23rd Sunday After Pentecost – 11/8/20

The Waiting Game – Matthew 25.1-13
Available Here
To support Cokesbury financially, you can give online here: http://cokesburyumc.church/about/

GATHERING

Prayer:
Lord, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in why your Son came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal.

Announcements:
The number of COVID19 cases in our immediate area is such that we will continue to only offer worship online until it is reasonably safe for us to reopen.
Until that time, we will continue to offer mid-week prayers, live videos, and email devotionals.
Online giving can be made on our About page on the church website, cokesburyumc.church which will be linked in the video description for live worship as well as checks through the mail.

Hymn 249 – Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.

Prayer:
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today…

And as you taught us, so now we pray… 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

PROCLAIMING

Scripture – Matthew 25.1-13:
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! There will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor
the hour.

Hymn 616 – Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast:
V1. Come, sinners to the gospel feast, let every soul be Jesus’ guest.
Ye need not one be left behind, for God hath bid all humankind.
V2. Do not begin to make excuse; ah! Do do you his grace refuse;
Your world cares and pleasures leave, and take what Jesus hath to give.
V3. Come and partake the gospel feast, be saved from sin, in Jesus rest;
O taste the goodness of our God, and eat his flesh and drink his blood.
V4. See him set forth before your eyes; behold the bleeding sacrifice;
His offered love make haste to embrace, and freely now be saved by grace.
V5. Ye who believe his record true shall sup with him and he with you;
Come to the feast, be saved form sin, for Jesus waits to take you in.

Sermon: The Waiting Game

RESPONDING

Prayer:
Lord, save us from self-righteousness. You have made us different so that our difference might save the world. But too often our difference tempts us to ridicule, because the world is so ridiculous. Never let us forget that we too are the world, and so also ridiculous. Shape the judgments of our neighbors and our own foolish judgments by your love, so that we might be together saved. Amen.

Offering – Reminder for online giving, through the mail, or the drop slot at the church.

Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Five Ways To Help Your Church:

  1. Support the church with your financial gifts
  2. Share information about the church with others
  3. Contact someone from the church
  4. Share your ideas with the pastor
  5. Pray-Pray-Pray

SENDING FORTH

Blessing and Benediction