Texts: Genesis 18:1-15 (21:1-7); Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35 – 10:8 (9-23)
Call to Worship
On an ordinary Sunday,
we come to worship God:
we come, trusting God will speak to us;
we come, hoping God will surprise us.
On this day, like every other day,
we seek to follow Jesus:
we follow, believing Jesus will be with us;
we follow, hoping Jesus will work through us.
On this day, we lift our souls to God's Spirit:
we open our hearts, that the Spirit may fill us;
we open our hands, that we might be a gift to others.
Prayer of the Day
The mother watching
her son packing for camp,
the father teaching
his daughter how to drive;
the spouse worrying
over their spouse's addiction to work,
the child closing
her ears to her parents' arguing:
each is precious in your sight,
Compassion of Creation.
The grandmother hoping
for a telephone call,
the neighbor frantic
about selling his house;
the teenager struggling
with choices she cannot share,
the retiree wandering
the empty hours of daytime:
each is welcomed into your heart,
Haven for the hopeless.
The kids on the corner selling
lemonade to help a classmate,
the teacher already preparing
for next year's classes;
the parent wondering
how to pay for groceries,
the unemployed hoping
for good news this week:
each is cradled in your peace,
Spirit of Serenity.
God in Community, Holy in One,
each of us, all of us,
lift our prayers to you, as Jesus taught us,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
If you are looking for proof of God's love, here it is: at the very moment we realize we cannot help ourselves, that is the time we discover God has saved us in Christ Jesus. Join me as we pray to our God, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
How easily we pat ourselves on the back, Listening Love, for the lives we lead. We welcome the praise of others, but have little compassion for those who have failed us. We assume that a comfortable life is our birthright, yet believe poor choices produce suffering for those around us. We boast of the good we do, but forget to thank you for all that you have given to us.
Forgive us, Companion of Compassion, for breaking your heart, and disappointing your hopes for us. As we seek to follow your Child, may we be found with those whose lives are barren, with those who know little laughter in their day, with those who have received no love from others - for in their presence, we will find Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Listen to the good news - the kingdom of God is very near. As close as a child's laughter, as embracing as a father's love, as enfolding as a mother's caress.
We are God's people:
called, that we may follow;
gifted, that we may serve;
forgiven, that we might bring hope.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
Where the broken are, may we bring them healing. Where the lonely are, may we be their family. Where the hungry are, may we offer them hope. Wherever, and however, we find your people, O God, may we go to share the gifts you have given to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the gracious God be with you!
And also with you!
In the presence of God’s people, lift up your hearts.
We call on God’s name with joy in our hearts.
Offer God songs of thanksgiving this day.
We love God, who hears our voices of praise.
When there was no time,
when there was only chaos,
you knew it was the right moment,
Ingenious Love,
to bring forth creation
in all of its glory.
Butterflies dancing from
flower to flower,
birds harmonizing in praise,
gentle breezes caressing grass,
kittens chasing bugs they will never catch.
Given this bounty of goodness,
we returned your graciousness
with blatant betrayal,
tossing aside your hopes for us,
proclaiming sin and death
as the authorities for our lives.
Heart-broken,
you sought to provide a way
for us back to your grace
through the words of the prophets,
but we laughed to ourselves
as we continued skipping down
that never-ending road of rebellion.
But you proved your love for us
by sending Jesus to die for us,
an act we would not do
even for those we loved.
So, with those of every time and place,
with those in this place, and in this moment,
we will sing our praises to you
knowing you incline your ear to listen:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of mercy.
Your servants join all creation in praising you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who tells us of the kingdom’s nearness.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Compassion's Heart,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior.
You sent him to travel
our cities, our lives, our hearts
to teach us of your hopes for us.
He did not laugh
at our foolish ways,
but, with great compassion,
he reached out to help us.
Asking no payment,
he gave himself to death,
dying for all of us sinners,
that we might discover
the kingdom of heaven
which is nearer to us
than we would ever imagine.
As we remember his life and death,
as we seek to respond to his calling for us,
we would proclaim that mystery called faith:
Taking nothing but his faith, Christ went to the cross;
precious in God’s sight, Christ was raised from the grave;
keeping faith, Christ will deliver us from death.
Here, in these moments
as we prepare to feast on your love,
pour out your Spirit
upon the bounty of your grace,
this bread and this cup,
and upon those for whom they are given.
You would feed us
on the Bread of life,
so we might go out
to bring hope to all
whom the world has disappointed.
You offer us the cup of grace,
so, as your love is poured
deep within our parched souls,
we can become that offering
of peace and reconciliation
for which all creation longs.
And when time has come to an end,
and we are all one with you,
we will call on your name,
God in Community, Holy in One,
offering our thanks forever and ever. Amen.
Sending
On this ordinary Sunday,
we have worshiped our God.
Now, we will go to speak for the voiceless,
to surprise our communities with grace.
On this day, and every day,
we try our best to follow Jesus.
Now, we will go to be with those Jesus loves,
to let Jesus' justice work through us.
On this day, our souls have been filled
with the peace and passion of the Spirit.
Now, we will go to empty ourselves for others,
to share the gifts of the Spirit with all.
(c) Thom M. Shuman