with the same spirit called to live out the same kind of love.
[00:47:12] So as we step into this story in the second chapter of Acts we get this beautiful glimpse of this very first community of Jesus followers and what is striking is that it's
[00:47:24] Not a story about individual heroes.
[00:47:28] It's a story about community.
[00:47:31] A group of people who are transformed by grace.
[00:47:35] Luke says they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayers.
[00:47:43] They gathered to learn, and they shared life together, they prayed together, they ate together.
[00:47:48] And as they did that, the light of the world
[00:47:52] begin to shine through each and every one of them and they passed it on person to person, generation to generation to help all of us who would come after to see the way too.
[00:48:05] We are surrounded, encouraged, and upheld by this community of saints in heaven and on earth.
[00:48:13] And we are part of that.
[00:48:16] We sit among this communion of saints as we will come to Jesus' table today.
[00:48:22] We are part of that community too.
[00:48:25] Isn't that great news?
[00:48:28] That's such good news.
[00:48:31] But maybe you've never felt like part of a church community before.
[00:48:37] Maybe you're struggling with faith or you're brand new to this whole idea of Jesus.
[00:48:43] That's okay.
[00:48:45] It's okay.
[00:48:46] You're in good company with the very first church in Acts.
[00:48:51] They were questioning and figuring it out just like we all still are.
[00:48:58] Wherever we are, it is good, good news to know that the community and the connection that we long for so deeply is close and possible in Jesus.
[00:49:11] It's good news to know that we don't have to do life alone.
[00:49:16] That there is more to life than what we see right in front of us.
[00:49:22] And that we get to be part of a community that loves and is centered around who Jesus is.
[00:49:32] What's even better is, friends, we don't have to be afraid of the world.
[00:49:38] In fact, we're called to live with Christ as part of it.
[00:49:43] We get to be the gift of embodying the light of the world to all the generations around us.
[00:49:53] And we get to get in line and be part of that line that stretches to Jesus for generations to come.
[00:50:03] The early church understood something very, very powerful, that real holiness isn't about retreating into a church building or retreating into ourselves away from the world.
[00:50:15] It is about loving people deeply within the world, in the middle of it.
[00:50:23] So how do we do that?
[00:50:25] How do we love people deeply so that they see the beauty of this glorious communion of saints that we get to be part of?
[00:50:32] So that they see, Jesus, how do we love people like that?
[00:50:39] And Luke tells us what it looked like at the beginning when church was brand new.
[00:50:48] He says the believers were united.
[00:50:50] They shared everything.
[00:50:52] They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to anyone who needed them.
[00:50:59] They met together and ate together and they shared food with gladness and my favorite word in the whole scripture, simplicity.
[00:51:08] They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone.
[00:51:11] Perhaps, just perhaps, that's a model for us.
[00:51:18] For how we are called to love people deeply in the midst of the world that often feels distant and cold.
[00:51:27] Loving people deeply is about seeing other people not as burdens but as brothers, sisters, fellow travelers on the journey toward a whole and complete life.
[00:51:39] Isn't that what the people we call saints did for us?
[00:51:45] In a word, they loved us and still love us like the best kind of family.
[00:51:52] They shared life with us.
[00:51:54] They didn't manipulate us or use us.
[00:51:57] They see us when we have a need and they show up.
[00:52:01] It's not fancy.
[00:52:01] It's not showy.
[00:52:03] It's simple and it's constant.
[00:52:08] That is authentic community.
[00:52:11] That is the kind of community that we as the community of saints in this time and place are called to be.
[00:52:18] It's the kind of community that Luke says people were drawn to.
[00:52:27] The Lord added to their number how often?
[00:52:31] Daily.
[00:52:33] Because they were drawn to a community that looked like Jesus.
[00:52:39] And we get to be part of that same story.
[00:52:42] It is remarkable, really.
[00:52:46] The saints in Act II, they're not just ancient history.
[00:52:51] They're not just way back then.
[00:52:53] They're part of our family.
[00:52:55] The same Spirit that filled them fills us today.
[00:52:59] The same God of power that inspired them and turned the world upside down back then is the same God that we claim and follow today.
[00:53:10] And I think we forget that sometimes.
[00:53:16] I think we think, if only Jesus were as close to us now,
[00:53:21] As He was to them back then.
[00:53:23] If only we could see something like Pentecost happen.
[00:53:28] Then maybe it would be easier to believe or to follow or to share our faith.
[00:53:36] So let me say this just one more time.
[00:53:38] The same Spirit that filled them fills us.
[00:53:44] The same God of power that inspired them and turned the world upside down inspires us today.
[00:53:53] When we worship together, when we pray, when we share a meal, when we care for one another, when we open our hearts to the needs of our neighbors, then we begin to walk in the footsteps of those first saints in the way of Christ.
[00:54:16] So today as we celebrate all saints, let's remember one thing.
[00:54:20] We are the saints of now.
[00:54:24] We are the saints of today.
[00:54:26] Ordinary people.
[00:54:30] Ordinary people filled with extraordinary grace.
[00:54:35] For one reason.
[00:54:37] So that others might know the beauty of the community and the power and the presence of God.
[00:54:43] and the power and the presence of this great cloud of witnesses that surround us and we get to be part of.
[00:54:52] And most of all, so that all including us might know the absolute joy of life with Jesus.
[00:55:03] Thanks be to God.
[00:55:06] Amen.
[00:55:09] As we come to the table today, we celebrate that communion in a holy and powerful way.
[00:55:21] And we, in our hearts, stretch all the way back to that very first table where Jesus sat with his disciples and changed the world forever.
[00:55:38] We're grateful for it.
[00:55:54] Let us pray as we prepare to feast together.
[00:55:59] Lord God, as we take a seat at your table today, we thank you for the saints.
[00:56:04] For those who have gone before us and for those who walk beside us.
[00:56:09] Thank you for this family of faith that stretches across generations, across the world, and across this table of grace.
[00:56:18] Most of all, thank you for Jesus who invites us to come to the table and be part of a holy community together, with him at the center.
[00:56:27] We confess that we often forget
[00:56:30] and fall into sin as we try to live life on our own, disconnected from Jesus and one another.
[00:56:37] Forgive us, we pray.
[00:56:39] Set us free for joyful obedience once more.
[00:56:44] As we gather in community around your table, Jesus, we remember the night that you took bread.
[00:56:51] You gave thanks and broke the bread, gave it to your disciples and said, Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you.
[00:56:59] After supper you took the cup, gave thanks and shared it with your disciples and said, Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for all creation for the forgiveness of sins.
[00:57:14] Every time you drink it, remember me.
[00:57:19] Lord, we remember and we are thankful for a place at your table with all the saints.
[00:57:25] Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and cup.
[00:57:30] Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, so that we might be for the world the living body of Christ, saints of your light, until you come in final victory and we feast as one community at your heavenly table.
[00:57:46] Jesus our Savior, feed us with your grace, so that we may live as your saints in this world.
[00:57:55] All honor and praise are yours, gracious and holy God.
[00:58:00] Now and forever.
[00:58:02] Amen.
[00:58:02] I'm going to invite those who are coming to serve to come forward and give you a word of instruction.
[00:58:11] You'll come and receive a piece of bread, dip that bread into the juice, and take both elements together.
[00:58:21] And just be careful of the ladders so that we don't literally light the place on fire.
[00:58:30] And if you are here, you are welcome at this table.
[00:58:34] Jesus makes the invitation.
[00:58:36] Everyone is welcome at the United Methodist Table of Faith.
[00:58:40] So please come and let's rejoice together.
[00:58:46] We eat from one loaf because we are one body.
[00:58:53] Thanks be to God.
[00:58:56] And we give thanks over one cup.
[00:59:00] Because we are one body.
[00:59:02] Thanks be to God.
[00:59:04] Choir, if you'd like to come around.
[00:59:07] And then the table is open.
[00:59:09] You are invited to come as you feel led.
[00:59:11] You don't have to come at a certain place or in certain rows.
[00:59:14] We don't have a whole lot of have-tos around here.
[00:59:20] Just come down the middle and go back by the sides.
[00:59:22] Stop and pray at the altar if you would like.
[00:59:25] Let's feast together and enjoy this communion of saints.
[00:59:32] We do have gluten-free if you need that.
[00:59:34] It'll be right here in the middle.

