At Hand?

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.

Loving God, you send us out into the world as your apostles. As we go out, we are the body of Christ bringing your kin-dom to fruition. Through your Holy Spirit may we be a healing presence that provides a sense of safety, calm and peace to those we encounter this week. Amen.

Let us pray for the needs of the world.

God of prophets and of disciples, you have heard the plea of your people throughout the ages. Hear us now, as we present to you that which weighs upon our hearts.

Hear us as we pray for those who are sick. Grant them hope, that they may experience through your presence, and the presence of others, your comfort and support. Grant them patience, they they may live in your time and in your will.

Hear us as we pray for those who live in constant conflict. Bring your wisdom to their lives. Enable your people to learn from you, that we might learn to let go of our anger and embrace the gifts of reconciliation and peace you taught through Jesus.

Hear us as we pray for those who have been imprisoned by temptation and the sin of power. Lead us to examine ourselves and our lives to see how and why we turn a blind eye or fall into temptation ourselves. Give us empathy to understand and the courage to work to free those imprisoned.

Holy God, we pray for your beautiful creation. Give us the courage to be sent out into the world where life can be and often is challenging, even as others are watching us as we witness and act, ever ready to mock us for our compassion.

Give us your wisdom, that we would better reflect your actions of love and mercy, so that your creation might understand what your kin-dom is all about. We pray all of this in the name of the one who taught us the way forward, Jesus. Amen.

Holy Spirit, Universal Christ, you were there as the breath over the face of the waters at creation and you continue to abide with us to provide inspiration, motivation, wisdom, and comfort. Guide us today, as we listen to the Word read and proclaimed, and fill us with understanding and with the desire to change. We are here and we are listening. Amen.

⁷Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. ⁸If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith. ¹¹See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! ¹²It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. ¹⁴May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. ¹⁵For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is everything! ¹⁶As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

¹After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. ²He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. ³Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. ⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ ⁶And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. ⁷Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. ⁸Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; ⁹cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ ¹⁰But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.’

God loves and asks that we go out into the world and love others. How are you a loving person? What situations around you are in need of love? How can we be agents of love in the coming season?

God has given us healing, word, forgiveness. God has given us so much! Let us now take the time to respond in gratitude, by giving of what has been given to us. Amen.

Your Church exalts you! In your mercy, you have given us life everlasting, you have given us freedom from death, and you have favored us. In your love, you have given us the strength to stand up and continue our journey. In your wisdom, you have taken a chance on us, by allowing us to be part of your holy plans and your message. Help us to use these gifts you have given us with mercy, love, and wisdom, so that we can continue to honor the trust you have put on us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

My siblings, there is a need for peace in the world. People are sick and in need of solace. God calls us to go and labor in the harvest. Don’t hesitate! Don’t be weary! Jesus has promised that he will give us the power needed to do the work that is ours to do. And so, may the God who heals fill you with hope, so that you may face life’s uncertainties. May the teacher, Jesus, send you out as Apostles certain of his teachings and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, such that you are filled with an unceasing desire to do all the good you can. Amen.