Swirly

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.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kindom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kindom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Ever-present God, you call us to devote ourselves constantly to prayer but we have thought that meant our talking rather than our listening. Therefore we pray together today saying:

Fill us with your Spirit’s power, That in being one with each other we may be one with you.

Father-Mother God, parent of orphans and protector of widows, you call for the desolate to have a home to live in. Help us to order the patterns of our common life to support the health of your human family and the welfare of your world.

Fill us with your Spirit’s power, That in being one with each other we may be one with you.

Steadfast God, you have bestowed your Spirit’s love upon us to make us one in you. Help us to grow in strength and courage to witness to this hope: that all may find your saving love eternally in Christ.

Fill us with your Spirit’s power, That in being one with each other we may be one with you.

Life-giving God, you send rain in abundance to relieve the parched crops and thirsty land, and make clean the winds of heaven. Help us to find sustainable solutions as we seek to honor and care for the well-being of your creation.

Fill us with your Spirit’s power, That in being one with each other we may be one with you.

Loving God, you heard the sufferings of your people, listened to our cries, and came to dwell among us. Help us to offer your healing and compassion as we minister to others in the mercy of your Christ.

Fill us with your Spirit’s power, That in being one with each other we may be one with you.

Resurrecting God, you draw near to those who are sick and dying, and you call them home to you. May we all know the joy of life eternal shared with you in the trinity that binds us together.

Amen.

Spirit of God, bless us with a word of life this day to restore, support, and strengthen us as we seek to be one with you. Amen.

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

¹ After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ⁶ “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, ⁸ for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Where have you experienced God’s welcome in your life? Where have you experienced God’s welcome in the church? If we are to be one with Christ, as Christ is one with God, how can our church become a more compelling witness to God’s radical invitation to homecoming?

Jesus said: “All mine are yours, and all yours are mine.” Therefore, let us offer to God this day the gifts of our lives and the fruit of our labors in service of Christ’s love.

Glorious God, everything that is given to us rains forth out of the abundance of your love. Bless these gifts and our lives together that all we are and all we offer give glory to you; in the name of Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.

Siblings, God loves and cares for each of us. Therefore, cast all anxiety on God, and keep alert, so that we may remain steadfast in faith with Christ, who supports and strengthens us in all things. Amen.