Hampstead Congregational Church
October 13, 2024
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
with Sunday School
No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,
You are Welcome Here!
Order of Worship
Greetings and Announcements
Call to Worship
Leader: Come let us worship God. What shall we bring before the God of compassion?
People: We bring our bodies and spirits – broken and in need of healing.
Leader: What shall we bring before the God of eternal vision?
People: We bring our dreams and our hopes to be fulfilled.
Leader: What shall we bring before the God of everlasting love?
People: We bring our gratitude and possessions.
Leader: What shall we bring before the God of all good gifts?
People: We bring ourselves. May our offerings be holy and acceptable to God.
Gathering Prayer: (unison) Barry Sargent
Everlasting God, we come before you with questions, and you question us in return. We declare that you are good, and you have declared us good. May we acknowledge that you make all things new, you redeem our days, and you empower us to be your people. In your presence, there is joy, and there is struggle. Peace surpasses understanding, and our hearts break. This defines the fullness of human community and experience in companionship with you. We give thanks for your presence and trust that you continue to transform the impossible into the possible. Make it so in us and through us in your precious name. Amen.
Passing of the Peace of Christ
(Feel free to pass the peace by shaking hands, offering hugs or waves. Those who would like to share peace without physical contact are invited to place their hands over their hearts in greeting.)
Opening Hymn:
Stewardship Moment Allison Siwacki
Scripture Readings: Mark 10: 17-31 (NSRVUE) Barry Sargent
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before
him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal
life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No
one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments:
‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You
shall not bear false witness. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and
mother.’ ” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all
these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him
and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When
he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many
possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it
will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And
the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is
rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly
astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus
looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for
God all things are possible.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Children’s Message
Sermon: “Praying for the Camel” Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Special Music
Call for Concerns & Celebrations
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Call to Offering
*Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Receive, O God, not only our gifts of money but our heartfelt commitments
to a more generous and equitable world. In the receiving, grant us your blessing and courage for living in Jesus’ way. Amen.
Hymn of Going Forth:
Benediction Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Be strengthened in
God’s love.
Be held in God’s goodness.
Be enriched in God’s generosity.
Do the hard thing by the power of the Spirit.
Love our neighbors with the love of Jesus Christ.
And, repair and restore the Holy One’s good creation. Amen.
Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC
License #
A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved
Announcements…
Join us after worship today for lunch and discussion as we look at the scope of our pastoral position moving forward. Do we have the resources to continue with a full-time position? What are the options for part-time pastorates? These are questions that need to be resolved before a Search Committee can begin working. We want to share some information and get your input.
October 14th Church Weekly Calendar
Monday |
7:00 P.M. |
Boy Scouts, Hadley Hall |
Tuesday |
5:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. |
Surprise Party Operations, Library 45’s Group, Hadley Hall Alcoholics Anonymous, Davis Room |
Wednesday |
6:00 P.M. 7:30 P.M. |
Daisy Girl Scouts, Hadley Hall Al-Anon, Davis Room |
Thursday |
10:00 A.M. 4:00 PM 7:30 P.M. |
Book Group, Davis Room Mission Team Gamblers Anonymous, Hadley Hall |
Friday |
11:00 A.M. |
LifeShare, Hadley Hall |
Sunday |
10:00 A.M. |
Sunday Worship with Baptism followed by Coffee Hour |
Steeple Lighting
October 7th to October 14th
In loving memory of
Bob, Lois & Gary Chase
Love, Lauren & Scott