WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 123

*HYMN “When Morning Gilds the Skies” #487, vs. 1 & 4

When morning gilds the skies, My heart awaking cries:

May Jesus Christ be praised! Awake at work and prayer

To Jesus I repair; May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, My canticle divine:

May Jesus Christ be praised! Be this the eternal song

Through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised!

CALL TO CONFESSION – 1 John 1: 8-9

Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. So let us acknowledge our failure and disobedience, and return to the Lord with humility and faith.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God, you have named us and claimed us and made us children of light. Yet we reside in the darkness. We settle for the seeming security and comforts of home, where our talents may be tucked away, our gifts preserved, but paralyzed. You call us to live in faith, investing in the world you made – to exercise our gifts, even at the risk of losing them. Have mercy upon us, Lord. Help us understand your will for us. Embolden us to steward well the gifts you have entrusted, that one day, we might fully enter your joy…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE – 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

“God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” in the knowledge that in Jesus Christ we are enriched, we are loved, we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

*GLORIA PATRI “Glory Be to the Father” #579

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen, amen.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON: Matthew 25:14-30

¹⁴ “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵ to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸ But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹ For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰ As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

SERMON: “Talents?” Rev. Barrett Ingram

*HYMN “Take My Life” #391, vs. 1, 6

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy fee its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the

third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on 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 Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the

forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE

Announcements

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry boxes, labels, and instructions are available in the fellowship hall. Make a child smile and spread the love of Christ. If you are not comfortable shopping right now and would still like to participate, you can make a monetary donation to the church and the supplies will be purchased for your box. Remember to mark your contribution shoeboxes. Deadline for shoeboxes and monetary gifts is November 15^th.

Cram-A-Crib -- The crib for Boys and Girls Home is filling up fast. You can bring items for The Lake House which are diapers, wipes, clothes, blankets, bottles, pacifiers, and other general supplies through the month of November.

Worship Committee will meet following the church service with Rev. Ingram in the Fellowship Hall.

Prayer List:

Marguerite Hufham, Sarah Melvin, Louise Quick, Ronnie Rush, Juanita McGraw, Betty Johnson, Jane Minard, Bill Jackson, Darrel Melvin, Happy Lashlee, Gerry Carey, Becky Regan, Mary Ward, Lucille Hood, Amy Johnson, Bill Marsh, Esther Collier, Madeline NcNeill Long, Shannon Wilcox, Ted Johnson, Clara Wooten Hunsucker, Ernest Ray Long, Jo Campbell, Linda Smith, Susan and David Butler, Doug Bergeron, Margaret Ingram, Bill Greene, Allison Ward, Jimmy Hickman, Holly Eppley, Betty Faircloth, Susan Deans, Carey King, Sammy Hatcher, Pat Grainger, Kim Worley Sellers, Carmen McQueen, Claudia Hester, Wynn Hair family, Lin Weeks, George Thompson, Billy Hester, Randall Collins, Nellie Macon, Richard and Mary Jane Howell, family of Doris Storms