Weekly Program | calvary

Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick
Open to the Spirit… Eager to Welcome… Ready to Serve.

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
NOVEMBER 1, 2026 – ALL SAINTS DAY

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Come all who hunger and thirst for truth.
Come to experience God’s presence in community.
Many: We have been called together as children of God.
What we may grow to become is not yet revealed.
One: Look to God with joy and radiant expectation.
Delight in songs of praise and exaltation.
Many: God hears our cries and saves us from troubles.
God delivers us from all our fears.
One: Taste and know the Creator’s goodness.
Take refuge in the One who supplies all you need.
All: God is present with us here and everywhere we go.
PRAYER Rev. Mitchell
* HYMN 14 “For the Beauty of the Earth”
* CALL TO CONFESSION Rev. Mitchell
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Saving God, save us from ourselves. Rescue us from fears that keep us from following where Jesus leads or trusting in your guidance. We have not hungered and thirsted after righteousness. We have not been pure in heart and humble-minded. We do not risk an unpopular witness or step bravely into the role of peacemaker. Our words and deeds do not praise you. Our worship lacks passion and conviction. We seek you now, O God. Redeem your children and fill us with the radiance of your self-giving love. Amen.
* WORDS OF ASSURANCE Rev. Mitchell
* RESPONSE: Hymn 438 “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” (v. 1)
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
   Let the water and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed be of sin the double cure,
cleanse from guilt and make me pure.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION Rev. Mitchell
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Tom Mitchell
PSALM 34:1-10, 22
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
O fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.
The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing….
The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
REVELATION 7:9-17
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power
   and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night
within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
SERMON “The Great Multitude” Rev. Mitchell
* HYMN 451 “Open My Eyes That I May See”
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed
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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell;
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on 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 Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
REMEMBERING THE SAINTS Rev. Mitchell
HEBREWS 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: (concluding with 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 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.
OUR OFFERING
* THE DOXOLOGY: Hymn 606 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly hosts; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Table (ALL worshippers are invited to partake of the sacrament.)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Partaking of the Supper
(NOTE: The bread is gluten-free bread. When you receive the bread, you are invited to eat it immediately, remembering that Christ loves each of us individually. We will partake of the cup together, remembering that Christ’s love is expressed in the community of saints.)
Prayer
We give thanks, Almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world with courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
* HYMN 516 “For the Bread Which You Have Broken”
* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
* CLOSING: Hymn 286 “Breathe On Me, Breath of God” (v. 1)
Breathe on me, Breath of God; fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
* indicates places to stand, if you are able
THE SESSION
Nancy Buchanan Karen Shanks Bill Beckett
Bill Heinsch * Dianne Speicher    Trish Jolley*
Martha Weaver Debby Wilson* Trudy Rauch
Vickie Rhea – Clerk of Session
* = serving second term (and therefore cannot be re-elected)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING to worship with us here at Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick. If you are visiting with us today, we are delighted to welcome you as our guest. We hope that today’s service is meaningful for you. If you would like to know more about making Calvary Church your church home, please speak to one of the elders on Session (listed above).
THE ELDER OF THE MONTH for November is Dianne Speicher. Her contact information is 931-335-9962 and diannespeicher@gmail.com.
WE WELCOME BACK TO CALVARY CHURCH THE REV. CLARICE MITCHELL. Rev. Mitchell pastored Hope United Church of Christ in Rockledge, FL for 15 years before retiring in 2015. She will be our worship leader today and for the next two Sundays.
THIS MONDAY, at 10:00 a.m., YOGA will continue.
TUESDAY is ELECTION DAY! Don’t forget to vote – if you haven’t already.
SNAPSHOTS ONE AND TWO: In Snapshot One, the PNC asked the congregation the question: “What part of Church life do you MOST treasure? Your answers were as follows:
Worship – 4
Sunday School – 3
Fellowship – 12
The building – 1
Community Service – 0
Food/Pot Lucks – 2
THE SECOND SNAPSHOT QUESTION is now posted on the Dry-Erase board in the Social Hall. It asks:
“Of all our special services/events, which one is MOST MEANINGFUL to you?”
Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service
Maundy Thursday
Easter Sunrise Service + Breakfast
The Auction
Homecoming
Vacation Bible School
Fall Festival
Monthly Men’s and Women’s Gatherings.”
Please place your magnet in the area that reflects your choice.

UPCOMING
THANKSGIVING: A few years ago, the church held a Thanksgiving dinner for individuals or couples who would otherwise be alone on Thanksgiving. We are going to do the same again this year. The plan is to have a “pot luck” Thanksgiving: the turkey and the stuffing will be provided, and those who attend will bring the rest of the food. If you are interested in sharing this Thanksgiving meal, call or text Judy Venable (443-285-1287) to let her know how many will be attending.
We are again COLLECTING BOXES for the Angel Tree wrapping party on Dec. 14th+15th. Leave your boxes in the room behind the fireplace in the Social Hall.
JOYS

CONCERNS
In CASE YOU MISSED IT:
LAST SUNDAY, it was a joy to have BILL BECKETT’s SISTER, BEVERLY, worshipping with us again, and to have TISH JOLLEY back from her travels. It was also a joy to learn that we had 25 students in this morning’s Sunday School class! We learned that SARA BEACHBOARD was home and doing well, following her latest procedures. GEORGE HAIMBACH was in church following his mitral valve clip. And DIANNE SPEICHER’s broken wrist is healing. ROBERT YORK is getting better, following his stroke, and prayers were requested for JOANNE WYATT, following surgery to remove a brain tumor. Continued prayers were also requested for CASEE SMITH who has a rare form of liver cancer.
A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL at last Sunday’s FALL FESTIVAL. BILL BECKETT won the chili contest; IZZIE RECTOR’S APPLE PIE was voted best; and BILLY CARROLL won the best table decoration contest. Thanks to all who came to enjoy the fun!
UPCOMING WORSHIP LEADERS: The worship leaders for the next several Sundays are: November 8th: Rev. Clarice Mitchell
November 15th: Rev. Clarice Mitchell
November 22nd: Elder David Wood

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS: The Session met on October 21st, and to following occurred:
+ The Nominating Committee is beginning it’s work, seeking to fill two positions on the Session. The Committee is Dianne Speicher, chair; Al Wilson and Danny Husk.
+ Martha Weaver will be the point person for Angel Tree.
+ There will be no Advent Workshop this year. Debby Wilson and Dianne Speicher will put up the wreath.
+ The Session met with our neighbors who have a wedding venue. They are interested in using the manse to help accommodate over-flow wedding guests.
+ The November Session meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. on November 15th.
THE PNC (Pastoral Nominating Committee): The second SNAPSHOT QUESTION is posted on the dry-erase board in the Social Hall. (See announcement above). Don’t forget to stop by and place a magnet in the box that best reflects your response to the question. (One answer only, please!) If you have questions about the PNC’s work, feel free to talk to Judy Venable (443-285-1287), chair, or any of the other PNC members: Vickie Rhea, Lindsey Thompson, Martha Weaver, or Bill Beckett.
WEBSITE: Checkout our website at: Biglickpc.wixsite.com/calvary. If you have pictures from the Fall Festival, information to post, or suggestions, contact Jim Beachboard, our website manager at jbeach323@gmail.com or 931-200-4386.