Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths.
- Hold yourself in a hug and be reminded of the embrace of God and God’s people throughout time and geography
- Inhale: God draws us in
- Exhale: We find belonging
Call to Worship
Adapted from the Belhar Confession
Jesus calls us together, in our diversity,
to a shared story and life together.
We make visible the unity of Christ
through the practice of love, kindness, and justice.
Therefore, we reject hatred and prejudice;
instead, we stand with the suffering
and oppressed
in obedience to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Worship Songs
Sound of Adoration
When we were lost ones
You were the Shepherd that carried us home
When we were prodigals
You ran to meet us with open arms
And we can’t hold back our praise
When we were refugees
You were the One who took us in
When we were enemies
You paid the price for all our sin
And we can’t hold back our praise
This is the sound of adoration
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the joy of all creation
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the Risen One
You conquered death and made a way
You sang our freedom song
Now we are dancing on our chains
And we can’t hold back our praise
By the cross, I am free
Your grace changes everything
I was blind, now I see
Your grace changes everything
Here For You
Let our praise be Your welcome
Let our songs be a sign
We are here for You, we are here for You
Let Your breath come from heaven
Fill our hearts with Your life
We are here for You, we are here for You
To You our hearts are open
Nothing here is hidden
You are our one desire
You alone are holy
Only You are worthy
God, let Your fire fall down
Let our shout be Your anthem
Your renown fill the skies
We are here for You, we are here for You
Let Your Word move in power
Let what’s dead come to life
We are here for You, we are here for You
Prayer of Confession
Spirit of God,
You have anointed us to bear witness
to Your love in our world:
To the oppressed, Good News;
For the brokenhearted, healing;
To the captives, freedom.
Hear us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
God of justice,
Make us oaks of righteousness,
a people who build, raise up, and restore,
all for Your glory. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
Based on James 5. I will pray a phrase, we will respond out loud together, and then hold a moment of silence for that prayer topic:
For those who are suffering,
around the world and in our communities…
Lord, we pray
For all who are filled
with joy and good cheer…
We give You praise
For those who need healing
in body, mind, and spirit…
Together, we pray over them…
The prayer of the righteous
is powerful and effective…
Lord, make us whole;
Raise us up in faith;
Forgive and strengthen Your people.
Amen.
Communion
Offering Prayer
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Women’s Bible Study: This Friday, November 7th via Zoom (and wraps up on November 14th in person)
- Thanksgiving Sunday: We will have a special intergenerational worship gathering for our Thanksgiving Sunday on November 23rd (followed by a Reset Sunday on November 30th)
- Community Connections: Let’s pray for and build up our connections with neighbors and our broader community! Please continue our 10:02 prayer daily until Advent (11/30) — for renewal & rest in our church community and for a spirit of invitation to reach out to others!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Blessing of the Children
Worship Song
You Don’t Have to Lose Heart
Hey now, you don’t have to lose heart
Hey now, we are only at the start
Of what God’s doing here
Hey now, you don’t have to lose heart
Hey now, we are only at the start
Of what God’s doing here… He’s here
So let us put our trust
In the One who carries us
So we can let go
Of every disappointment
Let us cling to love
To the hope ahead of us
So we can hold on
To every single promise
Brother, when your troubles weigh you down
Sister, fix your eyes on higher ground
On the peace yet to come, to come
Let us rest here in the hands
Of the One who made all things
Let us rest here in the plans
Of the One who knows all things
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might gain all the more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to gain Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might gain those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not outside God’s law but am within Christ’s law) so that I might gain those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I might become a partner in it.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Brought Together in Christ
Pastor Dan
Worship Song
Open Up
May Your love
Cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light
Cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling
Make me an instrument
Of Your peace
Where there is hatred
Let me sow love
Where there is darkness
Let me shine light and…
Hope for the hopeless
Your love is
Strength in our weakness
Your love is
May we love
As You love
Anchor & Hope Church 