Worship for Sunday

The Christian Church year starts on the First Sunday of Advent. For many years Colonial Heights has begun this season with a traditional service called the Hanging of the Green, recognizing the greenery that we decorate our sanctuary with during this season.

Scripturally, Advent begins looking back by looking forward. We hear Jesus speaking about the End and how we should approach it. Keep in mind two things about the End. Jesus himself says that no one can know the time; we shouldn't spend out time in needless speculation. But the other thing he tells us is always to keep watch! Do you see the signs of the Kingdom?

Our main scripture is Mark 13.28-37 where Jesus speaks these words. There ar several other readings from Scripture that help to interpret the various actions of decorating: the greenery, the tree, paraments, the poinsettia, the nativity scene, the Advent Wreath and candles.

Watch and listen for the traditional titles for Jesus from the Old Testament in our worship. There are seven of these.

Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God our Father, in Jesus Christ, the Root of Jesse, you have restored us and brought your Kingdom near to us. Grant us by the power of the Holy Spirit to be on watch for the signs of your Kingdom, and to live the Kingdom sings of love and grace; to your eternal glory, Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our prayer concerns and joys include: those served and serving at the 9th annual Rick Flanagan Thanksgiving Day Meal. We served about 375. We remember the church in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Our ministry focus is the Worship Ministry Area. Our mission focus is the UM Student Day. We also want to remember all the upcoming Advent activities.

Worship for Sunday

This Sunday is both the Sunday before Thanksgiving--on our secular calendar, and Christ the King--on the calendar of the Church year. Both are significant events that we want to acknowledge in our worship. We will focus on these scriptures:
Deuteronomy 8.7-18: Israel, newlys settled in the land, must come to grips with their situation. There is the expectation of growing wealth and prosperity, but it must never be at the expense of forgetting the Lord, who has brought them to this place.
Psalm 100: Make a joyful noise to the Lord!
Matthew 25.31-40: the glorious King judges the people--have they seen to the needs of the people God loves?
Music will include Come Ye Thankful People Come, We Gather Together, Give Thanks, Praise to the Lord the Almighty. The choir anthem is Harvest of Praise, and Del will have a solo: Jesus King of Angels.

Prayer of the day:
Almighty Christ, King of Glory, our Lord and Savior: to you we lift our hearts in thanksgiving for the Kingdom you have proclaimed and called us to. Give us humble and thankful hearts to remember your gracious acts and to follow your ways, caring for those you love; to the glory of Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our prayer concerns include Thanksgiving activities, especially the meal on Thursday (11 - 1), upcoming Advent activities, the adoption of the 2009 budget, our sick and needy, those touched by death, the ministry of our youth, the Church in Chad, Niger and Mali, the work locally of KARM and the Salvation Army in helping the homeless.

New Link and New Staff

Eric has returned! Last Sunday Eric returned to serve as our Music Director. We had an opening and Eric was available, following his decision to return to school full time. He's hit the ground running with the establishment of a new blog, just for the music here at Colonial Heights: http://chumcmusic.blogspot.com/

Here's Eric back in 2005, when he was leading the youth in a Easter Sunrise Service practice

Thanksgiving Day Lunch Coming

Our annual Rick Flanagan Memorial Thanksgiving Day Lunch is coming up on November 27. We've been participating in this event for 9 years now, and every year it never ceases to be a blessing to our congregation. In looking back through some pictures I found these from 2004--

Here are the tables set and the room decorated and waiting for the celebration.

This is a picture of the kitchen crew working. Our typical menu includes turkey, dressing and gravy, creamed potatoes, yams, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, slaw, bread and a number of choices of pie. Good stuff!

A Letter from our Bishop

United Methodist Student Day
Your congregation will have an opportunity on November 30, 2008, to invest in the future of the young people in your church, district, and annual conference. Last year the Holston Annual Conference invested $5,551.75 dollars in the students. Our students received $86,150 in scholarships last year! It is clear that we have received much for our investment. I urge you to give to increase the hope for a brighter future for youth and young people. This is a critical time and you hold the key to the future for our young people and for our United Methodist Related Colleges and Universities.
If you need more information to help the people of your church to give please go to this web site: www.umcgiving.org/umstudentday
Blessings,James E. Swanson, Sr.Resident BishopHolston Area United Methodist Church

New Link

Our young adult group, YAM, a very active part of the church has a blog of their own: http://www.myspace.com/chumcyam I have added it in the link section. YAM has organized and leads a Sunday evening service, starting at 6.45 pm. Several of the group take turns leading the devotional and in worship planning.

Here is a picture of YAM last January at the Holston Conference retreat for young adults, Divine Rhythm. We had the largest group registered in the entire conference! The group has grown since then, too.

Worship for the 26th Sunday after Pentecost

Hand Bell Call to Worship
Prayer Joys and Concerns
Prelude: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
Hymn: When We All Get to Heaven
Prayer of the Day

Children’s Time

Special Music: Angel Band/Amazing Grace
giving our Offering to God
Offertory
Presentation A Doxology

Scripture Joshua 24.14-25
Matthew 25.1-14
Words of Praise from Psalm 78
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
We will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord,
His might, and the wonders that he has done.
He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel,
Which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children;
That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn,
And rise up and tell them to their children,
So that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God.


Response I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

Sermon A Witness Against Ourselves

Prayer Hymn: Grace Greater Than All Our Sin
Our Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn: Standing on the Promises
Benediction
The Eternity Bell dismissing worship

Prayer of the Day for Sunday

Almighty God, your glorious deeds, your might and wonders are always before us. Grant us grace to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ our Lord, whom you have sent. Guide us by the Spirit, so that we may faithfully proclaim to coming generations the goodness of our God. All honor and glory is yours, Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer Concerns for this week

Our worship services today
New members in 2008
Welcoming our visitors
South Knoxville Elementary School
Meeting this week: SPRC, Church Council
WW program: Wesley Foundation, UT
Ministry Council Planning: Nov 16
Thanksgiving basket offering: Nov 9 & 16
Thanksgiving Meal & Planning
Sanctuary update plans: Worship for the 21st century
All troops in Iraq and other places of danger
The Church in Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome/Principe
Weekly Mission focus: Wesley Foundation
Weekly Ministry focus: Spiritual Growth Area
Our stewardship and care of God’s Creation
Fun and fellowship at Two Rivers last week
$203,000+ committed to 2009 budget