Gathering God’s People
Call to Worship
- (Laura Jaquith Bartlett, Abingdon 2016)
To
the church of Marsden Road Carlingford, which is in God, our Mother and Father,
and in the Lord Jesus Christ, grace and peace to all of you!
Greetings
to you in the name of God. Greetings to you!
Greetings
to you in the name of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Greetings to one and
all!
God
gives us everything we need. Thanks be to God!
Our
God makes us everything we are to be. Let us offer thanks to the Holy
Three-in-One!
Hymn
TIS 560: “All my hope on
God is founded” At that is the only sure place.
Opening
prayer
Dear
God, it is so easy to get discouraged by the news in our community, across our
country, and around the globe. Everywhere we look, we hear of violence,
conflict, and injustice. Like the prophets of old, we want to cry out: “Hurry
up and change the world, God!” And then we look at our own lives and realize
you are calling us to hurry up and change the world. As we encounter Christ in
our worship this hour, may our life be transformed; may we leave this place
eager to share your blessings, your justice, and your love with a world
yearning for a new way of living. Amen.
A
Prayer of Confession
The
bulletin tells us it’s time for the Prayer of Confession, but is that necessary
here in this church? We are not Zacchaeus. We don’t cheat others. What do we
have to confess?
God,
we live in a world where our systems, corporations, and institutions oppress
others. Forgive us when we keep silent.
We
don’t perpetrate violence against others. We are a community of love. What do
we have to confess? God, we live in a broken world that practices violence in
response to conflict. Forgive us when we keep silent.
We
are a community of good people who worship Christ and show love and mercy.
What
do we have to confess?
God, each and every week, we show ourselves to be imperfect human beings, — we
miss opportunities to say thank you; we take others for granted; we omit the
whole truth in conversations; we snap at family and loved ones; we participate
in gossip; we neglect to express gratitude to you for your many blessings. Forgive
us when we accept our shortcomings and fail to come to you for help.
Declaration
of Forgiveness
Salvation
came to Zacchaeus, a cheater and a thief. Today, salvation comes to us in the
person of Jesus Christ, who forgives us and sets us free, that we may be
transformed in holy love.
Thanks
be to God. Amen.
The Peace
The
peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
Offering
Prayer
God
of amazing grace, you have given us everything, including our very lives.
Though we cannot earn your love, you give it to us freely. And so we thank you
and ask you to receive our gifts.
Hymn
TIS 650: “Brother, Sister
let me serve you” It takes more than a little humility to say these words but
through grace , we can.
The
Bible Readings
Habakkuk
1: 1-4; 2: 1-4 This is a
lament. A protest to God about how things are and why he doesn't change them, I
think many of us are feeling that way now when we see the news and read the
newspapers. But God assures us that he will prevail and if we look about us the
world is full of people whose actions show that happening among us now.
2 Thessalonians 1: 1-4. 11-12 I
don't know if this link was intended but there is the Church fulfilling the
wishes of those who sent up the lament in Habakkuk.
Luke
19: 1-10 We all know the
story of Zacchaeus who was called down from his perch in a tree to take Jesus
home for a meal and whose life was turned upside down in the process. That's
what God promises us who lament that goodness seems to have left the world. His
action through changed lives can change the world.
For
the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to
God.
Preaching
of the Word
John
spoke about the democratic nature of death. This was one sermon that we
couldn't brush off as applying to someone else but not to us. We all will die
but we are promised that Jesus will shepherd us through that time and because
he experienced death on the Cross and overcame it, we can be assured that we
will be guided safely through it. So our journey to and through death can be
one of hope. Jesus has experienced death and understands our fears but because
he offers us new life and one that offers more than we can ever imagine, we can
trust in his care.
"Gentle
Shepherd, lead us from our pain to a sense of peace, and help us to trust you
even when our eyes are filled with tears. Death submerges us in anguish and
confusion. Yet in the midst of our dark valley you are there. Deliver us from
our turmoil and help us to rely on your strength during our times of loss and
in our fears of death. This we pray through the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit." Amen.
Hymn
TIS 209: “And can it be” It always amazes me that this
freedom became mine.
Intercessory
Prayers (selected lines)
Jesus,
Saviour of the lost, hear the prayers we bring for the world and for the
Church, that your people who are lost in worlds of poverty, greed or
exploitation may see you and know your salvation. We pray for your worldwide
church, for all who accept you as their Saviour; for all who seek to see and
know you; for those whose longings the church has failed to satisfy; those whom
the church has driven away from you. We pray that people who are lost in shame
and condemnation may see you and know your salvation. Come into our hearts and
homes this day, that your people who are lost in lives without meaning or hope
may see you and know your salvation. After this we joined in the Lord's
Prayer.
Hymn
TIS 495: “Father, we give
you thanks, who planted...” An extraordinary act of generosity.
Benediction
In
the name of God, our Mother and Father, who gives us everything we need . . .
In the name of Christ Jesus, our Master, whose love transforms us . . . In the
name of the Holy Spirit, whose power strengthens our faith and increases our
love . . . Let us go in peace. Let us go with God. Let us go to transform the
world. Amen.
Blessing
Song
Hymn
TIS 780: May Light Come
into your eyes, may hope spring up in your heart, may peace guide all of your
mind and keep you in God. Amen.
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