The Celebration of the Gospel
September 16, 2018 — 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”
—Mark 8.29
______We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Pastorale Louis L. Wély
[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: Jesus, we come because you have called us.
All: We offer ourselves to you in service.
We come because you have healed us.
We offer ourselves in gratitude.
We come because you give us your spirit, and we need it.
We offer ourselves to you in openness and anticipation.
We worship God, in the name and the Spirit of Jesus. Alleluia!
* SONG Fairest Lord Jesus Blue hymnal # 189
___________We Attend to the Word_________
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG “The Heavens are Telling”, from The Creation F. J. Haydn.
PRAYER
Spirit of mercy, though you are infinite, you come to us, embodied, near, and intimate. We thank you for the presence of Jesus; he is a mystery to us, and yet we love him. Open our hearts so we may behold him among us: teaching, healing, loving, setting us free. We pray in the grace and power of your Spirit. Amen.
(10:30) OLD TESTAMENT Proverbs 1.20-23
[Sophia, the Wisdom of God, calls out to us to listen to her and avoid the tragic perplexity of those who ignore God.]
Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones,
will you love being foolish?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate learning?
Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
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(10:30) * PSALTER Psalm 19
[All Creation is an expression of God’s glory. It doesn’t use words, but it speaks of God’s truth, or “law.” Attending to God’s Word is more important than anything. It’s hard to see our own failings, so we rely on God’s wisdom.]
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens God has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a wedding party from the wedding canopy,
and like a strong athlete runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of God is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of God is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of God are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
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GOSPEL Mark 8.27-38
[Jesus asks the disciples “Who do you say I am?” To Peter’s answer that he is the Messiah, Jesus says not to tell anyone that. He says he will be rejected and die, yet rise again. Peter objects—this is not wha te Messiah is about— but Jesus reprimands him, and teaches the crowd that if you lose your life for the sake of love, you will gain it.]
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to say that about him to anyone.
Then he began to teach them that the New Human must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?
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SERMON Who do you say I am?
SILENT REFLECTION
SONG What a Friend We Have in Jesus Blue hymnal # 526
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Colossians 1.15-20, 26
[A hymn about Christ as the source of Creation. (Jesus, the human person, embodies Christ, the cosmic presence.)]
Christ is the visible appearance of the invisible God,
the beloved older sibling of all creation.
All things in heaven and on earth were created in Christ,
everything visible and invisible,
rulers and powers and systems and empires—
everything was created through Christ and for Christ.
Christ came before anything,
and in Christ everything holds together.
Christ is the head and the church is the body.
Christ is the Source of life, and has turned even death into a birth:
so Christ is first in every way.
In Christ God lives completely.
Through Christ God reconciles us to God—
all of us, and everything on earth and in heaven:
in dying on the cross, Christ brought God and humanity together.
This is the mystery, hidden for ages but now revealed:
that Christ is alive in us. Alleluia!
* SONG More Precious than Silver Black hymnal #2065
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
_____We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Off: Just As I Am Wm. Bradbury, arr: Charity Book Putnam
* OFFERING SONG I Love You, Lord Black hymnal #2068
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. We thank you that you come among us in the person of Jesus. Give us faith to receive him, to follow him, and to serve with him in healing the world, in the light of his name, and in the power of your Spirit. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Alleluia
1. Alleluia 2. He’s my savior. 3. I will listen.. 4 I will follow. 5. Alleluia
* 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 Prelude in A Flat – J. S. Bach