Texts: 1 Kings 17:8-6 (17-24); Psalm
146; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17
Call to Worship
You we praise, O God! You we praise!
We will sing our songs of joy this day
and in all the days to come!
School is coming to a close, vacations are planned,
life changes from day to day.
Yet, your promises are kept every day;
you hold your faithfulness in your heart.
You shower us with
your hope; you offer us help in every moment.
You we praise, O God! You we praise!
Prayer of the Day
You we praise, Fountain of Hope:
you turn our hearts
toward the outsiders
in our midst,
so we can see you
in them;
you take off
the sunglasses of sin
we have worn for too long,
so we may see your kingdom
of peace and joy.
You we praise, Friend of the poor:
when we trip
over our foolish feet
in our headstrong rush
to catch the world's whims,
you pick us up,
bandage our scraped knees,
and put us back on
the path to faithfulness.
You we praise, Spirit of blessing:
you hold the hands
of the widows and orphans
as they wander the busy streets
of greed and consumption,
leading them to your
compassion and grace.
You we praise,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we lift our prayer as Jesus has taught us,
(The Lord’s Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We think life is all about us - our desires, our needs, our achievements.
And, so in our pride, we ignore the gospel proclaimed to us by God's love and
hope for us. Let us confess our faulty lives, as we open ourselves to God's healing
grace, praying together,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We do not want you to know how our
lives do not proclaim your good news, God of all hearts. But you have heard the
words we have spoken which injure those we love. You see how insistent we can
be in clinging to the ways we have always lived, rather than walking your new
paths. We have trouble believing that when our souls are empty and our hearts
have only a small portion of love, that you can do miracles in and through us.
So, what we need to know is that you
do indeed forgive us, and still love us, God of comfort. Let your grace shower
us and end the drought of fear and doubt in our lives, so we can believe the
good news which comes to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Do not be sad. God feeds us with grace
and hope, God watches over us, and raises us to new life.
You we praise, Holy God, for this good
news of joy and peace for our lives. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
You we praise, Loving God, for the
gifts with which you have blesses us, and the opportunities to share from our
hearts and lives so others might be fed, clothed, housed, loved, lifted up, and
healed. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The God of prophets and widows be with you!
And also with you!
Offer your hearts to God, who prepares
this Table for you.
We will trust the One who fills us with grace and hope.
Praise the Creator for all the goodness
which is ours.
We will sing glad songs to God with every breath we take!
You we praise, Engendering God!
You formed the seas, their waters
teeming with abundant creatures;
you cradled the earth, planting
a myriad of life into its deep soil.
You shaped us in your gracious image,
imparting the Spirit's breath in us,
but we put our trust in mortal
death,
zealous for its temptations and
longings.
You sent prophets into the world,
who challenged us not to fear,
but to place our trust in you,
yet we returned time and again to
sin.
Keeping faith forever with us,
you sent Jesus into our midst,
to touch us and give us life.
So, with those whose eyes have been opened,
and with those who have been set free,
we lift our songs of glad joy to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God of all
generations!
Heaven and earth, the sea, and all in them glorify you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who looks with grace upon us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You we praise in your holiness, Glorious God,
and bless your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
When we had nothing but
a handful of sin,
he came to fill us with grace;
when there was only a little
hope left in our lives,
he came to pour salvation
up to the brim in us;
when we despaired in the drought of sin,
he approached the gates of death,
bringing its power to ruin,
his empty tomb the reminder
of the abundance of resurrection.
As we come to this Table of plenty,
as we celebrate the life he gave for us,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, so we would not weep;
Christ was raised, so we would not fear;
Christ will come, so we will glorify God.
You we praise, Baker of life, Vintner of grace.
Your Spirit moves upon
the gifts of this Table
and on those for whom
the feast has been prepared.
We eat,
believing that the Bread will not fail,
but strengthen us to go forth
to work for justice,
even as we feed the hungry.
We drink,
trusting that the Cup will not be emptied,
as we pour ourselves out in service
to those crushed by oppression,
to those held captive by fear.
And when we gather where all time has ended,
seated with your children from every time and place
around that wedding feast of joy,
we will join our voices in praising you forever,
singing to God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Now go to sing God’s praises.
In the backyards on a summer’s evening,
in the quiet hope of a gentle touch, we will praise God!
Now go to sing of the grace of Jesus.
To little kids playing hopscotch on the sidewalks,
to families whose lives are changed by loss,
we will sing songs of hope!
Now go to sing of the Spirit’s presence.
Where the promises of God are kept in every moment,
where faithfulness shares life with all,
we will sing glad songs of love!
(c) 2016 Thom M. Shuman
Texts:
1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39; Psalm
96; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10
Call to Worship
With loud engines at the race track,
and with soft-spoken wisdom:
sing to God new songs of wonder!
With planets spinning in the galaxies,
and with jack hammers tearing up our
streets:
sing to God new songs of joy!
With fireworks in summer’s night skies,
and with winter’s ice crunching under
our boots:
sing to God new songs of grace!
