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.
Holy God, you set before us every day a bounty of good things. Bring us to your feasting table, hungry for your Word, eager to rebuild the cities you have made, and ready to receive strangers so that we celebrate at all times and in all places the peace which is life in you. Amen.
Let us pray for the needs of the world, saying,
Hear us, O God; your mercy is great. That all in our community may know what is God’s and what is
Caesar’s, and may have the courage so to live,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That as the Lord guided Cyrus for the sake of Israel, God will guide
our country, its leaders, and its citizens,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That justice and peace will be the signs of our trust in God,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That the church, in the spirit of Paul, may preach the gospel not
merely in words but in the mighty power of the Holy Spirit,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That each of us, following Jesus, may be truthful, courting no one’s
favor, but living with simplicity and honesty,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That like the apostle, all the people in the church may live their faith
and labor in love for the poor, the homeless, the imprisoned, the
persecuted, and the sick, and that by God’s power the suffering of all
creation may be relieved,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That wherever there is violence, especially within a family, we may be
enabled to confess our part in allowing this darkness to continue. We
have shut our eyes to the bruises and shut our ears to the cries of
fear and pain. That your healing may come to all homes,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
That we may remember with gratitude the witness of those who have
kept faith in your triune name,
hear us, O God; your mercy is great.
Into your hands we place the well-being of all creation, trusting that
you see and know the needs of all, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
Your word, O God, is a feast all its own. Let your Holy Spirit open our minds to your call to listen, for we know your holy Word heals and reconciles your people. Amen.
Philippians 4:1-9 ‘Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. “Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. °Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. °Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ’And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ®Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. °Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Matthew 22:1-14 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. *He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. “Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ *But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, °while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. ’The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. °Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. ‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, '2and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. ‘Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge
Each day this week, ponder the attributes in Philippians 4:8 and make
your own list of what to set your mind on toward living in thanksgiving.
On Monday, meditate on whatever is true; Tuesday, whatever is
honorable; Wednesday, just; Thursday, pure; Friday, pleasing;
Saturday, commendable. On Sunday, consider what is excellent and
worthy of praise.
Discipleship Moment: Stewardship — Virginia Olejnik
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Jeanette Williams
Because God has given you a great banquet, let your thanksgiving
overflow with joyous giving for the sake of others.
God of compassion and generous love, we give you thanks for the riches of Earth, which sustain our lives and which you have created for our joy. We thank you for Jesus, whose life, death, resurrection, and ascension renews our strength and revives our hope. We give you thanks for the Holy Spirit, who comes among us, invites us to dine with each other and with you, and keeps us in faith. Bless these gifts for the sake of those in need and the work of your church. In peace, we pray our thanksgiving. Amen.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. Do not worry. With thanksgiving, speak to God your needs and the needs of this world. Ponder what is pleasing and excellent. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, encourage your hearts and your minds to rejoice always in Christ Jesus. 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.