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    Nov 08, 2020

    Our Citizenship is in Heaven

    Our Citizenship is in Heaven

    Passage: Philippians 3:14-21

    Speaker: Rev. Jennifer Eschliman, Pastor

    But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)
    Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
    November 8, 2020 - 10 am
     
     
    Prelude: “O My Soul”
    Bernie Herms | Mark Hall | Nichole Nordeman
     
    Welcome
     
    Call to Worship
    Christ is the light of the world, the Prince of Peace, and the author of salvation.
    Christ alone is the source of our life, and our life’s goal.
    We are called to follow Christ, to become like him, and to live as his representatives in the world.
    Christ alone is the source of our hope, and the hope of the world.
    In the midst of uncertainty and change, let us cling to Christ, and bring our lives before him.
     
    Opening Hymn: “My Hope Is Built”
    © Words & Music: Public Domain
     
    Opening Prayer (unison)
    God of all creation, in the midst of the world’s chaos, we set our feet once again upon Christ, the Solid Rock. May we find in him strength, peace, courage and protection, and may we resolve to build our lives upon the firm foundation of his love. He alone is our hope and the hope of the world. Amen. 
     
    Proclamation and Response
     
    Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-22
    Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel prayed to the Lord, ​and the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. ​Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. ​ Now then, listen to their voice; only—you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
     
    So Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ​He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; ​and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. ​He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. ​ He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, and put them to his work. ​ He will take one-tenth​  of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
     
    But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! but we are determined to have a king over us, ​so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.” ​ When Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and set a king over them.” Samuel then said to the people of Israel, “Each of you return home.”
     
    New Testament Reading: Philippians 3:17-21
    Brothers and sisters join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. ​For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. ​ Their end is​ destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. ​ He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
     
    Leader: This is the Word of God.​
    All: Thanks be to God!
     
    Message
    Pastor Jen Eschliman
     
    A Prayer for Veterans
     
    Prayers of the People
     
    Joys & Concerns

    The Lord’s Prayer

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
           Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
           For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 

    Offering Ourselves to God

    Sending Forth
     
    Announcements
     
    Benediction
     
    Postlude
     
     
    The scripture readings are from ​the Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
     
    Song Credits:
    Prelude: “O My Soul”
    Bernie Herms | Mark Hall | Nichole Nordeman
     
    © Birdboy Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Birdwing Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); My Refuge Music (Admin. by Capitol
    CMG Publishing); Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC); G650 Music (Admin. by Universal Music Publishing Group); Pure Note Music (Admin. by Universal Music Publishing Group); Songs of Universal, Inc. (Admin. by Universal Music Publishing Group) Used by permission. CCLI License # 1011499
     
    Opening Hymn: “My Hope Is Built”
    © Words & Music: Public Domain
    CCLI License # 1011499
     
    Closing Song :“God of This City”
    Aaron Boyd | Andrew McCann | Ian Jordan | Peter Comfort | Peter Kernoghan | Richard Bleakley
     © 2006 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Used by permission. CCLI License # 1011499