Reconciling in Christ 2009

There Are No Boundaries for Reconciling in Christ

Order of Worship

▲ = Stand as you are able ▼ = Sit

Prelude

Call to worship: Canticle of the Turning

Text: Rory Cooney, based on the Magnificat

Music: Irish traditional

Tune Name: STAR OF COUNTY DOWN

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.

We either include or exclude. We cannot do both. To say it is right to allow this sinner baptism, but not full participation in ministry is to deny God. We either acknowledge a baptism in the fullness of God’s word or we reject such baptism. To say it is right to allow that sinner communion, but not full participation in community is to deny God. We either share in full communion with Christ through his body and blood under the bread and the wine or we separate ourselves from Christ. We either acknowledge the full power and breadth of God’s love and accept all of God’s people as equal heirs in the Kingdom - now and always - or we turn our backs on God and all of God’s creation. Those God has accepted, those God has received, those God chooses to use in the world are of God. When we refuse anyone complete and full communion in the Body of Christ, we cut ourselves off from that body, from God.

C: We choose to invite all people.

We choose to receive all people.

We choose to accept all people.

We choose as God chooses.

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 all talents.

We welcome all abilities.

We welcome all gifts of the Spirit.

Everyone who is of God is of us.

P: Everyone.

Song of Welcome: All Are Welcome Vs. 1,3,5

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

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.

Suggested Anthem: There Is No Longer Jew or Greek

Tune: WINGSPAN CMD

▼ Psalm 19:7-14

Lesson: James 5:13-20

▲ P: The Holy Gospel is Mark 9:38-50

C: Glory to you, O Lord.

The Holy Gospel is read

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Praise to you, O Christ.

▼ Music for Meditation

Message

▲ Theme Song: We Are Called

Text: David Haas

Music: David Haas

Tune Name: WE ARE CALLED

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

Tune Name: CHANGE MY HEART

Prayers of the People

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

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

Tune Name: CHRISTE, DU LAMM GOTTES

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

Music: Kirchenordnung, Braunschweig, 1528

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 Vs. 2

Text: Omer Westendorf, 1916-1997, alt.

Music: Welsh folk tune

Tune Name: THE ASH GROVE

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)

▼ Community Announcements

▲ Sending Song: The Lord Now Sends Us Forth

Text: anonymous from Central America; tr. Gerhard Cartford

Music: anonymous from Central America

Tune Name: ENVIADO

Postlude