The Celebration of the Gospel
August 5, 2018 — 11th Sunday after Pentecost
A merchant entrusted their property to their slaves…
— Matthew 25.14
________ We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Rejoice Cynthia Dobrinski (Summer Handbells)
[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.
You may light a votive candle in prayer any time during the prelude, hymns, offering, Peace, communion or postlude ]
* CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 34:1-3
Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times;
All: God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
Let the afflicted hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt God’s name together!
* SONG Now Thank We All Our God Blue hymnal # 102
____________We Attend to the Word__________
THE WORD IN SONG
PRAYER
Ever-loving God, we thank you for calling us into your service. May we listen closely for your voice and nudging, and may we not hide or hesitate when you ask us to step outside of our comfort zone. Hush the voice of fear. Empower us to take holy risks, with your Spirit acting as our Guide. May we return your blessings tenfold, in your service and in the service of your kingdom. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 16: 2-5, 9-15
[To save the people from starving in the desert, God provides a miraculous, mysterious food they call manna (a word that in Hebrew sounds like “Whatsit?”¾or, actually, Whosit?”). It sustains them throughout their entire 40 years in the wilderness. No matter how much they gather, everyone ends up with exactly what they need. ]
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Then Yahweh said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.”
So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was Yahweh who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of God. … At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.’ ”
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat.
This is what Yahweh has commanded: Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents. The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. … The house of Israel called it manna.
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PSALTER Psalm 13
[A cry for help¾ “how long must I suffer pain in my soul?” ¾that soon turns to a song of trust: “I will sing to the Lord, who has dealt bountifully with me.”]
How long, O God? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, Yahweh, my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to you always,
because you have dealt bountifully with me.
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GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30
[Jesus tells of a merchant who puts all their resources in the hands of three servants, in measures of one, two and five talents. (A talent is equal to 15 year’s wages!) Two servants invest the owner’s life work, but one does not. Those who invest the merchant’s resources are rewarded.]
A merchant, going on a journey, summoned their slaves and entrusted their property to them; giving to one five million dollars, to another two million, to another one million, to each according to their ability. Then the merchant went away. The one who had received the five million went off at once and traded with them, and made five million more. In the same way, the one who had received two million dollars made two million more. But the one who had received one million dollars went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid the merchant’s money.
After a long time the merchant came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five million dollars came forward, bringing five million more, saying, “You handed over to me five million dollars; see, I have made five million more.” The merchant replied, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into my joy!.” And the one with the two million dollars also came forward, saying, “You handed over to me two million; see, I have made two million more.” The merchant said to, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into my joy.”
Then the one who had received the one million also came forward, saying, “I knew you were ruthless, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But the merchant replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the money from this one, and give it to the one with ten million. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. Now then, throw worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
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SERMON Rich in Mind, Rich in Service Guest Preacher, Rev. Kristin Rinehimer
SONG Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Blue hymnal # 400
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
World Methodist Social Affirmation Blue hymnal # 886
* SONG Ubi Caritas Black hymnal #2179
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.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS The Name of the Lord Arr. by Patricia Sanders Cota
* OFFERING SONG
All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night Blue hymnal #682 v. 5 (sung as a round)* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. You have given us the gifts we need to be in service to the world; send us out to serve, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG The Trees of the Field Black hymnal #2279
* 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 Since Jesus Came Into My Heart arr. Sharon Wilson