The Celebration of the Gospel
September 1 , 2019 — 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it..
—Hebrews 13.2
_______ We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE At The Name Of Jesus – Tune: ZUNDEL, arr: Douglas Wagner
[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 God, Holy of Holies, Great Mystery, Generous Love,
All: we worship you.
Jesus Christ, Humble Savior, Embodied Love, Faithful One,
we thank you.
Holy Spirit, Divine Presence, Flowing Love,
we praise you. We open our hearts to you. We sing of your glory. Alleluia!
* SONG – As the Deer – Black hymnal # 2025
___________We Attend to the Word___________
PRAYER
God of grace, you give yourself to us, humbly, with delight, mostly invisibly. We receive you with gratitude. We enter into your heart. We welcome you into ours. We open the doors of our minds, that you may enter. We open the windows of our hearts, that your light may shine in. Welcome. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT – Hebrews 13.1-8, 15-16
[A reminder to show radical hospitality, care for those in prison, exercise fidelity in relationships and be free of the love of money.]
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God despises unfaithful or demeaning sex. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Through Jesus, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess God’s name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
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GOSPEL – Luke 14.1, 7-14
[At a fancy dinner Jesus notices people’s grasp for status. He teaches us to seek the humblest seat. He challenges us to extend generosity to those who cannot repay the favor.]
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely…. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would have to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, they may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your siblings or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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SERMON – Entertaining angels
SONG – Jesu, Jesu – Blue hymnal # 432
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer at the microphone.]
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
__________We Share at Christ’s Table__________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS – Contemplation – Monika Durbin (Carlene Ruesenberg and Sue Lee, Handbells)
* COMMUNION SONG – I Come with Joy Blue hymnal #617, v. 1-3
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING – Black hymnal # 2257
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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. In your Spirit may we give ourselves to others. And by the grace you give us may we be aware of the angels we entertain. Send us out now to serve, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG – I Come with Joy – Blue hymnal #617, v 4-5
* 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 – Ein’ Feste Burg – J. David Hart