GATHERED

PreludeChrist Beside Me

Laura E. WassonDr. Mark Baumann, CAGO, piano

Now Thank We All Our GodRon Mallory

CarillonneursDr. Timothy Hein, director

Welcome

Call to WorshipPsalm 139:7-12

Where could I go to get away from your spirit?

Where could I go to escape your presence?If I went up to heaven, you would be there.

If I went down to the grave, you would be there too!

If I could fly on the wings of dawn,stopping to rest only on the far side

of the ocean—even there your hand

would guide me;even there your strong hand

would hold me tight!If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me;the light will become night around me,”

even then the darkness isn’t too dark for you!

Nighttime would shine bright as day,

because darkness is the same as light to you!

Christ Beside MeTFWS 2166

Congregation Sings:Christ beside me,Christ before me,Christ behind me-King of my heart;Christ within me,Christ below me,Christ above me

never to part.

25th Sunday after PentecostNovember 14, 2021 | 9:00 am Worship

Informational graphics at the end of worship guide.

+ Please Stand

Thank you to musicians who volunteer countless hours in rehearsals

and worship as we praise God. Today some of our students, Messiah Ringers, are assisting in worship.

Chancel FlowersTom and Margaret Sears and their family give flowers

in loving memory of Ed and Kathryne Sears.

Worship AttendantsRev. Dr. Sherrie Ilg, Lead Pastor

Rev. Jonathan Heifner, Associate Pastor of DiscipleshipRev. Daniel Niyonzima, Associate Pastor, African Nationals

Dr. Mark Baumann, CAGO, Coordinator of Music MinistriesDr. Timothy Hein, Director of Handbell Ministries

Michael Sauer, Director of Sanctuary ChoirKelly Truax, Accompanist

Gayle Buroker, Slide PresenterWes Nygren, Videographer

Mike Weaver, Audio

Blessings in the Dark

Opening Prayer

The Lord be with you.And also with you.

Let us pray.As you have made this day,

O God,you also make the night.

Give light for our comfort.Grant us quietness

and stillness of the soulthat we may know

your Spirit’s guiding,both in the light of the day and in the dark of night.

Amen.

+ Hymn of Praise to the Triune GodI Want Jesus to Walk with Me

UMH 521

I want Jesus to walk with me. I want Jesus to walk with me. All along my pilgrim journey,

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials, Lord, walk with me. In my trials, Lord, walk with me.

When my heart is almost breaking, Lord, I want Jesus

to walk with me.

When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me.

When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me. When my head is bowed

in sorrow, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Sharing Signs of Christ’s Peace

FORMED

Act of PraiseA Light Will Shine!

Lloyd Larson Sanctuary Choir

Michael Sauer, director

Scripture LessonGenesis 32:22-32

Jacob got up during the night, took his two wives, his two women

servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the Jabbok River’s

shallow water. He took them and everything that belonged to him,

and he helped them cross the river. But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until

dawn broke. When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed

Jacob’s thigh and tore a muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.”But Jacob said, “I won’t let you

go until you bless me.”He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.”

Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, be-

cause you struggled with God and with men and won.”

Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.”

But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob

there. Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face,

and my life has been saved.” The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel,

limping because of his thigh. Therefore, Israelites don’t eat the

tendon attached to the thigh muscle to this day, because he grabbed

Jacob’s thigh muscle at the tendon.

+ Hymn of PreparationCome, O Thou Traveler Unknown

UMH 386stanza 1, Song Leader

stanzas 2-4, congregation

Song Leader

Come, O thou Traveler unknown, who still I hold, but cannot see!

My company before is gone, and I am left alone with thee.

With thee all night I mean to stay, and wrestle till the break of day; with thee all night I mean to stay, and wrestle till the break of day.

Congregation Sing

I need not tell thee who I am, my misery and sin declare;

thyself hast called me by my name, look on thy hands and

read it there. But who, I ask thee, who art thou? Tell me thy name, and tell me now. But who, I ask thee, who art thou? Tell me thy

name, and tell me now.

Yield to me now, for I am weak, but confident in self-despair!

Speak to my heart, in blessing speak, be conquered by my

instant prayer. Speak, or thou never hence shalt move, and tell me if thy name is Love. Speak,

or thou never hence shalt move, and tell me if thy name if Love.

‘Tis Love! ‘tis Love! Thou diedst for me, I hear thy whisper in my

heart. The morning breaks, the shadows flee, pure, Universal

Love thou art. To me, to all, thy mercies move; thy nature and

thy name is Love. To me, to all, thy mercies move; thy nature

and thy name is Love.

SermonBlessings in the Dark

Response to the Word

Joyful is the Dark (see insert and slides)

Words: Brian Wren used by permissionMusic: Daniel Charles Damon,

used by permissionstanzas 1-3, Song Leader stanzas 4-5, congregation

Song Leader

Joyful is the dark, holy, hidden God, rolling cloud of night

beyond all naming: Majesty in darkness, energy of love, Word in

Flesh the mystery proclaiming.

Joyful is the dark Spirit of the deep, winging wildly o’er the world’s creation, silken

sheen of midnight, plumage black and bright, swooping with the

beauty of a raven.

Joyful is the dark, shadowed stable floor; angels flicker, God on earth confessing,

as with exultation, Mary, giving birth, hails the infant cry

of need and blessing.

Congregation Sing

Joyful is the dark coolness of the tomb, waiting for the wonder

of the morning: never was that midnight touched by dread and

gloom: darkness was the cradle of the dawning.

Joyful is the dark depth of love divine, roaring, looming thundercloud of glory, holy,

haunting beauty, living, loving God. Hallelujah! Sing and tell the story!

Prayers of the People

Offertory

Beautiful SaviorF. Melius Christiansen,

ed. Anton Armstrong & John Ferguson Men’s Ensemble

+ DoxologyPraise God,

from Whom All Blessings FlowUMH 94

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the source

of all our gifts!Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

+ Prayer of Thanksgiving

We praise and thank you, O God, for you are without beginning and without end.

Through Christ, you created the whole world;

through Christ, you preserve it.You made the day for the works

of light and the night for refreshment of our minds and bodies. Keep us now in Christ; grant us peace. Through Christ and in the Holy Spirit, we offer

you all glory, honor, and worship, now and for ever. Amen.

+ 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 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.

SENT

+ Sending HymnAbide with Me

UMH 700 (stanzas 1-3)

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens;

Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and

comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me.I need thy presence every passing hour. What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can

be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

+ Dismissal with Blessing

Going Forth

Postlude Fugue in E-flat Major

Orlande de Lassus

Publishing Credits: The liturgy is reprinted with permission from The United Methodist Book of Worship, © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-714641; CCLI 435430 and CRL030829.