26th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Proper 20 - A

Texts:  Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4, 122-16; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32

Call to worship
L:  Becoming a baby,
P:  Christ transformed all of us
     into his sisters and brothers.
L:  Telling us stories we had forgotten,
P:  God helps us to walk the paths of discipleship.
L:  Becoming foolish in the world's eyes.
P:  The Spirit teaches us all we need
     to find our way into the kingdom.

Prayer of the Day
When we think your job
is to listen to our petty quarrels,
you lean over,
put your finger to our lips,
whispering,
'let me tell you a story.'
Rock Splitter,
we worship you.

When we want  to ask you
all sorts of questions,
and demand to see
your background check,
you put your arms around us,
gently saying,
'i want you to meet
some friends of mine.'
Self Emptier:
we follow you.

When we are burned out
by our chronic anger,
when our throats are parched
by our litany of laments,
you take us by the hand,
inviting,
'let's go get a cold drink
down at Rock's cafe.'
Sharing Spirit,
we adore you.

God in Community, Holy in One,
to whom we pray, as Jesus teaches,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
All too often, we tell God we will do better,
and be better, and then just go on living
the same way we always have.  Let this
be the moment, when we tell our God of
our failures and faithlessness, so we can
go forth to work in that kingdom of grace
and hope.  Join me as we pray,

Unison Prayer of Confession
   We would want to be fountains of hope
for others, God of glory, but people find
only hardened hearts.  We would like to
be transformed people, but our stubborn
pride prevents us from bending a knee
to you.  We long to stand with those
who are in need, but our selfishness
keeps our backs rigid in judgment.
   Forgive us, God who came down to us.
Humble us, that we might be true servants
to the broken and lost.  Split open our
frozen hearts, that compassion might
flow freely to those who are hurting.
Fill our minds with the presence of your
Spirit, that we might learn how to follow
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into
that kingdom of grace and hope.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:  This is the good news:  in Christ, God's
     plan for salvation was accomplished.
     You are forgiven, your are made new.
P:  We will complete God's joy, by sharing
   compassion, forgiveness, hope, with
   everyone we meet.  Thanks be to God.
   Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L:  May the God who comes in humility to us be with you!
P:  And also with you!
L:  Beloved, lift your hardened hearts to God.
P:  We offer them to the One who will split them open
     so grace can flow into the world.
L:  Children of God, sing to the One who turned the world upside down.
P:  We open our mouths, praising God who shows us the way.

Streams of water flowed forth
when you split open chaos,
God of Wonder.
Rivers divided to create valleys and hills,
the sun became the beacon for each day,
the moon and stars our night lights.
You breathed your children to life,
and longed to hold us in your lap,
telling us stories of your goodness.
But while we told you
we would always do your will,
we went running off to join
with sin and death
in their quarrels with you.
You sent the prophets
to remind us of all
we had known and heard,
but we mocked them,
not letting them sway us.
Then you sent Jesus
to be the One
to work out our salvation.

So, with those who sing your praise,
and those who complain bitterly,
with those who wandered in the wilderness,
and those who stand in places of worship,
we lift our voices in wonder to you:

P:   Holy, holy, holy are you, Transforming God.
      All creation flows toward your heart.
      Hosanna in the highest!

      Blessed is the One who stands with those who have nothing.
      Hosanna in the highest!

Holy are you, God of Imagination,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
He put on humility's garb,
so we might be clothed
in the garments of grace;
he lowered himself
to walk the world with us,
so we might be lifted
from the depths of sin;
he suffered the death
of a common criminal,
so we might receive
the extraordinary gift of life
forever with you.

As we remember his willingness to give up glory,
as we celebrate his resurrection giving us hope,
we tell of that mystery we call faith:

P:  Christ emptied himself on the cross,
         that we might be filled with life;
      Christ was called forth from the tomb,
          that we might confess him the Risen One;
      Christ will come again, calling us by name
          that God's joy be made complete.

Pour out your Spirit,
Nourishing God,
upon this Table of joy
and those who gather around it.
As you transform the simple gifts
of the bread and the cup
into grace beyond all imagining,
may we be changed
into fellow servants
with Jesus Christ our Brother,
people willing to offer ourselves
in service and humility
to those who have been
defeated by the world.

And when all time has ended,
and we are at home with you forever,
we will gather around the Lamb's Table,
joining our hands, hearts, and voices,
in never-ending praise to you,
God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

(c) 2011  Thom M. Shuman