World Communion Sunday
The Celebration of the Gospel
October 4, 2015 —19th Sunday after Pentecost
“Let the little children come to me; do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the Realm of God belongs”.
— Mark 10.14
_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE All Glory Be To God On High Max Reger
[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: Holy Parent, Give of Life,
All: we are your children.
Christ, brother to all who are suffering,
in you we are all sisters and brothers.
Holy Spirit, love that unites us,
make us and all humanity your holy family.
We thank you. We bless you. We worship you.
* SONG Like a Child Black hymnal # 2092
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Let Us Break Bread Together Trad.; Arr. Mark White
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, your Word comes among us as a child. We open the arms of our hearts so you may be at home in and among us. We welcome you. We stop now, to listen. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Hebrews 2.9-11
[Jesus has been given a lowly place in Creation, equal to us, and suffering with us, in order to lead us toward God, to be the “pioneer,” or guide, of our faith. In Christ we are all brothers and sisters.]
For a little while Jesus was made lower than the angels, but now he is crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death: by the grace of God he tasted death for everyone’s sake. It is God for whom and through whom all things exist. And God is bringing many children to glory. So it is fitting that God made the pioneer of our salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Parent. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.
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GOSPEL Mark 10.13-16
[Jesus disciples try to keep children away from his but he welcomes the children. He says the Reign of God belongs to people who are childlike; when we are “as a little child” we experience God’s presence.]
People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the realm of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the realm of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
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SERMON
SONG Our Parent By Whose Name Blue hymnal # 447
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE
* SONG One Bread, One Body Blue hymnal # 620
__________We Share at Christ’s Table __________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
Including special World Communion Sunday offering.
* COMMUNION SONG Where Children Belong Black hymnal #2233
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is good to give God thanks and praise.
It is our delight to give you our thanks,
for we are born from you, and we bear your loving image.
We and all living beings are your beloved children.
You make a Covenant with us, drawing us into your holy family.
You judge the forces of oppression and set us free.
You walk with us as refugees to a new life you create for us.
Even though we wander from our home in you,
you give us Jesus, who like a mother calling her children home,
invites us back to your table.
And so we come, singing your praise with all Creation.
[Sung]
Holy, holy, holy Lord, source of life and love adored,
Heav’n and earth are radiant with your glory, heaven sent.
Praise God! Hosanna in the highest.
Blest is the one who comes in your name.
Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ.
With humility he comes among us as a child;
with a call to justice invites us to welcome the children;
with healing he makes us one family;
with love he blesses the child within each of us.
With so many of the children of this world, vulnerable and neglected,
he suffered our violence and injustice.
He was crucified, but you raised him from the dead.
[The blessing and Covenant]
We thank you for your life-giving acts in Jesus Christ.
Therefore with praise and thanksgiving we offer ourselves
as a living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
[sung]
Dying Christ destroyed our death. Rising Christ restores our life.
Christ will come again in love, With the Spirit, rising Dove.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Christ, dead and risen, lives!
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of food,
that they may be for the hungry the body of your love.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of read and cup,
that they may be for us the Body and Blood of Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, that we may be the Body of Christ,
children of God, who reach out with your love
to our whole human family.
All glory and honor is yours, loving God, now and forever.
Amen.
[sung]
As a Mother gathers in all her children, makes them kin,
you unite us in this meal, in the love that you reveal.
Yes, Jesus loves us. Yes, Jesus loves us.
Yes, Jesus loves us: this table tells us so.
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 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 your table you have united us with you and your whole human family, all your children. Send us out to them in your love, as your vulnerable children, for the sake of all who are weak and precious, in the name of Christ and the power of your Spirit Amen.
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Make Us One Black hymnal #2224
* 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
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]