Reconciling in Christ 2008

Reconciling in Christ Worship

Service of Affirmation and Inclusivity

Order for Worship

▲ = Congregation Stands, ▼ = Congregation Sits

Ringing of the bell

Prelude & Lighting of Candles

Call to Worship: God! When Human Bonds Are Broken vs. 1,2,4,5

Tune Name: MERTON, Music: William H. Monk, 1823-1889

Alternate Tune: GALILEE, Music: William H. Jude, 1851-1922

God! When human bonds are broken. . . give us grace and make us still.

Through that stillness, with your Spirit. . . all the failures we confess.

Send us, God of new beginnings, . . . make us stronger, give us faith.

Give us faith to be more faithful, . . . God! Encourage and renew!

Greeting:

P: Welcome in name of God who loves you. Welcome to our community. Welcome to our home in Christ. Welcome in the name of the Creator, the Christ and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

Praise Song: Oh, Praise the Gracious Power vs. 1, 2, 3, 7

Oh, praise the gracious power . . . all strangers far and near:

Refrain: We praise you, Christ! Your cross has made us one!

Oh, praise persistent truth . . . the prejudice that blinds: Refrain

Oh, praise inclusive love, . . . to social rank or place: Refrain

Oh, praise the living Christ . . . and with these words rejoice: Refrain

Litany:

A: God is love.

C: Do we profess our faith at the sacrifice of love?

P: God loved us so much

C: Is righteousness purchased at the cost of those we trample over, the ones we deem “not good enough”?

P: that God gave

C: Do we think to buy God’s approval by rejecting some of God’s children, by hating?

P: God’s only Son

C: We are already divided from God, nothing we do will ever change that. So, why are we afraid to love and accept all people, all those people who are just like us: separated from God?

P: That whoever believes

C: As if by not loving, not accepting, perhaps even detesting those we deem “unrighteous” we will somehow be closer to God?

P: Shall not die but have eternal life.

C: Why are we afraid to gather all people to us?

A: God is love.

C: Why do we harm anyone?

P: God loves us all.

C: Do we really think God will thank us for ostracizing, judging and sentencing others?

A: Why are we afraid to love as Jesus loves?

C: Aren’t we Christ in the world?

P: So, why are we afraid to love?

C: God, open our hands and hearts to your gift of acceptance, of grace, that we may be open to love, serve, and gladly accept all people.

Song: I Didn’t Ask Why

Text & Music by Mike Stern

First they came for the communists, . . . and I wasn't a Jew.

Refrain: So I didn't stand up . . . they came for me there was no one left to ask why.

Then they came for the unionist, . . . and I wasn't a priest. Refrain

Then they came for the pacifists, . . . and I wasn't gay. Refrain

Then they came for the outcasts, . . . and I am not poor.

Now I'm gonna stand up, . . . And we're gonna ask why!

There'll be lots of people standing hand in hand.

There'll be lots of people asking why!

Based on Pastor Martin Niemöller's poem:

In Germany they came first for the Communists and I didn't speak up

because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't

speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for

the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they

came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Martin Niemöller c.1945

First Lesson: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

Optional Choir: Prayer for Guidance (Allen Pote)

Philippians 2:1-13

Song: All Are Welcome vs. 1,3,4

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

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

Matthew 21:23-32

Music for Meditation:

Message

.Theme Song: There Is No Longer Jew or Greek

Tune: WINGSPAN CMD

There is no longer Jew or Greek. . . the whole of God's redeeming grace.

God willed Christ Jesus present . . . this is sure Christ's Body brings new life.

Identity in God's own Self . . . dare we now limit Christlike care to grudging ministy?

Within the free span of your wings, O Holy Spirit. . . welcome God's variety, embracing all God's own!

.Confession of Faith:

We believe in God the Creator, who created and is creating everything: the universe, the world, the plants and animals, and us; each of us, unique, individual and beloved of God.

We believe in God the Christ, who saved and is saving everything: the universe, the world, the plants and animals, and us: each of us; unique, individual and beloved of the Christ.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who guided and is guiding everything: the universe, the world, the plants and animals, and us; each of us, unique, individual and beloved of the Spirit.

We believe that this one God in three persons, is present among us, working directly in our lives and the lives of all who are born into this world, striving to bring us back into harmony with all creation and with God: forgiving, healing, touching everyone, never rejecting any who willingly receive this freely offered gift of love and grace and eternal life.

Prayers of the Church

Confession and Forgiveness:

A: To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

C: O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

A: Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

C: Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD!

A: Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

C: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. Psalm 25:1-9

P: God is indeed merciful and full of kindness, forgiving us all our errors and healing our relationship with God, through Christ Jesus, our savior.

Greeting of Peace:

P: As Christ emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, pouring out upon us the peace that comes from God, let us also look now to each other as Christ looks to us and share the peace of God. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

Offering/ opt. Choir: Prayer of St. Francis (Helen Litz)

Offering Prayer:

A: God of love and compassion,

C: We come to you to offer thanks and praise. You gave of yourself unstintingly and rescued us from the death and destruction we brought upon ourselves. As we offer our gifts of time and possessions, fill us your love which looks not inward, but outward to others, that we may be free of the selfish ambition, conceit, and self righteousness which regards all others as better than ourselves. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Communion Song: I Come with Joy vs. 1,3

Tune: DOVE OF PEACE, Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835

I come with joy, a child of God . . . in love laid down for me.

As Christ breaks the bread, and bids us share, . . . and strangers now are friends.

Eucharist:

P: We come before you, O God, not out of fear, but full of love; a love that you have provided in extravagant generosity, enabling us to live as Christ in this world, empowering us to a compassion which sees everyone as a child of God, transforming us into people who love without reserve as you loved us when you sent your son, Christ Jesus, to suffer our death and bring us back to you through his resurrection from the dead..

For in the night in which He was betrayed Jesus 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

For from God, through God, with God and to God are all things. All glory and honor is God’s, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

The Lord’s Prayer

Dismissal from Communion:

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

C: Amen.

Song of Thanks: I Come with Joy vs. 5

Tune: DOVE OF PEACE, Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835

Together met, together bound . . . the love that makes us one.

Blessing:

P: The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be caring towards you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

C: Amen.

Community Announcements

Sending Song: Go, Go My Chosen

Do you see the faces of those whose lives are lost?.... I call you in my name!

Refrain: Go! Go my chosen one... give my love to all;... my chosen one.

Do you hear the voices, the cries of the oppressed?... call you in my name! Refrain

Do you feel the anger, the pains of misery?... send you in my name! Refrain

A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude