The Celebration of the Gospel
October 6 , 2019 — World Communion Sunday
If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
—Luke 17.6
______ We Are Received as Children of God____
GREETING
PRELUDE – Here At Your Table, Lord – Tune: BREAD OF LIFE, arr: Mark Hayes
[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: Sing to the Lord, whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting!
All: But how can we sing the Lord’s song when so many are without?
Sing to the Lord, whose faithfulness renews us every morning!
But how can we sing the Lord’s song when so many are gone?
Sing to the Lord, who has not forgotten the melodies of salvation!
Let us remember the joy of the Lord, and sing a new song together!
* SONG – This Is My Song – Blue hymnal # 437
_____We Are transformed by the Love of Christ___
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG – Tradin’ My Sorrows – Darrell Evens
PRAYER
Almighty God, your love unites us as the Body of Christ around the world. We set our hearts not on our own beliefs but on your love. As the cries of injustice echo around us, help us to hear your call and to take courage in your Spirit. As you gather us at your table feed us with your grace, that we may serve you with love and faith, in the name of Christ. Amen.
GOSPEL – Luke 17.5-10
SERMON – Mustard Seed Faith (Guest Preacher, Rev. Jim McPhee)
SONG – Faith, While Trees Are Still in Blossom – Blue hymnal # 508
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
__________We Share at Christ’s Table _________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS – My Faith Looks Up To Thee – Lowell Mason, arr: Fred Bock
* COMMUNION SONG – Come to the Table of Grace
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
This table is for all of us around the globe.
But This table is for all of us, but it is not our table.
It’s God’s table, for all of us, and it’s a table of grace.
So come and take your place at the table.
You are welcome, you are invited, you are called:
come, let us share this meal together.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise,
O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe.
Even when we were dust, you were there,
your word was there, your breath into the lifeless void.
At your word all creation sprang into life.
When we were in the wilderness, terrified and timid,
you were there, your word was there,
with manna just enough for today,
with water even from the driest rock,
with the abundant grace upon which our story always rests.
And when we fell short, slaves to power and greed,
you were there, your word was there,
on the lips of prophets, and in the hearts of servants,
in stories of revolution and revelation and liberation,
calling us even now to acts of courage and witness and peace.
Therefore we praise you,
joining our voices with all the faithful of every time and place,
who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Indeed blessed are you, O Christ, our leader,
for risking yourself among us, vulnerable and rejected;
for teaching the radical hope of God;
teaching grace to a world bent on vengeance.
You were there, your word was there, even to the point of death itself.
Even faced with terror and hatred and the brokenness of the world,
you rose again, to new life, to new creation, to resurrection,
that we might expect something other than the end,
that we might work for something other than ourselves.
And so you speak to us again,
with these abundant gifts of bread and wine,
with which we joyfully celebrate your dying and rising,
as we await the table of the Kingdom yet to come,
and as we dedicate ourselves again to you,thankful, and transformed, as living and holy sacrifices,
that our lives may proclaim the one crucified and risen.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us,
and upon these your gifts of bread and wine,
that the bread we break together, and the cup we share together,
may reshape our common bonds together,
in the communion of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ,
the one in whose life and death you have torn down our divisions.
And so may we be one with all who share this feast,
with all your children at every corner of your table.
As this bread is Christ’s body for us,
send us from this table to be the body of Christ in all the world,
through Christ and in Christ,
who came for us, died for us, and rose for us,
the one who prays even for us, the one who first taught us to pray, saying:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
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. At this table you have joined us in the communion of saints, the Body of Christ. Send us into the world, united in your love, restored for the work of justice, blessed for the proclamation of your grace, as humble servants of your peace. Amen.
______We Are Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG – Let Us Be Bread – Black hymnal #2260
* 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 – Fantasy on “In Babilone” — Richard A. Williamson