God's Judgment Is Love!

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 God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye Heav'nly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

O God, you show us the way of servanthood. You have given us much so that we can bless others and not seek gratification for ourselves. Help us to seek your path and keep us in humility so that we can be the light of Christ in the world. In the name of the one who came to serve and and teach us to serve, we pray. Amen.

Dear, Holy Jesus who taught the first among us the way of service as our high priest of a new relationship with God, guide our prayers today and help us to see where we might be the hands and feet of God at work in the world as the body of Christ.

We pray for the local, national, and global church — that it might exhibit the way of service in faith and love. We pray for the international community that it might learn the way of peace.

We pray for anyone who suffers — help us be the healing they need.

We pray for the earth — help us to be proper stewards of your creation.

We remember those who have finished their course in faith, and we wrap our loving arms of comfort around those who grieve.

We lift up the prayers that we hold in our hearts and the prayers that bind us — for you know our needs before we ask.

Loving God, we ask all these things in the name of our creator, our servant priest Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Lord, by the power of your Spirit, lift us up into your presence to hear the promise of your word and know the joy of your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¹Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ²He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; ³and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. ⁴And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. ⁵So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; ⁶as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” ⁷In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; ⁹and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, ¹⁰having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

³⁵James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” ³⁷And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” ³⁹They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; ⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” ⁴¹When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

We live in a time when love is trying to turn the world around and hate is trying to bind it still. How does knowing that knowing that God has judged you and everyone else and the judgement from God is love free you to accept the gift of God’s love and grace? How do you respond to the gift of God’s love and God’s grace for you? How do you share the message of God’s love and grace for others? Especially those who are bound up in hate?

An original piece for piano, composed by John Fluker

Jesus said: those who wish to be great must become servants to all. With humility and hope let us offer our gifts and our lives to God.

Holy God, we give you thanks for all your gifts of goodness and grace. Receive these gifts from our hands as a sacrifice of praise to you and teach us to honor you each day by our obedience to your will; through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

The Son of Man came to serve, not to be served. May the knowledge and love of the one who knit the earth together rest upon you and give you the strength to serve as the Spirit leads you, and to rest where the Spirit says rest. Amen.