Asbury United Methodist Church

November 1, 2026- All Saints Sunday

All Are Welcome!

Prelude – Joys, Concerns, Announcements

Introit

Greeting – Leland Fry

God, our Teacher, we come together to celebrate all the saints who have loved and cared for us over the years. Help us to remember them and honor them with humility and love. Help us to live in community with one another rather than in competition with each other. Give us your heart for serving our neighbor. Assure us of your abiding presence and release us from the hierarchies of this world. May your kin-dom come with power and gentleness as we strive to live as embodied witnesses of the good news in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Please stand as you are able at *.

*Call to Worship     Leland Fry

ONE: We are chosen children of God, bound together by the Holy Spirit.
ALL: We belong to God, and through God, we belong to one another.

ONE: As we gather to remember the saints who formed us in the faith, we give thanks for their living witnesses to God’s love, showing us that:
ALL: We belong to God, and through God, we live as family in Christ, bound together by Love.

ONE: We give thanks for the influence of the saints in our lives who demonstrated God’s love and saving grace, so that we could know in our bones that:
ALL: We belong to God, and through God, we are saved to love one another.

ONE: Come, let us worship God who blesses us with witnesses to divine love that we may be witnesses of Love with everyone we meet.
ALL: We come to worship God who chooses us, empowers us, and inspires us to live as witnesses of Love in communion with the saints of every age. Amen.                                                                                                                                                                                                           

*Hymn UMH #711 “For All the Saints”  (Please be seated after Hymn)

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,

Who thee by faith before the would confessed,

Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.

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!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,

Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,

And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Remembering those who have died                                                                                                     

Nicole Day: Ever-living God, this day revives in us memories of loved ones who are present with us no more. What happiness we shared when they walked among us. What joy when, loving and being loved, we lived our lives together.                 

  Congregation: Their memory is a blessing forever.                       

Jane Pike: Months or years may have passed, and still we feel near to them. Our hearts yearn for them. Though the bitter grief has softened, a duller pain abides; for the place where once they stood is empty now. The links of life are broken, but the links of love and longing cannot break.

                   Congregation: Their souls are bound up in ours forever.

Nicole Day: We see them now with the eye of memory, their faults forgiven, their virtues grown larger. So does goodness live, and weakness fade from sight. We remember them with gratitude and bless their names.

                   Congregation: Their memory is a blessing forever.

Jane Pike: And we remember as well the members who but yesterday were part of our congregation and community. To all who cared for us and labored for all people, we pay tribute. May we prove worthy of carrying on the tradition of our faith, for now the task is ours.               

  Congregation: Their souls are bound up in ours forever.

Nicole Day: Gracious and victorious God, we give you thanks that they now live and reign with you. Hear now, as we read the names of those for whom we give thanks this day.   

We name before you these who were connected to Asbury United Methodist Church whose funeral service or memorial service was conducted by our clergy, and, who during the past twelve months, have departed from this life to join the Church Triumphant:
 

Virginia Jungman              Nov. 11, 2025

Robert Sirowy                   Dec. 19, 2025

Ruby Warren                     March 7, 2026                                                   

Jane Pike: For the memory of these, O God, we give you thanks.

                   Congregation: Their memory is a blessing forever.

Nicole Day: Most merciful God, we pause in silence to remember others from our families, from our communities, and from our networks of friends, who, during the past twelve months, have departed from this life to join the Church Triumphant.

         (A candle is lit during a moment of silence.)

         For the memory of these, O God, we give you thanks.

                   Congregation: Their memory is a blessing forever.

Jane Pike: O God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, we pause in silence to remember those who have given their lives in service to their country. (A candle is lit during a moment of silence.)

         For the memory of these, O God, we give you thanks.

                   Congregation: Their memory is a blessing forever. 

Nicole Day: We remember those who have been victims of tragedies, accidents, illnesses, violence and hatred and who, during the past twelve months, have departed from this life to join the Church Triumphant.  (A candle is lit during a moment of silence.)

         For the memory of these, O God, we give you thanks.

                   Congregation: Their memory is a blessing forever. 

Jane Pike: O Savior God, light of the world, shine within our hearts this day with the light of hope, the glimmer of peace and the glimpse of eternity. Amen

Memorial Representative:

    On behalf of the Memorial committee, we present to Asbury United Methodist $250.00 in memoriam.

Trustee representative:

         The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the entire congregation, gratefully accepts these gifts in the spirit in which they were given. We pledge that they shall be used to the glory of God.

Congregation: We thank the Lord for these gifts and hereby dedicate them for Christian service. May they enhance the beauty and function of our church and its ministries. We commit ourselves to using them to the glory of God.

1^st READING: Joshua 3:7-17   NRSVUE      Leland Fry

The LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the Ark of the Covenant, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’ ” Joshua then said to the Israelites, “Draw near and hear the words of the LORD your God.” Joshua said, “By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, come to rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.”

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. 

Psalm 34- Response #2- UMH pg. 769-770  Leland Fry

Response #2: O magnify the Lord with me; with me exalt God’s name.

