From Compliance to Resistance

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.

God of abundant mercy, you alone can turn evil into good, sorrow into rejoicing, and death into everlasting life. Teach us your way of grace — to meet hatred with kindness, to answer curses with blessing, to love without holding back, to give without thought of return; all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

You who preserves life, who sends among your people caretakers and peacemakers, who gives us scientists and inventors, give your people new eyes to behold the needs of your creation. Lead us into fields of grain and pools of clean water. Shelter the earth with clouds; nurture the soil with sun. Make our gratitude so profound that with joy we will love and guard what you have created with our very lives. O Giver of prayer that groans within us, teach us to pray for our enemies. Their names are many, and we whisper some of them now before you in our hearts … [a time of silence is offered to name those on your heart].

Be with them, guard them from harm, and guide them in the way of your light. Save us from self-righteousness, and help us begin our lives anew. Heal the nations, Mighty Lord. Rain peace on all people. Give hope to the hopeless and love to the lonely. Surprise the leaders of all nations with your joy. For the people … [a time of silence is offered to name those on your heart].

We cry out for reconciliation and plenty. We pledge comfort for the sick, O God. Make whole the broken, make wise the foolish, humble the powerful, make glad the hearts of those who tend our loved ones, and for any who are in pain, give them release and rest. Speak love to …

[a time of silence is offered to name those on your heart].

And to all who cry out silently. Now hear, O God, the prayers of this assembly spoken silently or aloud …

[a time of silence is offered to name those on your heart].

God, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

Gracious God, by your Word you provide all we need — for wholeness and for abundant life. Draw us close in your Holy Spirit so that together we may discover your will and live according to your way; through Jesus Christ our Guide and Teacher. Amen. Amen.

²⁷“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. ³⁰Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you. ³²“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ³⁷“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

Where do you see yourself in the world today? Are you working toward empire or are you working toward love? We have been under the control of empire for so long, we have likely never known the way of love that Jesus taught. What might you do to unlearn what you have learned and change a practice in your life that helps you to move from empire to love and helps you bring about the kin-dom of God, the paradise that can be?

Children of the Most High God, in obedience to Jesus’ words to love others as we love ourselves, do good, bless and pray for friends and enemies alike, let us now do to others as we would have them do to us, offering our gifts and tithes for the sake of our siblings in need around us. Amen.

Holy God, you have given us land in which to grow and thrive, food for survival and pleasure, air and water, fire and cold. Make our thanksgiving bloom forth into the lives of others in the name of the one who gave everything for us. Amen.

My siblings, Jesus arrived in a time of tremendous oppression and taught a way of living so countercultural to the day back then that we have struggled to comprehend the power and significance of God’s love ever since. So, know this, there may be difficult days ahead as we work to overcome the ways of man and restore the ways of love, the way of Jesus, the way of God. May the Holy Spirit guide you and encourage you in the days ahead and may we achieve the kin-dom. Amen.