With crowds at exciting sports venues,
and with children whispering dreams to
their pets:
sing to God new songs of hope!
Prayer of the Day
When
we would take our
fears, doubts, broken dreams
and set them to death’s
mournful dirge,
you take them, rearranging the notes
and rewriting the lyrics for
drums, electric guitar, tambourines
and keyboard,
singing a new song
of joy
to us.
Composer of Creation,
we give you the glory!
When
the world considers us
second-rate,
putting us out on the
BOGO clearance table
on the sidewalk,
you come under the awning,
telling the proprietor
to put us on your
card
(which you will
pay in full
before the next billing cycle
begins).
Liberator of our lives,
we give you the glory!
When
day after day,
we cannot seem
to break the cycles of
legalism,
cynicism,
apathy,
you come, proclaiming
the good news,
speaking the Word
which heals
us.
Spirit of Peace,
we give you the glory!
God in Community, Holy in One,
to you be the glory forever and ever,
as we pray, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We go limping along, convinced we can
make it on our own, that we are too busy for God. But when we look at our mistakes, the words
we wish we could take back, the hurts we long to heal, we know we must confess,
so God can forgive us and wrap us in steadfast love. Join me, as we pray together saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We want you to know, Holy God, that we do try. Between the politicians and the pundits, it
is easy to become confused as to how we should live. We spend so much time trying to win the
approval of certain people, that we forget our call to serve those around
us. We are so busy telling others ‘go
there’ or ‘do this,’ we cannot hear your whispers of love.
We do not presume to come to you expecting easy grace, for we are aware
of what it cost you to forgive us, Tender God.
But speak the word, and we will know your mercy; speak the word, and we
will be made whole; speak the Word, Jesus Christ, and we will find that faith
to trust you in every moment.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
God comes, not to punish, not to
condemn, but to judge – with that righteousness which brings redemption, with
that truth which sets us free.
Let it be known this day. The Lord indeed is God, who brings
forgiveness and hope to all people.
Glory to God! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
We come with gratitude, as well as our gifts, Loving God. As we offer them to you, we pray all might know of your presence in their lives, and that these offerings may bring them your hope, your grace, and your peace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May creation’s Lord be with you!
And also with you!
Here at this Table, dear ones, draw
closer to God.
We come, to offer our hearts to God.
Join the chorus of the universes in
praising God.
Our voices unite with all of God’s
people in songs of joy.
All creation is grounded in you,
Sovereign God, who spoke the Word
and let it be known that you were
coming
so seas might roar your majesty,
so fields might exult your glory,
so trees might sing your joy.
You formed us in your divine image,
letting it be known that we were yours,
the people of your heart and hopes.
But sin and death called our names,
and we chose to follow those petty gods,
limping along, letting our dance partners
lead us as seduction’s sirens sang their songs.
You sent the prophets to intercede,
hoping that we would listen,
but we made no answer, gave no response.
So you decided to come closer still,
sending Jesus to bring us your healing.
With those who gave you glory in every
time and place,
with those from all over this wide
earth,
we sing that new song which has echoed
down the generations:
Holy, holy, holy are you, Sovereign of
the universe.
All creation joins in singing your
glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in your
name.
Hosanna in the highest!
You indeed are God, Holy One,
and Jesus Christ is your blessed Child.
When we limped along through the world,
he came to strengthen us to walk in your way.
When our petty gods became too busy for
us,
he came to listen to our faltering prayers.
When we would cling to sin in every
moment,
he went to the cross
so sin would have no voice to call
us,
so death would be left empty-handed.
As we rejoice in his coming to us,
as we remember we would have no hope
without him,
we declare that mystery we know as
faith:
Christ died, breaking the power of sin;
Christ was raised, breaking the cycle of
death;
Christ comes, bringing the power of the
gospel for all.
We sing glad songs to you,
God of honor and majesty,
for here at the Table,
you pour out your Spirit
on the gifts of your creation
set apart for sacred use.
The grain of exultant fields
is shaped into the Bread of life,
which strengthens us to go forth
to intercede for those who
are not highly valued by our world,
yet who need healing and hope.
The fruit of creation’s vines
becomes the sweet nectar of grace,
which fills our emptiness until it
overflows
into justice for the oppressed,
release for all held captive,
recovery for the addicted,
good news for the broken-hearted.
And when all our times have come to an
end,
when the new seas roar with wonder,
when newly planted meadows exult with laughter,
when the trees of life sing for joy,
we will lift our voices with our
sisters and brothers,
singing the new songs of eternal life
with you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go now to sing new songs of wonder:
in the neighborhoods where we live,
in the places we work, we will share God's love.
Go now to sing new songs of joy:
with grandparents volunteering at schools,
with children learning to read, we will be Christ's compassion.
Go now to sing new songs of grace:
with those who have lost their way,
with the bruised and bullied, we will be the Spirit's peace.
Go now to sing new songs of hope:
we will teach all people God's love songs!
(c) 2106 Thom M. Shuman