The Celebration of the Gospel
July 17, 2016 —9th Sunday after Pentecost
Mary sat at the Teacher’s feet and listened to what he was saying.
— Luke 10.39
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE
Softly and Tenderly Will Thomson, arr: Tim Johnson (Marie Machacek, Trombone)
[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, our teacher, we come to sit at your feet.
All: We are listening, open to your wisdom and your truth.
Jesus, our healer, we want to be near you.
We are still, satisfied to simply be, and to be near you.
Jesus, our companion, grant us your Spirit.
May your peace go with us always. Amen.
* SONG Open Our Eyes Black hymnal # 2086
CHILDREN’S TIME
____________ We Attend to the Word__________
THE WORD IN SONG I Love You, Lord Laurie Klein, arr: Stan Pethel
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of truth and wisdom, God of love and presence; we are worried and distracted by many things, but one thing is needed. Hold us in your light and speak to us, that we may hear and be filled with your love. Amen.
GOSPEL Luke 10.38-42
[Jesus visits Martha and Mary. While Mary sits and listens as a student, Martha asks Jesus to make Mary help her with the chores.]
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Teacher’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
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SERMON
SONG Come and Find the Quiet Center Black hymnal # 2128
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.
PASSING THE PEACE
PRAYER SONG Come and Fill Our Hearts Black hymnal # 2157
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Colossians 1.15-23
[Paul speaks of the cosmic Christ. God is infinite and invisible, and yet God is present for us, a cosmic yet intimate presence that we call Christ. Jesus embodied that presence of God, and so does the loving community of his followers, the church, the Body of Christ. Christ, the embodied presence of God, is the source of Creation and of our own life. In Christ everything and everyone is reconciled: we are one. And that presence lives in us.]
Christ is the visible appearance of the invisible God,
the beloved older sibling of all creation.
In God’s embodied presence
everything in heaven and on earth was created,
everything visible and invisible,
even all the human and cosmic powers of the universe—
everything was created
through God’s presence and for God’s presence.
God’s cosmic presence came first,
and holds everything together.
Christ, the embodiment of God’s presence,
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.
Once, your evil thoughts and deeds got between you and God.
But in Jesus God has occupied our earthly body and our death,
so that now we are brought into relationship with God.
And since you are in Christ, God sees you
as holy and irreproachable and blameless.
Stay faithful to this good news.
May we be strong and steadfast in our trust,
and hold on to our confidence in God’s promise.
You have heard the good news,
news that’s been proclaimed to every creature in the world.
It’s the gospel for which we each are made a minister.
This is the mystery, hidden for ages but now revealed:
that Christ is alive in us. Alleluia!
______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Give Thanks Henry Smith, arr: Stan Pethel
* OFFERING SONG At Your Feet Steve G-H
Jesus, at your feet I bow. I am yours completely now.
By your mercy show me how to be loving.
Jesus, Master, you who save, you have served me as a slave.
This the perfect gift you gave: to be loving.
In each hurting one I meet it is you, O Christ, I greet.
Make my faithfulness complete, to be loving.
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Fill us with your presence and send us as your servants for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Go Now in Peace Blue hymnal #665
* 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 Come, Christians, Join To Sing – Benjamin Carr, arr: Jess Turner
[Following worship please join us for fellowship and refreshments.]