Sunday July 12, 2020

CANDLE-LIGHTING

We light a candle each week as a reminder of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. We also remember the words of our congregation’s mission statement—“being formed, being sent, by Christ”—and that Jesus is still doing this work in us, even as we are physically apart and worshiping in our homes. AMEN. 

CALL TO WORSHIP & PRAYER OF THE DAY* 

(based on Psalm 119:105,111)

Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Your word is our heritage forever, the joy of our hearts. 

(based on Isaiah 55:10-13)

You opened your mouth and uttered a word

and creation sprang forth in abundance.

Let us open our mouths in praise,

that we may bear fruit in every season

and be satisfied by your goodness,

for you, O God, are the source of all growth;

your grace abounds forever. Amen.

HYMN: "You Shall Go Out With Joy (medley)"

PRAYER TIME*

Call to Confession: In Christ there is no condemnation, for perfect love casts out sin. Let us confess our sins to God.

Prayer of Confession:

Faithful God, your word falls on hardened ground

when our worldly anxiety and attachment to wealth

crowd out your place in our lives.

Forgive our frail and human ways

and cultivate in us a spirit of trust and faithfulness,

for you are our hope for deliverance. Amen. 

Declaration of Forgiveness: Friends, when deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, God forgives our transgressions. Be at peace, for God restores and strengthens you and waters your soul in its parched and hardened places. Happy are those who come into God’s courts, for you shall be satisfied with the goodness of God and rejoice in the holiness of God’s temple. 

Pause for individual prayers: Take a moment to silently lift your prayers and praises to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this time of silence. 

The Jesus who invites all to come to him, also teaches us to pray. So let us join together with the words of the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is 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 forever. AMEN.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah 55:10-13 

MEDITATION

OFFERINGS

God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory). 

We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.  

SENDING BLESSING

Go forth sowing the seed of God’s new world,

and give thanks, for God will supply the growth.

May you go forth in joy and be led back in peace

this day and always.*

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• How does the image of rain and snow remind you of God, or of how God cares for the world?
• Where are you experiencing new life? Where are you struggling? How might God be bringing new life from that struggle?

*Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 70-77).  

Sunday July 5, 2020

CANDLE-LIGHTING

We light a candle each week as a reminder of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. We also remember the words of our congregation’s mission statement—“being formed, being sent, by Christ”—and that Jesus is still doing this work in us, even as we are physically apart and worshiping in our homes. AMEN. 

CALL TO WORSHIP* 

Come, all you who carry heavy burdens,

and Christ will give you rest.

For he is gentle and humble in heart:

in him we find rest for our souls.

HYMN: "You are Good (Your Mercy Endures)" 

PRAYER TIME*

Call to Confession: Jesus said: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Prayer of Confession:

Lord, we marvel at the thought of a well-fitted yoke,

a burden scaled to match our frames;

we do not know how to rest in the promise of such labor.

Some of us are weary from unceasing responsibility;

others find no welcome in the marketplace.

We confound your vision for our common life.

Forgive our blind striving, our stifled concern, 

the judgments we cast on others.

Make yourself known to us in the silence.

Shape your children for the commonwealth of your love.

In Jesus name we pray. AMEN. 

Declaration of Forgiveness: Friends, hear this gospel word: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. In the presence of Jesus Christ, we understand that our sin is forgiven. We have been freed for service in his name. 

Pause for individual prayers: Take a moment to silently lift your prayers and praises to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this time of silence. 

The Jesus who invites all to come to him, also teaches us to pray. So let us join together with the words of the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is 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 forever. AMEN.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

MEDITATION (with Communion)

OFFERINGS

God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory). 

We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.  

HYMN: "Come to Me"  

SENDING BLESSING

May the God who brings good from broken situations,

the Christ who shares his yoke with us,

the Spirit which breathes her wisdom into our hearts

sustain and guide us this day and every day. AMEN.*

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Take a few minutes to reflect further on the word or image that came to you during lectio divina exercise (Step 4, Rest). 
• What burdens are you carrying today? Where do you sense God working in your life?

*Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 61-66). 

Sunday June 28, 2020

CANDLE-LIGHTING

We light a candle each week as a reminder of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. We also remember the words of our congregation’s mission statement—“being formed, being sent, by Christ”—and that Jesus is still doing this work in us, even as we are physically apart and worshiping in our homes. AMEN.

CALL TO WORSHIP* 

Steadfast God, you greet us as a loving parent and patiently love us beyond all measure. Great is your faithfulness. May we offer that same kindness to all whom we encounter, knowing it is Christ whom we greet as we welcome others. Amen.

 PRAYER TIME*

Pause for individual prayers: Take a moment to silently lift your prayers and praises to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this time of silence. 

Prayers of Intercession:

Creator of all things seen and unseen, you blew the Spirit of Christ into apostles and disciples enslaved by sin, freeing your people from death and captivating us with your steadfast love. You raised the body of Christ, the church in the world, to proclaim the good news of salvation. For the sake of the world we pray, Come, Lord Jesus!

We pray for all whose lives are touched by the church’s witness. May they feel the healing hands of Christ Jesus serving them with gentleness, kindness, grace, and love. 

We pray for the world into which you call the church. 

Help us to be faithful in giving ourselves away for the sake of the gospel. 

In your Spirit, let us show the peace of Christ to a world of violence, 

share the bread of heaven with a world of hunger, 

offer springs of living water to a world of pollution, 

and lead the way of truth and life with the gifts of faith, hope, and love, 

until you bring the fullness of your new creation. 

Then and now we rejoice with the multitudes: praise, honor, and glory to you, Holy Trinity, in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is 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 forever. AMEN.

HYMN: "God of the Movements and Martyrs" 

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Matthew 10:40-42

MEDITATION

OFFERINGS

God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory). 

