The Celebration of the Gospel
October 25, 2015 —22nd Sunday after Pentecost
“Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!”
— Mark 10.47
______ We Gather as the Body of Christ________
GREETING
PRELUDE
[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, source of our being, we turn to you for life and breath.
All: O Love, have mercy on us!
Crucified and Risen Christ, bearer of forgiveness and healing, we turn to you for grace.
O Love, have mercy on us!
Holy Spirit, divine presence and energy within and among us,
we turn to you on behalf of one another and the whole hurting world.
O Love, have mercy on us, and grant us your peace. Amen.
* SONG Honor and Praise Black hymnal # 2018
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Pastor: The grace of God be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
God of grace, help us to see ourselves clearly, with eyes of love and truth.
Love, have mercy on us.
God of love, for all in us that is loving, we give you thanks,
and pray that you perfect your love in us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
(…silent reflection….)
God of grace, for all in us that is not loving we ask your forgiveness,
and pray that you perfect your love in us.
Love, have mercy on us.
(…silent reflection….)
THE WORD OF GRACE
RESPONSE Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Black hymnal #2193
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Loving God, like Bartimaeus we cry to you: Have mercy on us! Listen to the cries of our hearts, answer us with mercy, and grant us your grace according to your delight. Like children crying out to their mother, we pray to you, O Love, have mercy on us! Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Philippians 4.4-7
[Paul encourages his flock to be joyful and open-hearted: to let our needs be known to God and trust God to respond graciously. ]
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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PSALTER Psalm 34.1-8 Blue hymnal, page 769:1
[A song of thanks: God helps us in our troubles; taste and see that God is good. God looks out for the needy, and pays attention to the brokenhearted.]
I will bless the Lord at all times;
God’s praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt God’s name together.
I sought the Lord, who answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to God, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear God, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in God.
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GOSPEL Mark 10.46-52
[Jesus heals a blind man who sits beside the Way. (The Way is both a roadway and also a way of life, the way of discipleship.) When he is transformed by his healing, he follows Jesus on the Way.]
Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As they and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the edge of the way. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
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SERMON
SONG O Lord, Hear My Prayer Black hymnal # 2200
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS A paraphrase
O Life-Giver at the heart of all Being,
holy is your presence.
May your Empire of grace replace our own,
and your will be done,
as this world becomes heaven.
Give us our sustenance, one breath at a time;
and make us completely forgiving of ourselves and others.
Save us from the weakness of our will,
and deliver us from the power of evil.
For all Being is yours; all power is yours; all glory is yours,
in this moment,
in eternity. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
* OFFERING SONG Freely, Freely Blue hymnal #389 v. 2
* 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. With your infinite grace, have mercy on us: on our gifts and struggles, our hearts and lives, for the sake of your healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Sent Forth by God’s Blessing Blue hymnal #664
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We 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
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.