When you come together, each of you brings something. Everything must be done to build up the church, the body of Christ.
Welcome to the gathering of St. Mark’s Church (Sunday worship under one roof) Sunday, November 21st, 2021.
1 Corinthians 14:26
Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a message from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said in that language. Everything must be done to build up the church, the body of Christ.
Lord God, we come once more to worship you, combining the talents you have given each of us for your glory through the building up of your church, the body of Christ.
I invite you to a time of prayerful silence.
Reflection Song: Christ has no body but yours by David Ogden
When you come together, each of you brings something.
Everything must be done to build up the church, the body of Christ.
Singing: We Are Companions On The Journey Or By The Father Of Lights
Welcome and Notices
The Contribution of Members of the Community to the Life of the Church
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We thank you God.
You gave people many talents
They can pray, preach, and make art and music.
They want to do this for you and the church.
We honour these people, thanking them
for their contribution to the worship of your church.
We thank you God.
You gave people knowledge and skill
They are able to be elders, leaders, teachers and managers
They want to do this for you and the church.
We honour these people, thanking them
for their contribution to the oversight of your church.
We thank you God.
You made people so friendly.
They welcome and help us to connect and be friends
They want to do this for you and the church.
We honour these people, thanking them
for their contribution to the fellowship of your church.
We thank you God.
You made people to be kind.
They help and serve people in need.
They want to do this for you and the church.
We honour these people, thanking them
for their contribution to the outreach of your church.
Today, we thank you God.
We can worship together because we want to play a part.
We are blessed because we are willing.
We are church because we want to do this for you and for us.
Today we honour every church member, thanking them
for all that they offer as worship to the God of Love, God of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Celebrating the Children:
Children, dream dreams to inspire us like Joseph
Children, through your innocence challenge us to faith like Jeremiah
Lord God, give us a humble heart to hear your voice through our children.
Children, confront Goliaths of our times like David
Children, keep watch over the vulnerable like Miriam
Lord God, give us a courageous heart to lead by our example.
Children, know that your contribution will move God to do miracles like the boy whose humble lunch fed the 5,000.
Children, hear and respond to God’s call to be God’s instruments of heaven on earth like Samuel.
Lord God, give us a generous heart to provide the ground to grow, space to thrive, home to be the children of God.
Singing: I The Lord Of Sea And Sky
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12-26
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
A Reflection
Prayer for Others:
Praying the Lord’s Prayer
(Offering will be brought up at the conclusion of the prayer)
Offering Prayer:
Singing: Will You Come And Follow Me
Affirmation of faith:
You are a treasured members of the household of God.
We are living stones being built into a holy dwelling place,
a new temple of which Christ is the cornerstone.
You belong to God’s royal priesthood of all Jesus believers,
called to serve humanity within and beyond the church’s walls.
We go from here knowing that God accompanies us
wherever our life journey takes us,
and whatever we choose to do.
Go from here knowing that you will always be
the recipient of God’s love and mercy,
and the object of God’s joy.
Amen.
by Joy Kingsbury-Aitken
Benediction:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all,
now and forever. Amen.
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