Reconciling in Christ 2004

Reconciling in Christ

Worship Service of Affirmation and Inclusivity

Lisa Frenz copyright 2004

Acts Paraphrase & Litany by Lisa Frenz © 2004

Ephesians 1:3-12 & I Corinthians 11:23-26 translated by Annal Frenz (c) 2001

Below are some worship resources which you are welcome to use at no charge. Please just use a copyright acknowledgment "Copyright Lisa Frenz. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."

Note: There are a couple of versions of an "exhortation" in the litany. The first is stronger in language; the second is softened somewhat, but basically says the same thing. Depending on where your congregation is in its journey, you may use either version. The goal is to educate not alienate people to the true openness of God's love. Also, the lessons of the day are merely suggested. This service was originally done on the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21). The lessons worked adequately so other than dropping the second lesson and adding the Acts paraphrase which is integral to the service I left them alone.

Order of Worship

As you are able: ▲ = Please stand. ▼= Please sit

Prelude

Call to worship:

Choir anthem: Come Now, O Prince of Peace

Text: Geonyong Lee; tr. Marion Pope from LifeSongs published by Augsberg Fortress Press. Copyright Administrator: Geonyong Lee

Music: Korean traditional

A Paraphrase of Acts 11:1-18:

Now, Peter had a dream. And the dream was from God. In this dream Peter saw all the animals that he believed were unclean, animals not to be used, animals defiled. But God said to him, “Take these and eat, Peter”. Peter answered God, “Never, Lord, for I do not eat what is profane or unclean.” And God said to Peter, “What I have made clean, you must not call profane.”

Then Peter was called. And the call was from God. He was sent by the Spirit to go to the house of gentiles. And Peter saw an amazing thing. These strangers, gentiles, whom all his life he considered unclean, unbelievers who could never be of the chosen of God; these profane outsiders received the Holy Spirit. They received the same Holy Spirit that the disciples did.

Now Peter was taken to task by the leaders. And Peter said, “If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” And the leaders were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

Litany:

▲A:They walk through our door: radical statements blazoned on their tee shirts.

P: What are the boundaries? Who is accepted?

C: Those who think like us.

P: But in Christ Jesus neither meeting of minds or non-meeting of minds is of any purpose; only faith working through love.

A: They walk through our door: physically different, not quite “right”.

P: What are the boundaries? Who is accepted?

C: Those who look like us.

P: But in Christ Jesus neither similarity or non-similarity is of any purpose; only faith working through love.

A: They walk through our door: two women, holding hands.

P: What are the boundaries? Who is accepted?

C: Those who live like us.

P: But in Christ Jesus neither heterosexuality or non-heterosexuality is of any purpose; only faith working through love.

A: They walk through our door: masculine in form, feminine in dress.

P: What are the boundaries? Who is accepted?

C: Those who act like us.

P: But in Christ Jesus neither conformity or nonconformity is of any purpose; only faith working through love.

P: Amen. So be it.

A: What are the boundaries?

C: God’s infinite love.

P: Who is accepted?

C: Everyone who loves God.

A: We welcome into community and ministry all who love God.

C: We welcome their talents.

We welcome their abilities.

We welcome their gifts of the Spirit.

Everyone who is of God is of us.

P: Everyone.

Song: All Are Welcome

Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Music: Two Oaks 96868710 and refrain, Marty Haugen.

Text and music © 1994 GIA Publication, Inc. All rights reserved.

Let us build a house where love can dwell. . . all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak. . . here as one we claim the faith of Jesus. Refrain

Let us build a house where love is found . . . As we share in Christ the feast that frees us; Refrain

Let us build a house where hands will reach . . . Let us bring an end to fear and danger: Refrain

Let us build a house where all are named. . . let this house proclaim from floor to rafter. Refrain

A: Let us pray,

C: O God of all, you call us to a new world, a world of your Word. Not a dead word, but a living Word, a word which calls to us not from the past but from the present. Bring us beyond our possessions, beyond our self-satisfaction, beyond our faithlessness. Bring us to new and ever-increasing understanding of your will. Amen.

▼Lesson: Amos 6:1a, 4-7

Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall;

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music;

who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

Lesson: Psalm 146 (spoken responsively)

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.

When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!

▲Song:Canticle of the Turning

Text: Rory Cooney, based on the Magnificat Copyright Administrator: GIA Publications, Inc.

Music:Irish traditional

My soul cries out with a joyful shout. . Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day . . and the world is about to turn.

