Call to Worship
L: Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding.
All: Wisdom is better than silver or gold, more precious than jewels.
L: Wisdom’s ways are pleasant and all paths are peace.
All: Wisdom is a tree of life and those who seek and hold fast to wisdom are called happy.
Song – Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise – UMH 103
Walter Chalmers Smith
Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light in accessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we pray.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rules in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small; in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish but naught changeth thee.
Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light; thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see ‘tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.
Prayer:
(All) Generous God, you gave your servant Solomon wisdom so that he might govern your people well. Grant us your wisdom, so that we might perform life’s duties with gratitude and wisdom. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Scripture Reading – First Kings 3:3-15
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.” Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream.
Message – Pastor Gayle
Song – Be Thou My Vision – UMH 451
Trans. Mary E. Byrne
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou and thou only, first in my heart, great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
Great God of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Prayer – Sharing our Joys and Concerns. Praying for one another, the community, nation, and world
Our Offering – Service, prayers, witness, time and resources
Doxology – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow – UMH 95
Offering Prayer: For all you have given us, gracious Lord, we give you thanks. All good gifts come from you and so we humbly bring before you our offering from our resources. We ask that you accept these and bless them so they may be used to bring about your reign of love, mercy, and justice throughout the earth. Amen.
Announcements
Song – Guide My Feet – TFWS 2208
African American Spiritual
Guide my feet while I run this race. Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain!
Hold my hand while I run this race. Hold my hand while I run this race.
Hold my hand while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain!
Stand by me while I run this race. Stand by me while I run this race.
Stand by me while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain!
Search my heart while I run this race. Search my heart while I run this race.
Search my heart while I run this race, for I don’t want to run this race in vain!
Benediction
Please keep in prayer: Kyle Keen and family, Drabcyzk family, Caesar, Barbie, Kaye, Charline, Valerie Hoyt, Nanette, Blanche Lowery, Millie, Mary Baker, Donna and Roshier Bailey, Mary Jane Fizer, Deirdre and John, Louise and Mark Young, Marian Ivy, Ellen and Carlos Kuvaszko, Al Firth, Margaret Franklin, Hallman family, Debbie, Lilli, Ollie, Linda, Chrissie, Toye, Wenona, people living with cancer, battling addictions, struggling with life changes, seeking the Lord. The ministry of Cokesbury. Featherstone School students, teachers, staff, parents.
Growing in Grace through fellowship and more:
Welcome Table every Second Sunday 11:30 am.
Friday with Friends every Third Friday 11am in Narthex. Bring bag lunch.
Growing in Grace through fellowship, service and mission:
United Methodist Men meeting November 20th following worship.
Growing in Grace through intercessory prayer:
Prayer group meets Mondays at 6pm on Zoom. All are welcome to join in prayer. Please send or share prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle.
Prayer Shawls: You may have noticed the throws on the chairs in the narthex. These were made by our own Prayer Shawl ministry. These “shawls” represent prayer and hugs for people in need. If this describes you or yours, please take one.
Growing in Grace through service:
A.C.T.S Food Pantry: Canned vegetables 15 oz size, low sodium canned vegetables, snack items, individually packed, Pop-top canned prepared meals suitable for our homeless clients, single serve prepared food suitable for our homeless clients, laundry detergent, dish detergent, cleaning supplies in general, toiletries and personal hygiene items, size 4T pull-ups, size 6 diapers, dog food.
Clothing for Featherstone School: small and medium size sweatpants in blue, gray or black.
The Way of Discipleship
Growing in Grace through study:
Sundays following worship. The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas.
Scripture:
October 30: 1st Kings 3:4-28, Matthew 6:9-10;
November 6: 2nd Kings 5:1-15, Matthew 8:2-3;
November 13: Micah 1:3-5, 5:2-5, 6:6-8;
November 20: Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20, 37:1-7. Matthew 5:14.
November 6th is All Saints Sunday. We will be honoring and remembering those who have claimed the promise of the Resurrection since last All Saints Sunday. Please send names you would like read to Pastor Gayle. Also, bring photos of anyone who has joined the Communion of Saints in past years. We will be displaying these in the sanctuary.
Streetlight Community Outreach is holding an Open House on Saturday November 5th from Noon to 3pm. Cokesbury has been asked to host a table in the fellowship hall during that time. If you are able to help, please let Pastor Gayle know.
Samaritan’s Purse Christmas boxes will be collected and delivered to a collection site. The deadline is November 13th. Go to samaritanspurse.org website for information.
You shop, AmazonSmile donates. Shop at smile.amazon.com to generate donations for Cokesbury UMC at no extra cost.
Venmo donations QR code on table in narthex