ST. LUKE'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

NOVEMBER 23, 2025      

THANKSGIVING SUNDAY                                                                   

SILENT MEDITATION: 

“Give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good; for the LORD’s steadfast love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:1

GATHERING MUSIC  

GREETING  

PRELUDE: “Come Into the King’s Chambers”                               

Daniel Gardner

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 131 “We Gather Together”                                                          

KREMSER

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
he chastens and hastens his will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
so from the beginning the fight we were winning;
thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
and pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 136)

One: Give thanks to the LORD because the LORD is good.

All:    God’s faithful love lasts forever!

One:  Give thanks to the God of all gods—

All:     God’s faithful love lasts forever.

One:  Give thanks to the lord of all lords—

All:    God’s faithful love lasts forever.

One:  Give thanks to the God of heaven.

All:     God’s faithful love lasts forever!

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

God of All Blessings, you remain true to us even when our loyalty to you wavers and our hearts forget all that you have done for our good. By your grace, forgive our sin and receive our desire to live in your presence with ever-growing gratitude. May our songs of praise and thanksgiving never cease. Amen

ASSURANCE OF PARDON
 

GLORIA PATRI

Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.

MOMENTS WITH MINNIE 

PASTORAL PRAYER and 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 sins as we forgive those
who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC: “The Goodness of the Lord”                                            

Scott Soper

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 100

SERMON: “Why Stop At Six?”

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN  No. 92 “For the Beauty of the Earth”                                                            

DIX

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth over and around us lies;

Refrain: Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light; (Refrain)

For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind's delight,
for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight; (Refrain)

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; (Refrain)

For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love; (Refrain)

For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given,

for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: (Refrain)

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP  
THE BEAUTY OF SHARED GIFTS “How I Love Your Commands”                                  

David Haas

CELEBRATING STEWARDSHIP — DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)       

God of all good gifts, for the blessings of the land you have given us, for family and friends who enrich our lives, our hearts overflow with thanksgiving to you. We have been sheltered and empowered by your generosity. In Christ you have shown us a way to wholeness and peace. Receive these offerings as a joyous expression of our gratitude. Amen

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 102 “Now Thank We All Our God”                                         

NUN DANKET

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us still in grace, and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills, in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;

the Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven;

the one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore;

for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

BENEDICTION  

POSTLUDE “Lead Me, Lord”                                                 

Jack Miffleton

The Liturgist today is Marita Ray.
Thank you to John Kritos for accompanying the hymns today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SANCTUARY WORSHIP
We will return to the sanctuary for worship on Sunday, November 30th.
If possible, you will want to worship in person as we experience the hope of the Advent season.

HOLIDAY HELPERS We are again participating in the Independence School District’s Holiday Helper Campaign. We will collect money from through Sunday, December 7th. The donations will go to families in need that aren’t helped by other programs. A family from our congregation will be matching all our gifts up to $500. Look for a Holiday Helper can, on the back table in the Fellowship Hall.

POINSEITTIAS Poinsettias will be available to be purchased TODAY.. They will be $10 each if purchased in person and $11 if purchased online. See Carol Lyon for more details.

CHOIR REHEARSALS St. Luke’s Handbell & Chancel Choirs will begin rehearsal soon to prepare for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. If you would like to participate in one or both of the choirs and have questions please contact Matt Bennett.

St. Luke’s Handbell Choir Schedule: Wednesdays, December 3rd, 10th, 17th & Monday, December 22nd. All rehearsals being at 6 pm and will be held in the sanctuary.

St. Luke’s Choir Schedule Wednesdays, December 3rd, 10th, 17th & Monday, December 22nd. All rehearsals being at 7 pm and will be held in the sanctuary.

HVAC FUND There is an HVAC Fund established for the replacement of the HVAC system.  Support for that fund is being accepted to soften the hit when contracts have been secured to replace the existing system. You may donate in person by marking your donation HVAC and placing in the offering box or by donating online or via the app.

CALENDARS Pastor Paul does a weekly quote from his sermons. These quotes have been made into a wall calendar for 2026 and are available to be purchased for $17/each. They are nice, sturdy calendars with plenty of room to write on. The 2024 calendar and a sign up sheet is available on the back table so you can see what it looks like. Orders, along with the payment, are due by November 23rd.

SHARING TABLE
Take time on Sundays, or anytime during normal office hours, to SHOP at the sharing table. There are Bibles and some old hymnals available if you would like to take one or even more.