R

I will bless the Lord at all times;

  God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

         Let the afflicted hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me,

         And let us exalt God’s name together!

I sought the Lord, who answered me,

         And delivered me from all my fears.

Look to God and be radiant,

         So your faces shall never be ashamed.

The poor cried out, and the Lord heard,

         And saved them out of all their troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps

         Around those who fear God, and delivers them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good!

         Happy are those who take refuge in God!         R

O fear the Lord, you is holy ones,

         For those who fear God have no want!

The young lions suffer want and hunger,

         But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, O children, listen to me,

         I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Which of you desires life

         And covets many days to enjoy good?

Keep your tongue from evil,

         And you lips from speaking deceit.

Depart from evil, and do good;

         Seek peace, and pursue it.        R

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous;

         The ears of the Lord hear their cry.

The face of the Lord is against evildoers,

         To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,

         And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,

         And saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous;

         But the Lord delivers them.

The Lord keeps all their bones;

         Not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked;

         And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems the life of his servants;

         None of those who take refuge in God will be condemned.      R

Anthem:

2nd Reading: John 3:11-24 NRSVUE   Leland Fry

For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12  NRSVUE  Pastor Alison                                 

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Pastor: The word of God for the people of God.   

People: Thanks be to God!

SERMON: “All Saints Sunday- Let us feel their love”

 Message by Pastor Alison Dix

Hymn UMH #710 “Faith of Our Fathers”

Faith of our fathers, living still,

In spite of dungeons, fire, and sword;

O how our hearts beat high with joy

Whenever we hear that glorious word!

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers, we will strive

To win all nations unto thee;

And through the truth that comes from God,

We all shall then be truly free.

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers, we will love

Both friend and foe in all our strife;

And preach thee, too, as love knows how

Be kindly words and virtuous life.

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death.

SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION  

INVITATION

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,

  who earnestly repent of their sin

  and seek to live in peace with one another.

Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Merciful God,

We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have failed to be an obedient church.

We have not done your will,

we have broken your law,

we have rebelled against you love,

we have not loved our neighbors,

and we have not heard the cry of the needy.

Forgive us, we pray.

Free us for joyful obedience,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All pray in silence.

Pastor: Hear the good news:

  Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;

  that proves God’s love toward us.

In the name in Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

Glory to God. Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also to you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

And so,

  With your people on earth

  And all the company of heaven

  We praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

And so,

In remembrance of these your might acts in Jesus Christ,

We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

  As a holy and living sacrifice,

  In union with Christ’s offering for us,

As we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again!

All honor and glory is yours, almighty Father

Now and forever.

Amen, amen, amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in 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, the power, and the glory,

  forever.  Amen

GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP - please come forward, at the Methodist Church, we practice an open table where all are invited and welcome to partake.

Offering Time

Prayer of Dedication (Unison)

God of all generations, as we worship today, we offer our whole selves to you, all that we have and all that we are. Like your saints who have gone before us, we pray that you will help us be bold in our mission and in our witness. May we who have been given so much give freely, ministering in your compassion to the multitudes near to us and far from us; so that one day we may stand amidst the multitude that gathers at your heavenly throne. We pray this in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Hymn UMH #571 “Go, Make of All Disciples”

“Go, make of all disciples.” We hear the call, O Lord,

That comes from thee, our Father, in thy eternal Word.

Inspire our ways of learning through earnest, fervent prayer,

And let our daily living reveal thee everywhere.

“Go, make of all disciples.” Baptizing in the name

Of Father, Son, and Spirit, from age to age the same.

We call each new disciple to follow thee, O Lord,

redeeming soul and body by water and the word.

“Go, make of all disciples.” We at thy feet would stay

Until each life’s vocation accents thy holy way.

We cultivate the nature God plants in every heart,

Revealing in our witness the master teacher’s art.

“Go, make of all disciples.” We welcome thy command.

“Lo, I am with you always.” We take thy guiding hand.

The task looms large before us; we follow without fear;

In heaven and earth thy power shall bring God’s kingdom here.

*Benediction

Prayer for Home                                                                                                          

Gracious God, we give You thanks for the faithful saints who stood firm in their time and taught us what it means to follow You. Help us to hold fast to the faith they passed on and to live lives that glorify Jesus Christ. Strengthen us by Your grace to walk the path they helped pave. Help us to examine our hearts to find where we can interweave generosity into our lives. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Today 11/1- All Saints Sunday                                                                                                               

8:45 am     Communion                                                                                                                                     

9:45 am     Fellowship Time

Tuesday 11/3

Election Day

Wednesday 11/4

5:00 pm     Choir Practice                                                                                                           

Next Sunday 11/8 Special Sunday Offering- Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness                                                                         8:45 am     Worship with Lay Speaker Chris Swiser

9:45 am     Breakfast Brunch Social Hour

Pastor Alison Dix Cell: 319-573-4801   Email: Alison.dix@iaumc.net                             

Website: www.theasburymethodistcr.com

Office Phone: 319-364-3188   

Church Office Hours: Tue-Thurs 9 am to 1 pm