WELCOME TO WORSHIP
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER O God, we give you thanks for the saints who have gone before us—those we remember and mourn today, and those in the great cloud of witnesses who were strangers to us on earth but will be kin to us in heaven. Help us to realize that we are part of each other, part of the whole world, intertwined as a net. Broaden our thinking, stretch our imagination; make us aware that, in both giving and taking, we are part of the whole. May we build upon the foundation of faith laid for us, seeking community that transcends time and space, constituted by your body, broken for us. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by Jean Murdoch)
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD HYMN
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BENEDICTION
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE I’ll Be On My Way — Shawn Kirchner When I am gone, don’t you cry for me, don’t you pity my sorry soul. What pain there might have been will now be past and my spirit will be whole. I’ll be on my way, I’ll have left my feet of clay upon the ground, I will be glory bound, I’ll be on my way. When I am gone, please forgive the wrongs that I might have done to you; there’ll be no room for regrets up there, high above, way beyond the blue. I’ll be on my way, I’ll have laid my frown and all my burdens down, I’ll be puttin’ on my crown, I’ll be on my way. When I am gone, don’t you look for me in the places I have been; I’ll be alive, but somewhere else, I’ll be on my way again! I’ll be on my way, I will lift my wings and soar into the air, there’ll be glory everywhere, I’ll be on my way.
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WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED SCRIPTURE — Hebrews 12:1-2 ALL SAINTS SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 2, 2025 • 11:00AM
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Balcony People”
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS Welcome to worship at Centenary! We are a church for everyone. As you prepare for worship, we invite you to greet your neighbor and share the love of Christ. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE GREETING INTROIT
Fly Away — Jonathan Reid Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away. To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away. By and by, I’ll fly away. Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away. To a land where joys shall never end, I’ll fly away. By and by, I’ll fly away. When the shadows of this life have grown, like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away. By and by, hallelujah. I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away. By and by, hallelujah by and by. Fly away.
CALL TO WORSHIP We gather in the presence of God,surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We remember the saints who have gone before us, whose faith and love have guided our way. We give thanks for their steadfast witness, for lives lived in hope and service. We rejoice that we are one with them in the communion of saints, across time and place. Let us worship the eternal God, who was, and is, and is to come. Thanks be to God!
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #702 Sing With All the Saints in Glory — HYMN TO JOY
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
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GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father — GREATOREX 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.
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CELEBRATION OF THE SAINTS
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY Introit-Kyrie (from Requiem for the Living) — Dan Forrest Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Hear my prayer, for unto Thee all flesh shall come. Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy. DOXOLOGY #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
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WE CELEBRATE HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION TO COMMUNION CONFESSION AND PARDON THE GREAT THANKSGIVING 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.
#711 For All the Saints — SINE NOMINE
POSTLUDE
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WE HONOR THE SAINTS WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE As a congregation we join in thanking God for their lives and for their contributions to their families, church and world. November 1, 2024 - October 24, 2025. Bruce McDaniel Babcock Elizabeth Anne Eskridge Barnes Phyllis Martin Hudson Bernstein Claudia Anne Speas Bradford John Blake Brady Stephanie Teague Brooks Florence Severn Strang Burkhart Carl Ray Caudle Adelaide “Addie-Lou” Wahlert Cawood Dewey Wilmont Chapple, Jr. Patricia Shore Clark Leila Caroline Sikes Cowan Barbara Hastings Dyer Raymond Eugene Ebert, Jr. Kathryn Elizabeth Oakes Edwards John Corliss Fox, Jr. Abbott Julian “Jerry” Garvin Farrell Barrett Goodrich William “Bill” Thomas Graham Donald Jeffrey Gunnell Paul Perkins Gwyn, Jr. David Robert Halliday Judith Beecher Halverson M. Nixon “Nick” Hennessee Doris Martin Hohman
Terry Luther Johnson Cynthia “Jean” Mullis Jones Thomas Brent Kirby Martha Martinat Betty Jo Whitten May Robert L. Means Leon Arthur “Art” Milhous, Jr. Nina “Jeanette” Holyfield Millsaps Mary Ann Mulligan Jeannette Plummer William Courtney Pollok Patricia “Patty” Fitzgerald Poole Betty S. Price Richard Lee “Rick” Rauck Melissa “Meli” Rabb Rucker Gerda Seeland Virginia Mae Boyd Smith Joseph William Stanfield, Jr. William “Bill” Allen Suttle John Charles “Charlie” Thomas Patricia “Trish” Williams William Richard Wyatt, Sr. Wayne Minton Yelverton Jere Perry Zollicoffer
RECEIVING OF ELEMENTS MUSIC AT COMMUNION Agnus Dei (from Requiem for the Living) — Dan Forrest Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us; grant them rest. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace; have mercy on us; grant them rest. CLOSING PRAYER Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Lara “Willis” Greene Senior Minister LITURGIST The Reverend Oliver Helsabeck Associate Minister for Congregational Care MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music & Arts Joshua Sobel, Organist The Chancel Choir
CRUCIFER Hamilton Norman TORCHBEARERS Anna Claire Wenker Catherine Wenker FLOWERS The Chancel flowers are given by the Church and the United Women in Faith in memory of those in our fellowship who passed away between November 1, 2024, and October 24, 2025.
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 To This Table, Lord, We Come: Copyright 2000 GIA Publications By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.