We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.  

SENDING BLESSING

May the One who creates, redeems, and sustains you from everlasting to everlasting, grant you the grace of peace, holiness, and eternal life.* 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Why might both giving and receiving hospitality be important? How can both postures contribute to the kind of life Jesus calls us to?   
• In this time of pandemic we’ve been sort of “sent out” in a different way. Where have you received hospitality and welcome during this time? Who has welcomed you? Can you name some examples?
• Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes said that Jesus calls us to “put our love in jeopardy.” What do you think that might look like?

*Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 40-53). 

Sunday June 21, 2020

PREPARING OUR HEARTS & MINDS FOR WORSHIP:

Watch this song video, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” performed by Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount. 

What does this hymn teach you about God?

What connections do you see between the song and today’s scripture readings?

CANDLE-LIGHTING

We light a candle each week as a reminder of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. We also remember the words of our congregation’s mission statement—“being formed, being sent, by Christ”—and that Jesus is still doing this work in us, even as we are physically apart and worshiping in our homes. AMEN.

CALL TO WORSHIP* 

God cares for us completely and calls for our total commitment. 

Christ gave his life that we might live and calls us to give our lives to him.

Through Christ we have died to sin; 

in Christ we are fully alive to God. 

Come, let us worship God.

 PRAYER TIME*

Prayer of the Day: God of the covenant, your compassion reaches beyond the mere making and keeping of promises. Teach us to listen to one another with your heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Pause for individual prayers: Take a moment to silently lift your prayers and praises to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this time of silence. 

Prayers of Intercession:

God of our ancestors, you are the God of our future.

You showed mercy to Hagar and Ishmael in the desert,

just as you answered Sarah’s laughter with Isaac’s birth.

We pray that you heal the deathly divisions between all peoples of the earth today.

We pray that the church of Jesus Christ will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,

so committed to the head of the church that we will have Christ’s mind among us.

May the sword of the Word pierce our hearts

and give us compassion for a suffering world.

We pray for world leaders, that they would seek to make peace.

We pray for medical professionals committed to healing. 

May they be guided and guarded by the Spirit who lifts up the brokenhearted and even raises the dead. 

We pray for your promised kingdom to come,

when all wars will cease, and there will be no disease;

when courageous faith, hope, and love cast out hatred and poverty.

All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior, redeemer, and friend, who taught us to pray, saying…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is 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 forever. AMEN.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Genesis 21:9-21, Matthew 10:29-31

MEDITATION

OFFERINGS

God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory). 

We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry. 

SENDING BLESSING*

The God of all mercy,

who answers the cries of the helpless

and raises you from death,

keep you safe in Christ Jesus,

now and forever. AMEN.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What does the story of Sarah and Hagar (Gen 21:9-21) say about God?
• What does the story suggest about how we might treat one another more justly? 
• How might the song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” resonate with the story of Hagar and Ishmael?
• Who do you need to see and hear today? What steps will you take to listen more deeply to people who are different from you?

 *Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 37-40).

Sunday June 14 2020

PREPARING OUR HEARTS & MINDS FOR WORSHIP:

Read this piece about “angelic troublemaker” Bayard Rustin, from the book Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints by Daneen Akers.  

In what ways did you notice Rustin showing or embodying compassion?

CANDLE-LIGHTING:

We light a candle each week as a reminder of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. We also remember the words of our congregation’s mission statement—“being formed, being sent, by Christ”—and that Jesus is still doing this work in us, even as we are physically apart and worshiping in our homes. AMEN.

CALL TO WORSHIP:

Holy Presence, let us be with you today. Awaken our senses to the wonders of your creation, and fill us with compassion for every person we meet. Protect us from those who would hurt us; make us watchful so that we do not harm anyone. Fill our inward being with the love of Christ, and inasmuch as it is possible, let others know your presence through us. In this way let us glorify you, Holy One, Holy Three. Amen.*

HYMN: "Heaven's Here" 

PRAYER TIME:**

Prayer of the Day:

God of all power and peace, as Jesus sent his disciples out to heal the sick, cast out demons, gather the lost, raise the dead, and proclaim the nearness of your realm, make us ready to go and share the good news we have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. 

Prayers of Intercession: 

From you alone, Lord Jesus Christ, comes the authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, welcome the outcast, and even raise the dead. Therefore we are bold to seek your power and ready to claim your grace. 

Heal the sick…. [silence] 

Touch with compassion all those who suffer; 

speak the word that will make them whole. 

Cast out demons…. [silence] 

Banish the powers that oppress your people; 

bring peace to troubled hearts and minds. 

Welcome the outcast…. [silence] 

Open the doors of your church to all; 

gather the lost and bring them home. 

Raise the dead…. [silence] 

As you broke free from the grave, 

destroy the power of death forever. 

Nothing is impossible for you, Christ Jesus. 

Let these signs of your coming realm be manifest in our world today; 

for you are our Lord and Savior. 

And now we pray together, as Jesus taught us, saying the words of the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is 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 forever. AMEN.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Matthew 9:35-10:1

MEDITATION

OFFERINGS:

God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory). 

We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry. 

SENDING BLESSING:

Live without fear of the wrath of God. 

Live in the peace of Christ. 

Live in the hope of the Spirit. 

The three persons of the Trinity surround you. 

The hand of God keep you from all harm; 

the Spirit of God guide you in all joy; 

the Son of God deliver you to eternal life.***

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• Pema Chödrön has written, “Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” How might we go about doing this? (from The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times)
• When you think of God’s good news (“gospel”) do you think of compassion being part of that news? Why or why not?
• What is one way you can show compassion this week? What is a step you are willing to take?

* Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 32).

** Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 34).

*** Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 32).