Liturgy w/communion for October 11, 2026 (Pentecost 20/Trinity 19/Proper 23/Ordinary 28 - A)

 Texts:  Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14

Call to Worship

Here in this place, with these people,
we come to worship the living God.
In you, O God, we hope;
in you, Creator of love, we live.
Here in this sacred space, in these very moments,
we are invited to the Table of Joy.
In you, Christ of the Way, we rejoice;
in you, dear Brother, grace is as near as your heart.
Here on this day of gentleness and beauty,
we are filled with the peace of God.
In you, O Spirit, we find our path;
in you, Teacher of hope, we learn to serve.

Prayer of the Day
When we realize how we are
blessed beyond every imagining,
     we can sing of your surprising grace
     and your steadfast presence
          to a world which has grown deaf
          from the noise of empty clichés.
 
When we remember your love
which has no beginning and no end,
when we stand in grace's sweet waters
swirling around our hearts,
     we can rejoice in your hope
     which sees every person,
          even those we would
          never invite into our circles,
               as your beloved child.
 
When we remember your call
to treat every single person
with dignity, justice, and hope,
     we can share your peace
     (even when we don't recognize it)
          with a society which believes
          violence is the solution
               to every single problem.

God in Community, Holy in One,
as you live in us,
so we will live for others,
even as we pray as taught by Jesus,
(The Lord's Prayer)
 
Call to Reconciliation
Called to have the same mind as Christ, we often spend too much time thinking about all those ways which then lead us astray. But, if we confess our sins, God will forgive us, and strengthen us to be Christ's sisters and brothers. Join me as we pray together, saying,

 Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     You would call us to your feast, Inviting God, but our busy lives keep us from responding. You remember every word we utter, every prayer we whisper, but we forget all the little ways you care for us. You would make your gentleness known through us, but we lash out in anger and fear towards others.
     Forgive us, God of all hope, and remember your Servant, Jesus Christ. In him, we can live in your way. Through him, we can learn the dreams you have for us. With him, we can open our arms and embrace all the people we meet.

Silence is kept
 
Assurance of Pardon
As we are forgiven by God, we can begin to reflect on all those ways in which we can live justly, act honorably, love completely. This is indeed good news for us.
At the Wedding Feast, we are fed with grace, and nourished with joy, so we may go and bring hope and peace to everyone we meet. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering
May not only our gifts, but our lives, be the grace and hope which bring healing to the broken, as well as food and nourishment to all who hunger and thirst for justice and peace.  In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the One who works wonders be with you!
And also with you!
People of God, listen to the One who teaches you life.
Unlock our hearts, O God, that we might hear you.
Children of God, you are called to servanthood.
We sing praises to the One who fills us with compassion,
so we might know the deepest needs of those around us.

Silencing the noise of chaos,
God of wonder and might,
you created the heavens and earth,
     your steadfast love poured out
          into the oceans brimming with life,
     your joy flowing into every valley of hope.
Your heart melted with love
as you created us in your image,
     so we might live with you
     in that garden of peace.
But we exchanged your dreams
for the seductive lies of death,
     so we might graze in sin's fallow fields.
You longed to bring us back,
making your gentleness known
in prophets throughout the ages.
When we continued to refuse
your invitation to your heart,
you sent Jesus to us,
to round up all of your children
and lead them home to you.
 
So, with those who stood at the foot of mountains,
and those who continue on the journey,
we lift our hearts and voices,
praising your name forever.
 
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of peace and justice.
We have heard the good news of Jesus' grace;
     we have seen the service of his followers;
     we have received his hope from surprising people;
     we have learned to trust him in every moment.

Blessed is he who came to make us known to you.
Hosanna in the highest!

We praise your name, Catering God,
remembering your acts of grace.
Loving us with a passion beyond compare,
     Jesus came to fill us with compassion.
Aware of our hunger for hope,
     he feeds us with your steadfast grace.
Understanding death's grip on us,
     he came to defeat it's power,
     that we could live with you forever.
 
As we rejoice in the feast you provide,
as we remember the sacrifice, death and resurrection of our Lord,
we proclaim that mystery we call faith:
 
We celebrate the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem;
we remember the life which Jesus led;
we rejoice in Christ's coming to us in glory.
 
In your gentleness and wonder,
God of all joy,
pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
and the gifts of your Table.
As the bread of life
not only feeds us,
but makes us one as Christ's Body,
     may we bring healing
     to our broken world.
As the cup of grace
not only refreshes us
but unites us in the Spirit of service,
     may we go forth to be
     a river of righteousness
     flowing to those who live
          in oppression and hopelessness.
 
And when we gather at the Table
you prepare for us in glory,
when we feast with all
our sisters and brothers
from every time and place,
we will join our voices
and praise you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
Now let us leave this place, 
to live and serve those not here, 
to share the hope of God,
to live in love with all creation.
Now let us leave this place
to offer the gifts of life and grace with all,
to bring joy to those who mourn,
to offer the heart of Christ to everyone.
Now let us leave this place
to fill our neighborhoods with peace.
to walk the Spirit's path with strangers,
to serve all as if they were family.

