Sunday, November 2, 2025
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 19:1-10 | “The Lost”

Call to Worship (Inspired by Psalm 32)
One: I refuse to hide the worst piece of myself from God,
Many: And through my transparency, God shares Divine Grace.
One: I allow God to know the depths of my grief,
Many: And through my openness, God shares Divine Peace.
One: I refused to keep silent.  In knowing my voice, God shares Divine Presence.
Many: And through my vulnerability, God shares Divine Strength.

Invocation
Holy God, Divine Seeker of Our Hearts,
We saunter about in our lives, seeking what’s shiny instead of pursuing you. Even so, you still search for us. You’ll climb trees with us, sit in the dust with us, and journey on long roads alongside us. You abide in our dwelling places- no matter their size or state of order. Today, we welcome you in our spaces: from the churches where we sing your praise to our homes where we rest for the upcoming week. May we recognize your presence and calling in our lives. Amen.

Prayer for Transformation and New Life
Christ who abides as our Holy Guest,
We rush to find you as if you are our favorite celebrity.  We look for you in the pretty people with seemingly uncomplicated lives.   And yet, you are hanging with folks who many consider quirky, unique, and holy messes.  You seek companions with our neighbors who are scattered and whose lives seem like fountains of chaos. We neglect noticing you as you like to dwell with the ones who abide in corners, shadows, and hidden in trees. May we seek you in the hearts of our neighbors instead of being distracted by shallow charmers and earthly glamour. Amen.

Words of Grace
Even when we are drawn into spaces of glitz and glamour, God shares grace.  May we each continue to be transformed by Divine Radical Love.  Amen.

Invitation to Generosity
As we are invited into the story of Jesus the Christ, we are transformed by the magnificent Divine love. Like Zacchaeus, we discover how we are to share our gifts of treasures, time, and talents.  We are given holy opportunities of hospitality to invite the Christ into our spaces.  May we celebrate our transformation by the gifts we share this week. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
God of Infinite Light,
In the ways that you glow, we discover more about ourselves: how we excel and how we are to share from our talents, treasures, and time. May we have hearts of hospitality as we seek the Christ in our works. May we build God’s Realm, knowing that what we give will make a difference and bless our siblings across this world. Amen.

Benediction
May the Spirit of Strength sustain us on our journeys.
May the Christ of Grace fill our hearts with understanding.
May the God of Presence lead us from the depths of shadows into the light. 
May we know we are never alone in treetops, in corners, or on roads. The steadfast love of God travels with us wherever we go!

The Lost: Service Prayers for the Twenty-FirstSunday after Pentecost was written by Rev. Michelle L. Torigian , an ordained UCC minister in Belleville, Illinois.