The Rev. Dr. Albert Potgieter, Pastor Elizabeth Frank, Music Director WE APPROACH OUR GOD Welcome and Announcements Introit: I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me Eric Thiman Call to Worship L: Come, let us praise the Lord! P: Let us shout our songs of thanksgiving to Almighty God! L: For God has done wonderful things for us. P: God’s love and blessings have been showered upon us. L: Come, let us praise the Lord! P: Let us sing songs of great joy to God. Hymn of Praise: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Hyfrydol Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav’n to earth come down; Fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure unbounded love thou art; Visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart. Come, almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, never more Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, Pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in Thy perfect love. Finish, then, thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be; Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee; Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise! Call to Confession L: Our world and our lives are not all that they should be. We fall short of reflecting the image of God and being the hands and feet of Christ to the world. Let us confess our sin, confident that God hears the cries of a sinner who repents. Prayer of Confession How often, O Lord, have we believed that the greatest commandment is our love for ourselves only. We have not heard the cries of those in need; we have turned our backs on opportunities to serve you by serving others. Many times we have thought only of our own wants and desires and ignored the needs of others. Help us to truly understand the commandments to love you with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Let us care for our neighbors both far and near. Forgive us for our sins and bring us back to your loving light. For we ask these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Lord Have Mercy John Weaver Words of Assurance: Hebrews 9:12-14 (NLT) L: With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—Christ entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. P: Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. L: Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. P: For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. The Law of God: Mark 12:30-31 (NRSV) Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Passing the Peace L: Peace be with you. P: And also with you. L: Extend the sign of God’s peace to each other. WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD Children’s Sermon Pastor Albert Solo: The Greatest of These Is Love Roberta Bittgood CHERYL WARFIELD, SOPRANO Scripture Reading: Mark 12:28-34 (NRSV) 28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question. Message: Would You Pass the Test? - Pastor Albert WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD Time of Offering and Thanksgiving Your offering may be placed in the plate near the entrance door or sent to the church via check in the mail to: CCD, 39-50 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston, NY 11363 or digitally through Tithe.ly: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1332203 or you may text the word give to (844) 997-1849 Offertory: Alerseelen (All Souls Day), Richard Strauss - REUVEN ARISTIGUETA, TENOR Place on the table the fragrant mignonettes, Bring in the last red asters, and let us talk of love again, as once we did in May. Give me your hand, so that I may secretly press it; and if someone sees, it's all one to me. Just give me one of your sweet glances, as once you did in May. Flowers bloom and spread their fragrance today on every grave; one day in the year is sacred for the dead. Come close to my heart, so that I can have you again, as once I did in May. Doxology Old Hundredth Prayer of Dedication/Offering 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Closing Hymn: For All the Saints, Sine Nomine For all the saints, who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia! Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light. Alleluia, Alleluia! O may thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia, Alleluia! O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia, Alleluia! Blessing