[00:59:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Make me a servant humble in need.
[00:59:52] Lord, let me lift up
[00:59:55] Those who are weak and may the prayer of my heart always be Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today
[01:00:46] Make me a servant, humble and meek Lord, let me lift up those who are weak And may the prayer of my heart always be Make me a servant Make me a servant Make me a servant
[01:01:18] Make me a servant, humble and meek Lord, let me lift up those who are weak And may the prayer of my heart always be Make me a servant, make me a servant Make me a servant

[01:01:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Make me a servant humble

[01:02:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
and Meek.
[01:02:24] Lord, let me lift up those who are weak, and may the bread of my heart always be.
[01:02:36] Make me a servant.
[01:02:39] Make me a servant.

[01:02:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Make me a servant today.

[01:03:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Make me a servant, humble and meek Lord, let me lift up those who are weak And may the prayer of my heart always be Make me a servant, make me a servant Make me a servant

[01:04:00] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In Jesus' name we pray.
[01:04:17] Amen.

[01:04:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Let us pray.
[01:04:53] God, it's so good.
[01:04:54] It's so, so good to feast at your table.
[01:05:02] We're grateful for this meal that reminds us how connected we are to the people in this room, to your community of faith across the world and across the ages.
[01:05:14] Help us to continue to be that light for you in this world so that ages and generations to come might call you blessed.
[01:05:25] What a high and holy privilege that is.
[01:05:29] We're grateful for it.
[01:05:31] We pray in the name of Jesus.
[01:05:33] Amen.
[01:05:35] Would you stand and let's sing as we go.

[01:05:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Isolation by God around the world.

[01:06:09] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Water became God's water, now He is all divine.
[01:06:32] Thank you.
[01:07:17] I'm here.
[01:08:10] and more.

[01:09:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
So go in peace and carry the light of Christ in you into this world.
[01:09:13] And may the Lord bless you and keep you.
[01:09:15] May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
[01:09:20] May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you his peace, now and forevermore.
[01:09:25] Amen.
[01:09:26] Have a great week.