Metropolitan United Church
London Ontario, Canada
Sunday November 15, 2026
Organ Prelude: Five Sketches: Folk Song – Cecil Armstrong Gibbs
Grace Zuo – Choir School Assistant Organist
Welcome & Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
Christ said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life".
As this flame flickers, let it remind us that God is with us and that we have a light to lead us and guide us throughout our lives.
Call to Worship - The Grace
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn - VU#709 – O Holy City, Seen By John – Morning Song
Opening Prayer
A New Creed: Let us declare our faith together:
We are not alone, we live in God's world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.SanctusHoly, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Circle Time – Fruit of the Spirit - joy
Anthem: Hymn of the poor
Call to Confession
Confession
Assurance of Forgiveness:
Responsive Reading - Psalm 130 – VU#853
Call for the Offering
Offertory Prayer
O Lord, giver of life and source of freedom
We know that all we have received is from your hand.
You call us to be stewards of your abundance,
the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us
Help us to always use your gifts wisely
and teach us to share them generously.
May our faithful stewardships bear witness
to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Amen.
Doxology (VU#541)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Hymn - VU#594 – O Christian, Love - Welwyn
Pastoral & Lord's Prayer
Motet: Jubilate deo – Cipriano de Rore
Translation: O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands:
Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.
Scripture Reading – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, 'There is peace and security', then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7 for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Message: What Never Ceases Rev. Dr. David McMaster
Psalm 130; cf. Lamentations 3:22
Hymn - Love Divine, All Love's ExcellingVU#333
Commissioning & Benediction
May you experience the grace of God
in your life, in your thoughts,
in your feelings, in your emotions.
May God's face shine upon you and be lifted up over you
in your work, in your play,
as you lie down, and as you rise up.
May the blessing of the Holy Trinity rest upon you always
In your home, in your community
and in everywhere you go.
Go in peace and may the God of peace go with you.
Amen.
Choral Amen
Musical Postlude: Praeambulum in D – Heinrich Scheidemann
