The Cost of the Cross

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.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

God of unending mercy and steadfast love, we are grateful that you

are slow to anger, for there is much in this world that is wrong and set

against your purposes.

Overcome our many injustices with your justice; overtake our

lust for revenge with your great mercy.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for nations locked in enmity to be set free from old

patterns and to embrace a new way of relating.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for people who wield economic power to take notice of

those whom you notice and to have compassion for those who

are vulnerable.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for day laborers and the unemployed and the homeless.

Inspire us who have enough to share what we have, not in

measured and resentful amounts, but gladly, abundantly, so

basic needs do not go unattended.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gather up the first and the last, the least and the greatest, in the

common work of your kingdom, until there is no more first or

last at all, for all are one in your name.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Help us all to see not only your grace at work in the world, but

also your humor at work among us, the holy laughter that heals

us and helps us see ourselves rightly.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We thank you for the privilege of believing in Christ, of living in

Christ, and of living for Christ. In all things, at all times, we give

thanks to you, who never lets us go; through Jesus Christ our

Savior. Amen.

Let the wisdom of your Word rain down on us like manna and feed us, that we may be strengthened to do the work to which we are called, for the glory and honor of your name. Amen.

Philippians 1:21-30 21For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. ²³ l am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; ²⁴ but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. ²⁵ Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, ²⁶ so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. ²⁹ For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— ³⁰ since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Matthew 20:1-16 ¹ For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; ⁴ and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵ When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. ⁶ And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. ¹¹ And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

In Matthew 20:1-16, we find some resentful of God’s generosity

toward the “undeserving.” and the landowner asks the grumbling all-

day workers: “Are you envious because I am generous?” How does

this story of God’s generosity invite us to think about our own lives?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Phyllis Spencer

Whether we have much or only a little, we can share our daily bread

so that all will be fed. As we have received, so now we give, in the

vineyard of the Lord, our tithes and offerings.

God of the harvest, we are privileged to be counted among those whom you have called, graced to have been given your work to do, blessed to receive more than we will ever earn. Accept, we pray, our thanksgivings and offerings, and do what you choose with what already belongs to you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

May the generous grace of Christ attend you, the astounding love of God find you, and the surprising movement of the Holy Spirit guide you to go out this day practicing God’s strange generosity toward others, sharing the good news with them, and rejoicing in their well- being that you, too, may be well. 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.