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 have provided all we have needed. You have walked
alongside us as we have journeyed through wilderness and valley
and climbed to the heights of the mountain.
For people of faith in every land, in every religion, and in every home,
We have glimpsed the promised land, here, but not yet. For the church of Christ, Holy God, hear our prayer. For world
leaders, peacekeepers, diplomats, and government workers,
We have glimpsed the promised land, here, but not yet.
For trees and plants, creatures large and small, for pets and working
animals, for oceans, winds, and soil,
We have glimpsed the promised land, here, but not yet.
For farmers in this harvest time, for those who fish and hunt, for those
who ship and store what is gathered, and for those who cook and
serve,
We have glimpsed the promised land, here, but not yet.
For all else the church is concerned with on this day ... [silence for
the assembly members to speak aloud or silently their petitions],
We have glimpsed the promised land, here, but not yet.
For all that we have not named but which you know, O Lord, we trust
that you will hear our prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.
Lord Jesus, your understanding of Scripture astonished and humbled all around you. Send your Spirit to illumine this Word that our understanding and wisdom may be increased. Amen.
1 1 hessalonians 2:1-8 TYou yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. Matthew 22:34-46 34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” 41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, 44 “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”? 45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” 46Nlo one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge
Recasting and Reframing the world around us is the Good News that
Jesus came to teach us and building the new Kindom is the work that
he called his followers, his disciples to engage in. One of the
simplest ways that we can build the Kindom of God amidst the
Kingdoms of this world is to show love to our neighbors. Where are
challenged to show love your neighbors? Where are you challenged
to let your neighbors show you love?
Discipleship Moment: Stewardship INVITATION TO THE OFFERING -— Kelly Frankiewicz
With thanksgiving for the bounty of this earth, the work we have
been given to do, the joy of sharing so that others may also live,
we gather our gifts at this time, loving our neighbors as
ourselves.
Beloved family of God, be gracious and kind to all. May the Lord lay loving hands upon you and empower you, that you may be strengthened to continue to share the love of God with your neighbors. 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.