The Celebration of the Gospel
October 28, 2018 — 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
“What do you want me to do for you?”
— Mark 10.51
________ We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Be Thou Near Me – J.S. Bach
[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 all, God, we open ourselves to the gift of all Creation.
All: Jesus Christ, Beloved of God, have mercy on us, for we need you.
Loving Christ, we open our arms to your love and your healing.
Jesus Christ, Beloved of God, have mercy on us, for we need you.
Holy Spirit, come fill us with your power and your grace.
Jesus Christ, Beloved of God, have mercy on us, for we need you.
We worship in gratitude, in trust and in joy. Alleluia!
* SONG When Jesus the healer Passed Through Galilee Blue hymnal # 263
___________We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Be Thou My Vision Arr. Thomas Quigley
PRAYER
God of love, like Bartimaeus our hearts cry out to you, but like those around him, many voices silence our cry. Hear the pleas of our hearts. Listen to our secret cries, and have mercy on us. We come to you. We open ourselves to you. Speak to us now, and grant us your grace. Amen.
(10:30) OLD TESTAMENT Job 42.1-6
[Job has asked God to explain suffering. Instead God invites Job to be mindful of the whole mystery of Creation. Job says, “I accept that.”]
Then Job answered the Lord:
“I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this,” you ask, “that hides counsel without knowledge?”
I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
“Hear, and I will speak;” you said.
“I will question you, and you declare to me.”
O God, I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
now I see how small I am;
I humble myself in dust and ashes.
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(10:30) * PSALTER Psalm 34
[A song of thanks: God helps us in our troubles: taste and see that God is good. God looks out for the needy, and pays attention to the brokenhearted.]
I will bless God at all times;
God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in God;
let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Holy One with me,
and let us exalt God’s name together.
I sought God, and God answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to God, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Beloved,
and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Holy One encamps around those who revere God,
and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Holy One is good;
happy are those who take refuge in God.
O holy ones of God, stand in awe,
for those who fear God have no want.
The young lions suffer want and hunger,
but those who seek God lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Holy One.
Which of you desires life,
and covets many days to enjoy good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.
O God, your eyes are on the righteous,
and your ears are open to their cry.
Your face is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, you hear,
and rescue them from all their troubles.
You are near to the brokenhearted,
and save the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but you rescue them from them all.
You keep all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked,
and on those who hate the righteous
their own hate will fall.
O God, you redeem the life of your servants;
none of those who take refuge in you will be condemned.
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NEW TESTAMENT Ephesians 3.14-21
[The author prays for us, that we may be rooted in love and that Christ will live powerfully in us.]
I pray that, according to the riches of God’s glory,
God may grant
that you may be strengthened in your inner being
with power through God’s Spirit,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith,
as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints,
the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love,
and to know that love
that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to God,
who by the power at work within us
is able to accomplish abundantly far more
than all we can ask or imagine,
to God be glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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GOSPEL Mark 10.46-52
As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting beside the Way. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
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SERMON “What do you want me to do for you?”
SONG What a Friend We Have in Jesus Blue hymnal # 526
(10:30) * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We give our hearts to you, God, Creator of the universe, overflowing fountain of life-giving energy, you who make all things new.
We follow you, Jesus, for you embody the love of God. You have heard us; you have healed us; you have empowered us with your grace. You work miracles in our hearts and lives. You have gathered a community of the outcast and broken, and made of us an Empire of Grace. You resisted the powers that oppress, and they crucified you. But in love God has raised you from death, and you live among us to lead us, to guide us, and to empower us.
Holy Spirit, we live by your grace, bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We give thanks for your healing power within us and among us, and bear that power into our lives to serve with joy, for the sake of the mending of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
* SONG Thank You, Lord Blue hymnal #84
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer 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 Lobe Den Herren Johann Kirnberger
* OFFERING SONG Doxology Blue hymnal #94
* 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. May your Spirit work in our hearts and lives to bring about your Realm of Grace, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me Black hymnal #2153
* 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 Joyful, Joyful – L. van Beethoven, arr: Fred Bock
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.
Following worship please join us for fellowship and refreshments.]