First Baptist Church Of Saratoga

November 17, 2024

Prelude - Gratitude

Call to Worship

We will give thanks to the Lord with our whole hearts; We will recount all of your wonderful deeds.  It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.  The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!  Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!  Amen.

Hymn - Come Thou Font of Blessing

Invocation and Lord's Prayer

Father God, we are aware You are present with us, and for that we are in awe and deeply grateful.  In thanksgiving for your mercy, we come now as one body, lifting our voices up to You in prayer as your Son taught us saying:: 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 the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Scripture Reading - John 4:25-42

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”  27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”  28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.  31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”  32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”  39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.  42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Joys and Concerns

God of all creation, thank you for the wonderful things you have made.  Thank you for the universe full of stars and planets. Thank you for our world, full of life.  Thank you for making each one of us.  Thank you for loving each one of us.  Take these gifts we now offer back to you.  May they be used to the glory of your name.  We offer you ourselves and all the gifts you have blessed us with.  Take us and use us to share your love with the world.  Amen.

Hymn - Come, Thou Thankful People Come

Sermon - The Harvest Time Has Come

For Video version, click below.

Hymn - In the Garden

Benediction

Let us go as grateful people that Jesus the Messiah has come.  Amen.

Postlude - Give Thanks