Liturgy with communion for October 13, 2024 (Pentecost 21/Trinity 20/Proper 23/Ordinary 28 - B)

  Texts: Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31

Call to Worship

We look in the mirror and what do we see?
We see people who try to be faithful,
even as questions and struggles challenge our faith.
We look in the mirror and how do we see?
We see with hearts which are open to God's love,
with lives which seek to trust when all the evidence
tells us not to be so foolish.
We look in the mirror and who do we see?
We see Jesus, the One who struggles with
the questions we raise, who models faithfulness
for all who would follow.

Prayer of the Day

Gracious God:
when we cannot see you,
you look in compassion upon us;
when we cannot speak a word,
you hear the sighs of our hearts;
when we are falling apart,
you hold us together with your grace.

Jesus, Healing Hand of God:
you reach out to take away all
which distracts us from discipleship;
you challenge us to give away everything
which keeps us from following you;
you surround us with people, even strangers,
who enfold us with your love and hope.

Loving Spirit:

when we are too weary to put
one faltering foot in front of the other,
you carry us in your strength;
as we seek to challenge
the unfairness of our world,
you stand beside us in your justice;
when we are afraid to come near,
you bear our prayers to the seat of grace.

God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray together,
using the words we have been taught by Jesus,
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

Let us willingly embrace that which we believe is true - we can come to the seat of grace, bringing our prayers of confession to the One who is filled to overflowing with mercy and hope. Join me as we pray together,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

    We stand before you, Saving God, stripped of our pretensions and pride, for nothing we do or say, or do not, can be hidden from you. You hear the angry words we preach to ourselves; you sift through the rubble of hurts we have caused; you see how we stumble, weighed down by all that 'stuff' which keeps us from following Jesus.
    We stand before you, Holy Grace. As you empty our hands of that wealth of unneeded things we cling so tightly to, fill them with your grace and hope. As we let go of all which might hold us back, give us the trust to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into that life with which he offers to each of us.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news! Because God loves us, we lack for nothing; because God forgives us, we have everything we need; because God surrounds us with sisters and brothers, we do not journey alone.
Committing everything to God, trusting in the One who redeems us, we decide to live as God's faithful and forgiven people. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

When we look in the mirror, may we see our sisters and brothers in need - the lonely, the hungry, the searching, the aching.  And as we see them, we pray that these gifts we offer may be used to bring them food, hope, companionship, and healing.  This we pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of eternal life be with you.
And also with you.
In confidence, draw close to the Table of our God.
We bring our hearts, our lives to the Feast of Grace.
Sing glad songs to the One whose goodness fills our lives.
We rejoice that we may enter the kingdom of love and hope.

You turned to your right,
and there was nothing there;
you went forward and backward,
and there was only nothingness;
and so, in your wonder and majesty,
you created all that was good and true,
God of unparalleled imagination.
Your Word crafted the living and active -
waterfalls carving the sides of mountains,
butterflies flitting from flower to flower;
your Spirit bubbled with laughter,
and the bright morning stars were reflected
in clear pools brimming with hope.
All these gifts were given to those shaped in your image,
but we chose to contend with you,
mocking you, making faces at your glory.
When it became too hard for us
to enter your kingdom on our own,
you sent Jesus among us,
to deliver us from ourselves.

So, with those who raise their questions to you,
with those who struggle with your answers,
we lift our voices to you, singing your praises:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of mystery and hope.
All creation honors your name.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who calls us to faithful living.

Hosanna in the highest!

You are holy, God of grace and truth,
and blessed is Jesus, Child of wonder.
He set aside the treasures of heaven,
to become one of us,
so we might know the riches of mercy.
He let go of the power of glory,
so he might know our weaknesses.
He went to the cross on Calvary,
committing himself to your love,
and it was you who took him from the tomb,
raising him to new life.

As we proclaim his death and resurrection,
as we break the bread and fill the cup,
we would live out that mystery we call faith:

Christ has died;
Christ has been raised;
Christ will come again in glory.

Here at the Table graced with your gifts,
here, upon your children gathered in joy,
pour out your Spirit of peace and life.
As we come to taste of that Bread which,
in its brokenness, makes us whole,
we would not go backward to our old life,
but go forth to bring hope to all
who cry out for justice in the world.
As we drink deeply from that Cup which,
by its grace, fills us with compassion,
we would offer the blessings we have,
that others might know the richness of your love and hope.

And when the age to come has arrived,
when our lives are gathered up in your mercy
and we are at one with our sisters and brothers
from every time and place around your feast,
we will join our hearts and voices for you,
singing through all eternity of your love,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
Go forth as God's people to serve those around us.
We will honor each person as if they were our family.
Go forth as sisters and brothers of Jesus.
We will share the gifts of grace and hope with everyone we meet.
Go forth as those strengthened by the Spirit.
We will stand with others searching for God's justice in their lives.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for October 13, 2024 (Pentecost 21/Trinity 20/Proper 23/Ordinary 28-B)

 Texts: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31

Call to Worship

What can we do to have life?

