Order of Worship
Opening Announcements — Rev. Johan Dodge
Good Morning and Welcome to Worship!
Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact
with this growing community of faith. And so if you are joining us for
the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday. You are
welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is
the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Gracious God, though you are known by many names and depicted in many ways, we know you most fully in Jesus Christ, our Messiah, your Son. We thank you for forming us into the church, the body of Christ in the world. Help us to live as he taught us: loving you, loving neighbor, unified in Christ, using our varied gifts and skills in the service of ministry, until all things are transformed into what is good and acceptable and perfect. In Christ’s name, we ask it. Amen.
Steadfast God, your love and faithfulness are with us always.
We give thanks that with you there is no end to our hope.
By your power, all exiles will come to an end; all things will be
restored.
Therefore we pray with confidence to you who are above all
things, knowing that you take notice of those who are bent low;
that your strong arm takes hold of those who are in the midst of
trouble.
Loving God, you promise comfort to the one in sorrow and help to the
one in trouble.
Lift us all up So we can see your salvation. Help us and help the
nations to learn your justice and to practice it. Silence the
deafening drumbeat of war so we may learn a song of
thanksgiving. Before the world wears out like a garment, before
we turn your Eden into a waste place, correct our habits. We
desire to be better caretakers of the garden of the Lord.
We thank you for the gift of the church and for the varied gifts and
perspectives you place among us.
Help us to welcome the diversity of your design in ways that
enlarge our witness in the world. We thank you especially for
Jesus Christ, who has called us to be his body in the world, and
we pray all things in his name. Amen.
Lord our God, your name and your word are exalted above everything. We are listening for your word; we are looking for your light. By the power of the Holy Spirit, renew our minds and hearts so we may discern your will and respond in faith. We pray in the name of your Son, our Savior. Amen.
Romans 12:1-8 1| appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Matthew 16:13-20 13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 l will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Questions for Reflection: Kelly Frankiewicz M.Div
Who do you say that Jesus is?
How are you engaging your gifts and talents in support of God’s
purposes?
What time will you dedicate to renewing your mind in the Scriptures?
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Marylee Thomsen
God has given us gifts to share: prophetic acts and acts of service,
teaching and leading, encouragement, diligence, and cheerfulness,
giving without strings attached. Freely, then, we open our hearts,
hands, and resources to a world in need.
Gracious God, we thank you for the measure of faith you have given to each of us. Increase in us generosity, compassion, and prophetic courage so we may continue to be your body in and for the world. With thanksgiving, we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.
Jesus asks each of us: Who do you say that I am? Answer his question, this day and all your days, in every word you speak, with every action you perform. May God who restores, Christ who calls, and the Spirit who empowers bless you and increase your joy and gladness as you offer your gifts according to the grace given you, as a living sacrifice to God. Blessed Be the Tie that Binds Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.