What's In It For Thee?

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.

Gracious God, seeker of the lost: draw your children back to your loving embrace, restore us to our inheritance as children, and reconcile our hearts to you, that we may become ambassadors of your reconciling love to the world. Through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

For the church throughout the world, that all who call upon the name of Jesus may embody the reconciling way of God’s love.

For the nations of the world and our leaders, that all may dwell in peace and that justice may transform the places of oppression such that all people and creation itself may experience healing. For the planet earth, God’s gift to creation, that all may share wisely its resources and conserve its riches for generations to come.

For our enemies, that we may regard them with reconciling love made manifest in Jesus.

For those who are sick or in trouble, for the defenseless, the weak, and the poor, that they may be restored to wholeness of life and livelihood.

For the lost, for those who have abandoned God, friends, or family, and for those who have never known such love, that they may come to know the joy of love’s embrace.

Loving God, hear the prayers of your people for the sake of our world, and our teacher, Jesus. Amen.

The LWCC Vocal Quartet joins us today in memory of Joanna Matos, courtesy of The Matos Family.

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit open our minds and bodies to the re- creating power of your Word, that we may see the world through the teachings of Jesus and build the world of our kin-dom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 ¹Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. ²And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³So he told them this parable: ¹¹Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. ¹³A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. ¹⁴When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ ²⁰So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. ²⁵“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. ²⁷He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, the hobbits have an interesting custom. On a hobbit’s birthday, he or she does not receive gifts from family and friends. Instead, the birthday celebrating hobbit presents gifts and perhaps throws a party — for family and friends. This practice reflects the teachings of Jesus and the divine economy of abundance. Where are you currently practicing God’s abundant economy even while living in our human economy of scarcity? Where might the Holy Spirit be challenging you to be more abundant in your thinking and practice? What is one first step you can take toward that abundance?

As people of the New creation, let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God. Amen.

Jennifer Rudy, soprano Kara Brouelette, alto Jim Orr, bass Dave Albulario, tenor Hannah Yi, pianist

O God, all that we have comes from you. Receive this offering and with it the offering of our lives, for we return to you only what you have so graciously given. Use us for the sake of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

The God of reconciliation bless you, the love of Jesus guide you, and the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen you this day and forever more. Amen.