Though I am small, my God. . . put the strong to flight. Refrain

From the halls of pow'r to the fortress tow'r. . . for the world is about to turn. Refrain

Though the nations rage from age to age. . . who is turning the world around. Refrain

P: The Holy Gospel is found in . . .

C: Glory to you, O Lord.

The Holy Gospel is read

Lesson: Luke 16:19-31

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.

He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.'

But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.

Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'

He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house--

for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.'

Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'

He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Praise to you, O Christ.

▼Music for Meditation

Message

▲Theme Song: Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace LBW 419

Text: Olive Wise Spannaus, b. 1916, alt. Copyright Administrator: CPH Publishing (SESAC)

Music: Samotulsky, Kancional, 1561

Lord of all nations, grant me grace. . . reedeemed by thee.

Break down the wall that woudl divide. . . love bind warm and true.

Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred. . . will crucify my Lord anew.

Give me thy courage, Lord to speak. . . rememb'ring thee.

With thine own love may I be filled. . . divinely touched by thee.

Testimony of Faith:

We believe in one God, who is Creator, maker of all we see and all we don’t see. Who is Ruler of the universe: Source of all creation!

We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ, God from God, Light from Light, true God and true human. He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh, our Messiah: Savior of all creation!

We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit, Breath of God moving among us. Who is one with the Creator; one with the Christ; our Comforter and our Guide: Mentor of all creation!

Prayer Song: Change My Heart, O God

Text: Eddie Espinosa

Music: Eddie Espinosa

Copyright Administrator: Music Services, Inc.

Change my heart, O God. . . May I be like you.

Prayers of the People

Prayer Song: Change My Heart, O God

Greeting of Peace:

P: God has received us, pardoned us and loved us; let us forgive each other in love and share the peace of Christ. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

(All may greet one another in the name of the Lord.)

▼Offering

Choir Anthem One Body, Broken (Jay Beech) Choir

Offering Prayer:

A: Let us pray, Lord of Love,

C: You gave us the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ. We ask that you accept the gifts we bring: our possessions, our time and our talents. Use them as you will for your purpose. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer:

P: Blessed is the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ

who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavens;

Just as God chose us to be in Christ

before the foundation of the world,

God chose us to be holy and blameless

before God in love.

God destined us for adoption through Jesus Christ

According to the favor of God’s will,

For the praise of the glory of God’s grace

which God gave us in the beloved, Jesus Christ,

In whom we have redemption through his blood—

the forgiveness of our sins—

According to the riches of God’s grace

Which he lavished on us

in all wisdom and insight.

God has made known to us the mystery of the divine will

According to the favor which God set forth in Christ

As a plan for the fullness of time

to sum up all things in Christ—

all the things of heaven

and all the things of earth in him—

In whom we also were chosen,

destined according to the purpose of the one

who sets everything in motion

According to the council of God’s will

For we exist to praise the glory of God—

we who first hoped in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-12

P: For I received from the Lord

that which I also handed down to you—

that the Lord Jesus

in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

and after giving thanks, He broke it and said,

“This is My body, which is for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant which is in My blood;

do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,

you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. I Corinthians 11:23-26

P: Let us pray,

C: 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 for ever. Amen.

▼Communion Song: O Christ, Thou Lamb of God

O Christ, thou Lamb of God

that takest away the sin of the world,

have mercy upon us!

O Christ, thou Lamb of God

that takest away the sin of the world,

have mercy upon us!

O Christ, thou Lamb of God

that takest away the sin of the world,

grant us thy peace! Amen

Text: German, 1528, based on the Agnus Dei; tr. unknown

Music: Kirchenordnung, Braunschweig, 1528 Tune Name: CHRISTE, DU LAMM GOTTES

Distribution of Communion

▲Dismissal from Communion:

P: Now may the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you always in God’s grace.

C: Amen.

Thanksgiving Song: Sent Forth by God's Blessing

Text: Omer Westendorf, 1916-1997, alt. (c) 1964 World Library Publications.

Tune Name: THE ASH GROVE

Sent forth by God's blessing. . . to work for God's kingdom and answer his call.

With praise and thanksgiving. . . give honor to Christ and his name that we bear.

Prayer:

A: Let us pray. God of love,

C: You have fed us with the bread of life and the blood of redemption. Fulfill in us the promise of Christ’s glory that we may overflow with the boundless compassion and forgiveness which was first given us through Jesus Christ our Lord that all the world may be nourished. Amen.

Blessing: "Benediction" (Ronald E. Nitz)

(see Music)