Possessed by Empire

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.

As prophets catch the Spirit, as disciples draw fire, as apostles serve in your way, O Loving God, fill us with fervent desire to establish your kindom. Lead us by the way of Jesus to live in your love, now and forever. Amen.

God of creations and the generations in light, hear us as we pray for the coming of your kin-dom.

Cleanse the pollution of the world caused by human sin. Receive the body of the earth, and the bodies of your creation into your holy presence. Swell with us and be our light. Hear us as we pray for the healing of the nations.

Silence the wars and rumors of terror that plague the human family. Guide leaders of the world to the river and the tree of life. May the fruits of the Spirit feed the people of the earth and sustain all of your creation. Hear us as we pray for all who suffer.

Lift the yoke of human suffering from the sick, the hungry, and the grieving. Move our hearts to serve all who are in need.

With a mighty voice, let the church roar justice! With a tender kiss, let her pray Mercy. With open hands, let her say Peace be with you, in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Loving God, by your Spirit plant your desire within us that we may follow in the way of Jesus. May we find our footing as we carry the way of your kindom into the world through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

²³Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. ²⁷As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

²⁶Then they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had not worn any clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. ²⁸When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me,” ²⁹for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) ³⁰Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. ³¹They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. ³²Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding, and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. ³³Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd stampeded down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. ³⁴When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. ³⁵Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they became frightened. ³⁶Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. ³⁷Then the whole throng of people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. ³⁸The man from whom the demons had gone out begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Where do the trappings of Empire possess your thoughts about God? Where do you need to let go of the ideas of a God of punishment and control? How does the God of love as revealed through Jesus empower you to turn to the Holy Spirit and release those around you who are still trapped in empire?

– playing his own original composition

The Blessings that come from God are rich like the fruits of summer. With our tithes and our offerings let us give thanks and praise to God who is Creator, Guide and Source of all love and power in the world. Amen.

— Dave Albulario, tenor

God our Maker, Guide and Source of love. You made us in your image and gave us a place in your creation. You walk with us in the valleys and as we celebrate the view from the peaks. As we journey in your way you have taught us neighbor love and spoke to us words of justice, correction, and kindness. We present our offerings andcommit ourselves to your way of love as taught through the Way of Jesus — loving our neighbors, sharing the fruits of the spirit, giving that and praise. Amen.

Rejoice in the love of God by loving others and building the kin-dom of God as we go forth to live as the body of Christ. Amen.