We can seek God, who gives us live in every moment.

What can we do to serve justice in our world?

We can set aside that which keeps us

from following Jesus – wealth, pride, power, whatever.

What can we do to share the good news with others?

We can open ourselves to the Spirit,

so people can see God at work in us.

Prayer of the Day

Each morning, at the table,

you offer a serving of love,

not so we will scarf it down

and rush out the door, but

so that we have more than enough

to share with everyone we meet,

God who cares for us.

Each day, when our courage

begins to lag and we think

we just cannot

listen to one more lie,

watch the powerful ridicule the vulnerable,

have the courage to confront evil,

you offer a serving of justice,

so that we can continue to follow,

Jesus who has given up everything for us.

Each evening, as we check

social media, turn on the news,

listen to the voices on the radio,

and are tempted to simply believe

there is nothing to do but

fall into the arms of despair for comfort,

you offer us a cup of peace,

with lots of mercy and hope stirred in,

so we can rest in you,

Spirit who is always with us.

Each moment, and every moment,

you serve us with all we need,

God in Community, Holy in One,

and so we pray as we are taught,

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

We have failed, we have not lived as God’s people.  And while we think we should hide, God invites us to come, to confess our lives, and to be restored to wholeness.  Let us pray, using these words,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   There are so many things, Wise God, which keeps us from following Jesus.  We try to turn justice into a bitter pill for others.  We push righteousness out of the way, so we can seek those who tell lies.  We know, deep down inside, that one thing which keeps us from faithful living, but just can’t loosen our grip on it.

   We can’t seem to do it, God who remembers us, but because everything is possible with you, give us the wisdom to know what that one thing might be; the grace to let go and leave it behind us; and the courage to follow Jesus wherever he might lead us, especially into that life which you offer in love and hope. 

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Here at the seat of grace, we are forgiven, and can climb up and find the love of God comforting and restoring us to new life.

Every moment, God offers us a serving of love and mercy, so we can continue to live as God intends.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven!  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

We think what we offer in these moments is not that much, or can accomplish anything of worth, but with you, Holy God, all things are possible.  So we trust you will use them, multiply them, offer them to those who need hope, healing, grace, and peace in their lives.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the welcoming God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us lift our hearts to our God.

We offer them to the One who shares grace with us.

Let us lift our voices to our God.

We will glad songs to the One who loves us.

In the cold, dead silence of chaos,

your Word, God of wonder,

was active and moving with the Spirit,

   breathing life into creatures,

   planting seeds of justice in hearts,

   bringing beauty and goodness into everything.

All that was wonderful, and that was gracious,

was offered to those formed in your image,

   but we chose to live in sin’s glass houses,

   and to drink the fine wines of death.

You sent prophets and psalmists

to offer your love and hope to us

and to call us back to you,

   yet we continued to pocket the bribes

   temptation offered to us over and over.

Then you sent Jesus into our lives,

so we would know that you long

to be with us in every moment.

With those who see you at work among us,

with those who try to hide from you,

we lift our voices in praise:

Holy, holy, holy are you, god who shares grace freely.

All creation shares in the wonders you have given.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who is our high priest.

Hosanna in the highest!

You alone are holy, God of grace,

and Jesus is our hope, our peace.

Advocate for the poor,

   he teaches us not to walk over them,

   but to lift them to their feet.

Speaker of your truth,

   he reminds us of the hope

   which is ours if we but reach out.

Challenger of our easy faith,

   he calls us to let go of the very things

   which we cannot set aside.

Trusting that you indeed can,

and will do, anything,

   he gives it all up on the cross,

   being raised to new life,

   as death and sin are defeated.

As we seek to remember his life and teachings,

as we celebrate the resurrection given to us,

we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Jesus died, looking past evil;

Jesus was raised, your love turning death into life;

Jesus will come, to remind us God has not forgotten us.

Here at the Table we are reminded

that you alone are good, Generous God,

and so, we pray you pour out your Spirit

on your children and on the gifts of the Feast.

As we taste the bread which is broken,

may it give us the strength

   to build bridges, not walls;

   to care for the vulnerable;

   to listen to the victimized.

As we drink from cup,

may it nourish us with grace,

   so we can share hope with the broken,

   so we can plant peace in war-torn fields,

   so we can share from our abundance.

And when you gather us around

the throne of grace to feed us

at your Table with our sisters and brothers,

we sing our praises to you forever,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending

Let us go with God into the world.

We will share all the wonders God has given us.

Let us go with Jesus to care for others.

We will build justice for all who need it.

Let us go with the Spirit to search for good.

We will speak truth to a world which needs it.

© Thom M. Shuman