Sheep & Goats

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.

In the beginning, at creation, the Spirit hovered over the waters of the deep. God of life and new life your way is splendid and compelling! As Jesus heard you speak to him at his baptism, may we also hear you calling us your beloved, through Jesus Christ, your son and our sibling. Amen.

Blessed God, In Baptism, you used the waters of life to remind us of your way of creation — drawing order out of chaos and light out of darkness. Trusting in your way of light and love, we bring you our prayers for the world.

We pray for the world, that all people — and all creation — may know they are beloved.

God, you show no partiality, yet we are not always as tolerant and accepting. Forgive our intolerance, and help us to see as you see, that we may be found acceptable in your sight through Jesus our Christ. Amen.

We pray for those who suffer, that they will know your love for them, and we may be bearers of comfort.

God, you show no partiality, yet we are not always as tolerant and accepting. Forgive our intolerance, and help us to see as you see, that we may be found acceptable in your sight through Jesus our Christ. Amen.

We pray for your creation, that it may return to a healthy balance and continue to nourish and nurture us.

God, you show no partiality, yet we are not always as tolerant and accepting. Forgive our intolerance, and help us to see as you see, that we may be found acceptable in your sight through Jesus our Christ. Amen.

We remember those who have gone before us and pray for those nearing death, that they may be at peace in your love for them.

God, you show no partiality, yet we are not always as tolerant and accepting. Forgive our intolerance, and help us to see as you see, that we may be found acceptable in your sight through Jesus our Christ. Amen.

In one baptism with Christ and blessed by your Holy Spirit,

we praise and give you thanks, Holy One, for giving us spirit and breath. Amen.

Still-speaking, still-wooing God; as these words from Scripture are read, may it be to us as if the heavens are opening, and we see your Spirit descending on us like a dove, revealing your love for us as your children. Amen.

Matthew 3:13–17 – The Baptism of Jesus ¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Acts 10:34-43 – Gentiles Hear the Good News ³⁴ Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

We live in a world that teaches us we can have it our way. We have grown into communities that identified our way as the right way, the only way. We have taken to using our way as the scale by which to measure others and admit or reject them. Our Scriptures this week teach us that our way of exclusion is not the way of Jesus. Where we see division, God sees unity. Where do you currently see division in the world around you? How might the sheep and goats inform your choices in the days to come?

God gives us not only the genesis of life but the new life of transforming love shown to us through Jesus. Therefore, with generous hearers, let us give back a portion of what has already been given to us through the divine love of God.

Great Gathering God, you draw us together into one body regardless of our backgrounds and conditions. Therefore, we praise you with our tithes and offerings. May they join with others to become a mighty river, bringing your peace and healing to the world. Amen.

May the God who calls us beloved speak blessings to you beloved siblings of Jesus, and empower you to bring that Good News to those who are in need of hearing it. Amen.