(c) Thom M. Shuman 

Liturgy w/communion for September 20, 2026 (Pentecost 17/Trinity 16/Proper 20/Ordinary 25 - A)

Texts:  Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Philippians 1: 21-30; Matthew 20:1-16

Call to Worship
In the prayers and the praise,
in the words and the wonder:
we are given enough joy to live each day.
In the justice for the oppressed,
in the unexpected generosity for the lost:
we are given enough compassion
to use in service each day.
In the promises made to all,
in the mercy offered to each:
we are given enough grace to share each day.

Prayer of the Day
Fresh as each morning
you come to us,
Crafter of manna.
     Your grace rests
     gently upon us,
          waiting to be gathered,
          to become the bread of life
we share throughout the day.

Fresh as compassion's justice,
you come to us,
Servant of the poor.
Choosing to give
as you desire,
you show us the last,
     so we can make them first
     in our hearts and hopes.
Doing no wrong,
     you make us right
     with God for all time.

Fresh as the water
which turns a desert
into a meadowland of flowers,
Spirit of uninterrupted grace,
you come to us.
When we would grumble,
     you give us the gospel to live out;
when we would protest,
     you teach us songs of praise;
when we would utter laments,
     you fill us with God's laughter.

God in Community, Holy in One,
refresh us with your presence
as we pray as Jesus taught, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
We continue to believe that we must earn our way into God's heart. But God's grace is given to each of us, for all of us, freely, unconditionally, always. Let us open our lives to this mercy as we pray saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     It seems we cannot decide, Cloud of Glory.  We say we will live to serve others, but end up meeting only our needs. We claim to live in a way that honors Christ, but we do not take him to work, school, home.  We believe that the gospel can transform lives, (at least, for those who need it – but surely, not us).

Forgive us, Presence of Peace.
Instead of grumblers,
     may we be ambassadors of grace.
Instead of continual complaining,
     may we carry compassion to the hurting.
Instead of whiners,
     may we be workers with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, 
to reach out and bring the kingdom of God to everyone we meet. Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Grace
This is the good news: there is no ranking in God's kingdom. God graces everyone with the same gifts: mercy, restoration, new life.
God has kept the covenant. We have been forgiven, we have been made new people.  Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering
With hope in our hearts, we offer our gifts to you, O God, trusting you will use them in the work of your kingdom which welcomes all, loves all, needs all, and serves all.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of all mornings be with you!
And also with you!
Children of God, welcome the One who shares
grace with childlike abandon.
We open our hearts so we might savor the
sweet taste of joy and wonder.
People of God, bring your emptiness to
this Table of hope and peace.
We sing praises to One who fills us with
Christ's presence for service to others.

On that first morning,
when chaos saw your glory,
you brought out creation,
     with stars and planets
          swimming in the skies,
     gazelles and giraffes dancing
           through the fields of goodness.
You shaped humankind in your mercy,
and fed us with grace, enough for each day.
Jealous that you were so gracious to all of creation,
     we grumbled that it wasn't enough,
     and went searching for sin and death.
Prophets came, telling the stories
of your wonder and presence,
     but for us, these were foolish words.
Finally, you sent Jesus
to come looking for us,
to show us your kingdom.

So, we join our voices with
wilderness wanderers and urban dwellers,
those who, in every time and place,
sing of your glory:

Holy! Holy! Holy! Glory to God's holy name!
Our hearts will seek God,
rejoicing in God's gentleness and grace.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes looking for us.
Hosanna in the highest!

You are holy, Cloud of Compassion,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Joy, our Hope.
Child of glory and grace,
he chose to come to us,
     working in the fields of despair.
Hearing our complaints,
he came to speak
     of your dreams for us.
Firstborn of all creation,
he came to defeat
     that last enemy, death. 

As we remember his life and death,
as we come to the Table he has prepared,
we sing of that mystery called faith:

This is the bread God gives us to eat.
This is the life Christ calls us to offer to others.
This is the journey the Spirit takes with us.

Pour out your Spirit
upon your children gathered,
and upon the bread and the cup
you have provided for us.
As you feed us with the bread,
so flood us with compassion,
     that we may go to serve
     all who are lost and broken.
As you open your heart
so that the cup of grace
might be filled with your hopes,
     send us out to bring the last
     home to your kingdom,
where they will be first in your joy.

And when all time has ended
and the whole family of God
is gathered around your Table,
we will join our voices together,
praising you forever:
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
Go now to share the love of God.
We will share it with childish abandon.
Go now to share the grace of Jesus.
We will offer this gift, fresh every morning, to all we meet.
Go now to share the generosity of the Holy Spirit.
We will hold nothing back as we embrace each person this week.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy w/communion for September 6, 2026 (Pentecost 15/Trinity 14/Proper 18/Ordinary 23 - A)

 Texts: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 149; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20

Call to Worship
When two or three gather, Christ lives in every moment,
where two or three gather, Christ is present with them.
Where two or three gather to worship God,
glad songs of praise are lifted, hearts are filled with hope.
When two or three gather to serve God's creation,
Christ is feeding the hungry, Christ is building shelters of peace.

