Hybrid Worship 24th aftePentecost 8 November, 2026, Rev. Deborah van der Goes, Music: Frances Amrstrong

Hybrid Worship

24th after Pentecost

8 November 2026

Rev. Deborah van der Goes

Music: Frances Amrstrong

 

 We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

 

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

The candle is lit to remind us of Christ the Light of the world

 

Prelude

 

Welcome beloved community – here and at home.

 

Land acknowledgement

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we gather

on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the

first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen

 

Opening Prayer

Let us pray together.

God, by whatever name we call You…

however we experience You in our individual lives,

we come today ready to celebrate Your Presence. 

As we gather together, open our hearts to notice your voice.

In the song of birds… in the rustle of leaves…

in the warmth of the sun

 in the wetness of the rain.

In the wisdom of other peoples and cultures.

In our own longing for connection and Oneness.

Thank you for this time of prayer, reflection and learning.

We come ready and grateful to receive You.

 

Confession and Forgiveness

Before God, with the people of God, I admit my fears and failings…

the way I wound my life, the lives of others, and the life of the world

May God forgive you; Christ renew you,

and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.

                  

(silence)

 

And the people now pray

Before God, with the people of God,

we confess our fears and failings. 

The ways we wound our lives,

the lives of others,

and the life of the world.

 

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May God forgive you; Christ renew you,

and the Sprit enable you to grow in love. 

With the whole church,

we affirm that we are made in God’s image,

befriended by Christ, empowered by the Spirit.

With people everywhere,

we affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity,

planted more deeply than all that is wrong.

With all creation,

We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life:

the unfolding purposes of God,

forever at work in ourselves and the world. Amen.

 

Opening Hymn: Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing             CP #282

 

The Collect – Prayer of the Day      Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002) alt.

O God, you call us to choose

between you and the false gods of this world.

In the midst of the darkness of sin and death

wake us from our slumber

and call us forth to greet Christ,

so that with our eyes and hearts fixed on him,

we may be led to eternal light. Amen.

 

Prayer before the Reading of Scripture                      ACC & UCC Sources

O God, your Word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.

Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love.

 

Scripture: Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16                 Reader: Susan Brockley

Wisdom makes herself known

Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.

 

The Word of God.

            We give thanks for this word today.          

 

 

 

 

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Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18                            Reader: Susan Brockley

The promise of the resurrection

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 

The Word of God.

            We give thanks for this word today.                                               

 

Hymn: Let There be Light                                                          CP #572

 

Gospel Reading                                            Reader: Deborah van der Goes

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

 

God be with you. 

            And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Luke

            Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle                                          VU #958

            Halle, Halle, Hallelujah

 

Matthew 25:1-13

Wise and foolish bridesmaids

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women 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 young women 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.'

 

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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 other young women 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.

 

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Luke

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle                                          VU #958

            Halle, Halle, Hallelujah

 

Sermon: ‘untitled’                                                                                                

 

An Affirmation of Faith                                             New Zealand Prayer Book

You, O God, are supreme and holy.

You create our world and give us life.

Your purpose overarches everything we do.

You have always been with us. 

You are God.

You, O God, are infinitely generous,

good beyond all measure.

You came to us before we came to you.

 

You have revealed and proved your love for us in Jesus Christ,

Who lived and died and rose again.

You are with us now. 

You are God.

You, O God, are Holy Spirit.

You empower us to be your gospel in the world.

You reconcile and heal; you overcome death.

You are our God.  We worship you.

 

Life & Work of the Church

 

Prayers of the People                                                              Tim Leadem

We pray to our God,

            Hear our prayers.

 

Lords Prayer (sung)                                                                 VU #959

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.                                                               5

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

 

Peace of Christ

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another

 

(You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on Zoom, please unmute and share with one another)

 

Offering

(with quiet music, offering now to be collected and brought forward)             

 

Offering Prayer                                                                        CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

 

Holy Communion

Assistants: Hilary Plowright, Don Moser

 

Invitation                                                                                                

Here is the table of the Lord.

We joyfully gather at the Lord’s table, open to all.

 

The Great Thanksgiving                                               Lutheran Book of Worship

The Lord be with you.

            And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

            It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and all places, give thanks and praise to you, Almighty and Merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and hosts in heaven, we praise your holy name and join in their unending hymn.

 

 

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Sanctus (sung)                                                                           MV #203

O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace. Hosanna in the highest heaven, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

 

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus Christ took bread,

and gave thanks; and broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat, this is my body given for you. 

Do this to remember me.

 

And again, after supper, he took the cup,

gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 

Do this to remember me.

 

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:                                            MV #204

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

 

With this bread and cup

We remember your Word

Dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth

In his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

Come Lord Jesus.

 

Holy God, We long for your Spirit,

Come among us. Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.

Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.

            Come Holy Spirit.

 

All praise and glory are yours,

Holy one of Israel,

Word of God incarnate,

Power of the Most High,

One God, now and forever

            Amen                                                                                                  7

Breaking of the Bread

Loving God,

as we break bread and share the cup,

we give thanks for the bread and the wine,

fruits of your earth and of our labour.

We commit ourselves to your service

and that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

We offer you, O God, this bread and this wine.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,

That all who eat and drink at this table

And all the tables of the world

may be one body, one holy people

 

Communion is shared

All are welcome at the Lord’s Table.

Gluten free wafers are available upon request. 

 

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God,

May our participation in these sacramental gifts

transform us that we may live lives of thanksgiving

and be faithful to your will.

 

Closing Hymn: Holy Spirit, Storm of Love                             CP #603

 

Blessing For Here and at Home

God of all consolation, in your unending love and mercy

you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.

May we who seek to listen to the Great Spirit

trust in your power to restore all things,

who gives life to all creation. Amen.

 

Postlude