The Celebration of the Gospel
October 21, 2018 — 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
The New Human came not to be served but to serve.
— Mark 10.45
_______We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE Sinfonia In B-Flat G. F. Handel, arr: Lani Smith
[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: Eternal Creator, in the silence of galaxies
All: your Word shines.
Loving Christ, in the voices of the hurting
your Word cries out.
Holy Spirit, in the secrets of our own hearts
your Word whispers.
Give us faith to listen for your voice,
and answer. Alleluia.
* SONG Be Thou My Vision Blue hymnal # 451
___________We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Bless Thou the Lord, O My Soul Mikail M. Ippolitov-Ivanov
PRAYER
God of mercy, you speak your word in Christ, in scripture, in all Creation. You speak your word in our hearts and the unspoken cries of our neighbors. Speak to us now and re-create us by your Word. Our hearts are open. Speak, for we are listening. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT 1 Samuel 3.1-10
[God calls Samuel, who at first does not realize that it is God who is speaking to him. ]
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to God under Eli. The word of God was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple, where the ark of God was. Then God called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and Samuel said, “Here I am!” and he ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
God called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know God, and the word of God had not yet been revealed to him. God called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that God was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if God calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Yahweh, for your servant is listening.’ ”
So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now God came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
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GOSPEL Mark 10.35-45
[James and John reflect our desire for the security of esteem and belonging. But Jesus says real life is to be found not in status, but in serving, in attending to others. We don’t Lord it over others. We renounce coercion; instead our power is from beneath, to lift others up.]
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the New Human came not to be served but to serve, and to give one life as ransom for many.”
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SERMON Servant listening
SONG I Am Listening Steve G-H
Speak, for I am listening. My heart is open.
Speak, for I am listening, open to your word.
(8:15) PRAYER The Prayer of St. Francis Blue hymnal #481
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_____
BLESSING THE BIBLES
CELEBRATING OUR GIFTS
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
8:15: Simple Gifts ― arr Sandra Eithun (Ringtones)
10:30: Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace ―Kevin McChesney (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
* OFFERING SONG Move Me Blue hymnal #471
* 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. Send us out with open hearts, listening deeply for your voice within us, in our neighbors and in the world around us, serving faithfully for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Servant Song Black hymnal #2222
* 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 All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name Tune: DIADEM, arr: Anna Laura Page