Prayer of the Day
When we hold out our hands
to be cuffed by loneliness,
    you clasp our wrists
    to pull us into your heart.
When our lives are shattered
by the injustices done to those
passed over by the world,
    your love puts us back together,
    so we can serve them with your hope.
Emancipating God,
we praise you!

When we would build walls
between us and our neighbors,
    you come to be the welcoming gate.
When we would curse someone
who has hurt us in our souls,
    you sing us songs of blessing.
When we would focus only
on our needs and our desires,
    you hand us the dinnerware
    and ask us to set the Table.
Ever-near Salvation,
we would follow you!

When we would feed on
our bitter brokenness,
    you would offer us
    the Bread of reconciliation.
When we would grasp
the Cup of peace,
and drink it to the last drop,
    you whisper, 'offer some
    to those you don't like.'
Liberating Spirit,
we would be filled with you!

God in Community, Holy in One,
free us of all fears and doubts,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us,

(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
All we are called to do is to love - everyone.  Yet, as simple as it sounds, by our actions and our words, we show how difficult a task it is.  Let us confess our failings as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

    You do not ask much of us, Guardian of hope -  to love, to serve, to welcome.  Yet too often, it is words of bitterness we speak to friends and family.  It is our stiff-with-judgment backs we offer to those looking for help. It is our hardened hearts people find, when they reach out, hoping to touch grace.
    Love lived as Compassion, forgive us. We are broken, so make us whole through the life of Christ. We are empty of peace, so fill us with the reconciling Spirit of Christ. We are alone, so take us by the hand and lead us into your kingdom of joy and grace, brought to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Gathered as God's people, we hear the good news: God has forgiven us, God has made us whole, God sends us to serve.
We will not wear jealousy or resentment, but put on the garments of peace and hope.  We are forgiven by our God. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

We would take our wrinkled bills, our plastic cards, our tarnished coins and give them to you, Loving God, so those who are oppressed might be set free, that those who are hungry would be fed, that those who are lonely might find a family.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you!
And also with you!
People of God, open your hearts.
We open them to the One who feeds us with freedom and hope.
Children of God, sing songs of thanksgiving 

to the One who journeys with you!
Graced with abundant life, we join our hearts
and voices in praise to our loving God!

The moment you spoke
and liberated chaos, Holy God,
time marked the beginning
of created beauty and glory.
You watered earth with tears of joy,
planting those seeds of hope and peace
    so we might be fed by your heart.
But asked simply to be your children,
we could not obey that request,
    but wandered off to feast
    at the table groaning with lies and curses.
Your gracious word was sung
in new ways by the prophets,
    but we tuned them out,
    so we could listen to the seductive songs of sin.
You sent us your hope in Jesus Christ,
who came to set us free
and bring us home from
our exile in rebellion.

So, with those who longed for your coming,
packed and ready to journey into freedom,
we sing our praises in the company
of our sisters and brothers from every time:

Holy! Holy! Holy! Living God of grace!
All creation echoes your praise:
    creatures roaming the fields,
    dolphins splashing in the seas,
    eagles soaring in the bright sky.
Glory to you forever and ever,
God of the captives!

You are righteousness, God our Deliverer,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Child, our Brother.
Because we break your heart
with our words and deeds,
    he came to shatter the chains
    of our arrogance and selfishness.
Because we have become gluttons,
feasting on bitterness and fear,
    he came to be the sweet Bread
    of healing and hope.
Because we become drunk
on sin's soured wine,
    he came to be salvation
    poured into our parched souls.
Because death smiles at us,
waiting with open arms,
    he came to gather us up
    in the embrace of grace and life,
carrying us out of the empty tomb
into your life of joy forever.

As you have prepared this Table for us,
gather us as your children, so we might remember
all the promises fulfilled to us in Christ our Lord:

When we eat of the Bread, Christ's life strengthens us;
when we drink from the Cup, Christ's Spirit nourishes us;
when we go to serve others, we proclaim Christ's death
    until he returns in glory.

As you bless the gifts
of the Bread and the Cup,
anoint us with your Spirit
which brings us together.
As your grace touches our lips
with hope and healing,
    may we reach out our hands
    to set free those captive to injustice.
As your peace is poured
into the empty corners of our hearts,
    may we go forth to love
    others as much as we love ourselves,
          and to serve them
          as we show our love for you.

And when time has marked the end of history,
and we gather with all our sisters and brothers,
    all division done away with,
    all brokenness healed,
    all barriers pulled down,
          and all your children set free from despair,
we will join our hands and hearts
around your Table of eternity,
singing praise through forever:

Glory to you, Liberating God!
Alleluia to you, Christ our Servant!
Thanks to you, Spirit of Peace!
Now and forever. Amen.

Sending

Send us out now, O God, in twos and threes

to be the grace and compassion the world needs.

Send us out now, O Jesus, alone and together,

to work for justice for all the forgotten.

Send us out now, O Spirit, as your people

to bring peace to the brokenness around us.

(c) Thom M. Shuman