Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
October 22, 2023
This page has links to information used or encountered in preparing this online service. Bethel Worship Planning Documents
2023 Monthly Worship Calendar
2023 RCL 2 page Summary
Bethel Weekly Worship Planning worksheet
2023 Annual Program Planning worksheet
Guidance from UMC Discipleship Ministries
Weekly Worship Planning Series
Note: This material from UDM is not the basis for today's message
but is provided here for your personal study and reflection. Click here for suggestions about how to use this material.
Worship Series: "The End in Sight" but is provided here for your personal study and reflection. Click here for suggestions about how to use this material.
from umcdiscipleship.org
What end? It’s only October. Well, we are only a month away from the end of the liturgical year.
While it is good to keep track of such things and to plan for the transition into a new year when
Advent begins, that isn’t the end we have in mind here. We are a pilgrim people; we have a
destination in mind as we move forward in our journey of faith. It may seem at times that we are
just wandering aimlessly, doing our best to stay clean in an increasingly messy world. But the
deeper truth is that we are heading somewhere. We are on a quest toward the kingdom of God. Is it
heaven? Well, yes, we are on our way to heaven, but not as traditionally described. Instead, it is
the new heaven and the new earth of which we get a glimpse in Revelation, a new way of living and
being in the presence of God always. It is affirmation and transformation. This end, this goal,
this hope is in sight because we are living it out every day. Every time we act as the church in
the work of discipleship and reconciliation and joy, we reflect this hope; we glimpse this
destination. We are a people who live with the end in sight.
This is the first service of a 2 service Worship Series from the Discipleship Ministries.The graphics at the top of this page list the topics for the services of the Series.
(Click on another graphic to see that session's resource page)
This Service's Theme: "The Things that are God's"
Liturgical Resources
The invitation this week in worship is to adjust our vision. We are called to see God in the world
in which we live. We are called to identify the things that are God’s, including ourselves and the
people around us. Even the surprising ones.
Worship Planning NotesPreaching Notes
Lectionary Scriptures:
Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22;
Suggested Hymns . Music Notes. DM Accompaniments Sources of Music for the following hymns are:
- UMH CD.....UDM - DM Accompaniment.....
MM/DD/YY - Recorded Service
Hymns Considered For this week: