Due to technical difficulties, this week’s sermon did not get recorded. Our apologies.
The Celebration of the Gospel
World Communion Sunday
October 01, 2017
They gathered as much as each of them needed.
— Exodus 16.18
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE At The Name Of Jesus John Zundel, arr: Douglas J. Wagner
[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: Creator of the Universe, all things are one in you.
All: As one, we praise you!
Loving Christ, all people are one in your Body.
As one, we thank you!
Holy Spirit, your one breath moves through us all.
As one, we worship you! Alleluia!
* SONG The Church’s One Foundation Steve G-H
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ alone,
the rock of our salvation, our only cornerstone.
By grace we are created, by Spirit given birth,
in loving bonds related, Christ’s Body here on earth.
Called forth from every nation, of every tribe and race,
we all are one creation, one vessel of God’s grace.
Though some are treated poorly, those silenced and oppressed,
we all are chosen surely, and all are surely blessed.
Christ, give to us your daring inclusion of us all,
embodying your sharing with those beyond our walls,
to boldly act for justice for all, not just for some,
that by your Holy Spirit we truly may be One.
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Celtic Communion arr. Mark Hayes.
PRAYER
God of love, as we gather on this day we are one with all your children in Christ around the world. In Asia and Australia and Pacific Islands, in Africa and Europe and South America, throughout North America and even at the poles, we are one body in Christ. We give thanks and we open our hearts to your Word, the Word of Love that comes to us in every language and tradition and community. Speak to us and bring us closer to your heart, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT from Exodus 16.2-18, 31
[The Israelites are starving in the desert, God provides a miraculous, mysterious food they call “manna.” (It sounds like “Whatsit?”¾or, actually, Whosit?”¾ in Hebrew). No matter how much they gather. Everybody ends up with exactly enough.]
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Then Yahweh said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. So I will test them, to see if they will follow my instructions On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was Yahweh who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of God. … “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.’ ”
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat.
This is what Yahweh has commanded: Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents. The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. … The house of Israel called it manna.
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NEW TESTAMENT Philippians 2.1-11
[An ancient hymn about Christ’s humility. Christ embodies God’s divinity, power and presence by self-emptying and being a servant for the sake of love. Paul asks us to share that same spirit of love, humility and service.]
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though divine,
did not cling to equality with God
but became utterly empty,
born a human, choosing the place of a slave,
and in complete humility became obedient to death
— even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted Christ
with a name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
to the glory of God, the Giver of Life,
that Jesus Christ reigns supreme!
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GOSPEL Matthew 21.23-32
[Some religious leaders question Jesus’ authority. He turns their test into a question of integrity. He tells a story of a landowner who asks his two children to work. One says “yes” and does nothing; the other says “no” and then obeys. What does it really mean to serve God?]
SERMON
SONG Who Is My Mother, Who Is My Brother Black hymnal # 2225
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
__________We Share at Christ’s Table__________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS (Including special World Communion Sunday offering)
* COMMUNION SONG To All the Others Steve G-H
To the others outside our walls…
…we speak God’s welcome…
…we’re one body…
… we open the circle…
…we stand for justice…
…you are our blessing…
here at the table of God.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Beloved, God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Faithful One, our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
We thank you, God, for you create all things out of your own being.
In you all things are One.
You create us in the image of your love, and call us as your beloved community.
You judge the forces of oppression and rescue us from all that enslaves us.
You make us one with all people, and break down the dividing walls we build.
You gather us at your table as the Body of Christ,
one in the love and Spirit of Christ, around the world, one with all Creation.
Therefore with all Creation we sing your praise with one voice.
[sung] Holy, holy, holy Presence, God of mercy, God of love,
you shine bright in all Creation. Shout Hosanna! Praise above!
Blessed is the one who comes, God, in your name, the name of love.
God, we gladly praise and thank you. Shout Hosanna! Praise above.
Blessed is the one who comes in your love, and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
He taught and healed, fed the hungry, and gathered a community of love
that crossed all our barriers and divisions and included the outcast and forgotten.
For his radical welcome Jesus was crucified; but you raised Christ from the dead,
and living eternally Christ invites us to this table of infinite love and reconciliation
together with all people, friends and strangers and foreigners and enemies alike,
in the grace of your self-giving love.
[The Blessing and Covenant…]
Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
As often as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Remembering these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a living and holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
[Sung] Christ has died and Christ is risen.
Christ will come again in love.
[For the Food Bank offering] Pour out your holy Spirit on these gifts of food,
that those who receive them may experience your love and grace.
[At the table] Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ,
one in your Spirit, one with all the people of the world,
one in ministry for the sake of all Creation.
[Sung] Praise! Amen. Hosanna in the highest. Praise! Amen. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. As you have made the scattered grain into one loaf, so in your love you have made us int one Body. Send us into the world in love, for the sake of the healing of all Creation, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen
______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG As a Fire Is Meant for Burning Black hymnal #2237
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE Please stand and sing to your 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 Rejoice, the Lord Is King John Darwell, arr: Cindy Berry