The Celebration of the Gospel
September 28, 2014 — 16th Sunday after Pentecost
Chagall, Moses Striking the Rock
The Lord said to Moses, “Strike the rock,
and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.”
— Exodus 17.6
_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE Trusting Jesus Ira D. Sankey, arr. Ethel Tench Rogers
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: River of life, flowing through all Creation,
All: river of mercy, flowing through our hearts,
river of love, flowing out into the city,
we rejoice in awe and gratitude.
Spirit of life, breath of God, river of love,
fill us to overflowing with your grace,
and flow out into all the world. Alleluia!
* SONG For the Gifts of This Creation Blue hymnal #97 (alt. tune)
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Wondrous Love arr. Robert Shaw and Alice Parker
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Abundant One, in the dry lands of our daily lives we come, thirsty for your grace, to drink from the springs of your Word. Fill us with wisdom, compassion and trust. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 17.1-7
[The Old testament reading continues the story of the wilderness wanderings toward the Promised Land following the Exodus from Egypt. The Israelites complain, this time about having no water. God tells Moses to strike a rock with his staff, and out streams water. ]
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”
So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
PSALTER Psalm 65
[We celebrate the abundance of the Creation, forgiveness, deliverance and joy God gives us.]
Response: The river of God is full of water. Praise to you, O God.
Praise is due to you, God, our beloved. To you alone we devote our lives.
O you who answer prayer, to you all flesh shall come.
By mighty deeds your deliver us. You are the hope of all people on earth.
Morning and evening resound with joy. We are listening in awe.
You bless the earth and water it, granting the blessing of beautiful growth.
Meadows and wilderness overflow, wearing their finest in joy.
When the depth of our sin overwhelms us, you forgive all our transgressions.
How blessed we are, O God, that you hold us in your heart.
NEW TESTAMENT Revelation 22.1-5
[A vision of the new world God promises us, with the river of life flowing from God’s throne through the city. Around it are trees for the world’s healing.]
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and God’s servants will worship; they will see the Most High face to face, and bear God’s name on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Holy One will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
GOSPEL John 7.37-38
[Jesus invites us to drink from him as if he is a spring, and we are rivers of water flowing from him.]
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”
SERMON
SONG You Who Are Thirsty Black hymnal #2132
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Gracious God, maker of all, fountain of life, we trust you.
We drink deeply from the river of your grace.
Crucified and risen Christ, from whom flows the water of healing for all Creation,
for the love that flows from you we thank you, and we follow you.
Holy Spirit, love of God flowing through us, we open our hearts to you.
Bear us onward, carry us by your mercy, and fill us with your grace. Amen.
SONG Peace Is Flowing Like a River
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
RESPONSE: This is my prayer. All: This is our prayer.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS I’ve Got Peace Like a River traditional, arr. Mark Hayes
* OFFERING SONG Peace is Flowing Like a River
PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Strike the rock of our hearts with your grace, that mercy and justice may flow through us out into the city, into the desert, into the whole world, for the sake of the redemption of all Creation, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lead On, O Cloud of Presence Black hymnal #2234
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Fugue in D minor J. S. Bach
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]