The Celebration of the Gospel
October 23, 2016 —23rd Sunday after Pentecost
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
— Luke 18.13
_______We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE Prelude In E Minor 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: God, not by our strength,
All: but by your grace we come.
Not because of our righteousness,
but in your grace, you love us.
Not by our effort,
but by your Spirit in us, our praise overflows.
We thank you. We bless you. We worship you.
* SONG The Fragrance of Christ Black hymnal # 2205
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Lord, for Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake Richard Farrant
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of all creation, you visit the earth and water it, and make it glorious by your grace. We thank you for your love, and we open our hearts to your grace, that by your Spirit alive in us we may live lives of humble praise. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Joel 2.23-27
[The prophet (around 400 years before Jesus) sees the coming of rain and abundant crops following years of locust infestations as a symbol of God’s forgiving and renewing grace even after God has brought us to face the hurtful consequences of unfaithful choices we have made. Despite our past sins, God pours out God’s spirit on everybody alike—without exception.]
O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God;
for God has given the early rain for your vindication,
God has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the later rain, as before.
The threshing floors shall be full of grain,
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army,
which I sent against you.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves, in those days,
I will pour out my spirit.
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PSALTER Psalm 65
[This is the kind of song of rejoicing people would sing when their crops were restored as in Joel’s vision—or when they sensed God’s forgiveness. The creation of the world, the abundant provision of the earth, and the forgiveness of our sins are all equally great signs of God’s grace.]
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose
and bring near to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges,
softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
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NEW TESTAMENT 2 Timothy 4.6-8
[An old pastor, a follower of Paul, reflects back on the lonely struggles of their ministry and their approaching death. They think about what it means to keep on doing God’s work even when people abandon or resist you. They know when we live in harmony with God, no matter how much we suffer or struggle, God stays with us and takes care of us. Our confidence is not in our own faith but in God’s guidance and protection. We trust God has a “crown of righteousness” for us—not that we achieve faithfulness, but that God gives it to us, and delights in our desire to be faithful.]
As for me, I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for Christ’s appearing.
At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for God’s heavenly kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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GOSPEL Luke 18.9-14
[Jesus tells a parable about a “good” person and a “bad” person at their prayers. Which one gets closer to God? Surprise! (Tax collectors worked for the Romans, were usually corrupt, and were looked down on. Although we have come to think of Pharisees as “bad guys” because of their opposition to Jesus, they were actually well-respected, deeply devout, obedient believers. Jesus himself may have been a Pharisee. This story includes a prayer that is like actual prayers that are preserved from Jesus’ time. One said, “I thank you, God that you have not made me a sinner, or a slave, or a woman.”]
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two people went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing alone, prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but in profound humility said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this one went home justified rather than the other. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
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SERMON
SONG God, Be Merciful to Me Steve G-H
God, be merciful to me.
With empty hands and open,
I turn to you for mercy.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Mother, 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
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
CELEBRATING OUR GIFTS
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
8:15: I Will Sing Of Thy Mercies Tune: “FILLMORE”, arr: Lyndell Leatherman
10:30: How Great Thou Art Arr. Lloyd Larson
* OFFERING SONG Doxology Blue hymnal #95
* PRAYER
Gracious God, in gratitude for all you have given us, and in faithful stewardship of what you have placed in our hands to share with the world, 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. With humble praise and gratitude may we serve you in love, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
DRUMMING THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE The Creation
* SONG For the Beauty of the Earth Blue hymnal #92
* 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 Fugue In E Minor J. S. Bach
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners].