CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Most Loving and Patient Creator, we enter this sanctuary and in spite of siren sounds and the roar of airplane engines we are attentive to the merging of our spirits here. We place ourselves in your hands consciously and intentionally. We are seekers, longing to comprehend the part we are to play in your great plan. When marvelously uplifting ideas and inspired moments to minister in your name enter our thoughts, let us not doubt that you are at work in us. Teach us to be alert to each and every opportunity we are given to be salt and light in your world. Let us be the living witnesses of the one in whom and through whom your word has always been, “YES”! We give you thanks and praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
Did you know there are sites on the internet that will — for a price — send a box of revenge, anonymously, on your behalf to someone who has “done you wrong.” One site boasts how much better you will feel, because with payback all that anger and resentment just flows out of you. In truth payback haunts us more than the feelings that triggered the desire for revenge, because we will spend the rest of our lives justifying that act. Deciding to give gifts to people who are in need promises to purge the remnants of anger, or resentment, redirecting our energy, purifying our hearts and our actions. The church is a most appropriate place for redirecting our energy.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
February 9, 2014 "MISSION POSSIBLE"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God we are taught by our teachers and our parents how rewarding it is to do work that we love. Perhaps those first disciples of Jesus were looking for a way of life, a path to follow, that promised to be more soul-rewarding than what they had been doing. We confess that our understanding of what you expect from us, as disciples of Jesus, is muddled by the demands of everyday. We tend to separate what we term “holy pursuits” from daily pursuits. Help us, loving Lord, to realize that we are called to intertwine the holy with the daily. Let us be dressed in Christ always as you make clear the path ahead. It is in his precious name that we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
What gives money value? It isn’t the paper it’s printed on. The tree it came from had greater value. It isn’t the popularity of the deceased president on the face of the bill. It isn’t the color or the artwork or the catchy motto. Lots of countries have prettier more colorful bills, but their bills have no value in our “fiat” system of exchange. The value of money used to be measured by it’s weight in gold, until 1971 when President Nixon put an end to the gold standard. Today money only has value as a medium of exchange for goods and services, which are exchanged for paper bills. The demand for a good or service will govern how many paper bills will be needed to obtain it. God’s grace is poured out in abundance on humankind at no cost. Our contribution to the church of paper bills creates and sustains places where people can discover that grace.
Gracious God we are taught by our teachers and our parents how rewarding it is to do work that we love. Perhaps those first disciples of Jesus were looking for a way of life, a path to follow, that promised to be more soul-rewarding than what they had been doing. We confess that our understanding of what you expect from us, as disciples of Jesus, is muddled by the demands of everyday. We tend to separate what we term “holy pursuits” from daily pursuits. Help us, loving Lord, to realize that we are called to intertwine the holy with the daily. Let us be dressed in Christ always as you make clear the path ahead. It is in his precious name that we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
What gives money value? It isn’t the paper it’s printed on. The tree it came from had greater value. It isn’t the popularity of the deceased president on the face of the bill. It isn’t the color or the artwork or the catchy motto. Lots of countries have prettier more colorful bills, but their bills have no value in our “fiat” system of exchange. The value of money used to be measured by it’s weight in gold, until 1971 when President Nixon put an end to the gold standard. Today money only has value as a medium of exchange for goods and services, which are exchanged for paper bills. The demand for a good or service will govern how many paper bills will be needed to obtain it. God’s grace is poured out in abundance on humankind at no cost. Our contribution to the church of paper bills creates and sustains places where people can discover that grace.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
February 2, 2014 "A DISCIPLES' CURRICULUM VITAE"
*THE APOSTLES’ CREED REVISITED**
I believe in God, the all-powerful Sovereign of the Universe, the loving Abba Father, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, God’s only Son, who was conceived by The Spirit of God and born of Mary.
Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. He was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day God raised Jesus from the dead.
I believe the risen Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God Almighty.
From this throne Jesus shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the church universal and the communion of saints.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and eternal life.
Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Wondrous and Loving God, we are so very grateful for those men and women who recognized your Christ, who followed him, believed in him and, in turn, took up their crosses. Their courage and persistence in discipleship kept the story of Jesus relevant and alive so that we, like them, might be blessed. Pour into us your spirit of leadership, your spirit of purpose realizing that you have given to each of us gifts which empower and enable us to serve others. Let us not wonder about the days of our life, what we are doing here, if we are simply taking up space until you call us home. Make us instruments of your grace and goodwill. Let the light of your Christ shine in and through us. If we should get downhearted about anything remind us that your consolation is as close as a prayer. We are blessed to be your people, followers of the Christ in whose name we pray. Our dearest Abba Father, in heaven, we hallow your name offering our thanks and praise. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We ask no more than our daily bread and that you forgive our trespasses, empowering us to forgive those who trespass against us. Let us not be overcome by the temptations of the world, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
In 1971 Curtis Mayfield wrote: We who are young, should now take a stand. Don't run from the burdens of women and men. Continue to give; continue to live, for what you know is right. Most of your life can be out of sight. Withdraw from the darkness and look to the light where everyone's free; that's the way it's supposed to be. We just keep on keeping on. It isn’t easy to keep on keeping on, when we can’t see what lies ahead, but we do it — through the storm, through the night, led on to the light holding the hand of our precious Lord who leads us home. The ushers will now come forward to collect the offering.
I believe in God, the all-powerful Sovereign of the Universe, the loving Abba Father, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, God’s only Son, who was conceived by The Spirit of God and born of Mary.
Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. He was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day God raised Jesus from the dead.
I believe the risen Christ ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God Almighty.
From this throne Jesus shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the church universal and the communion of saints.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and eternal life.
Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Wondrous and Loving God, we are so very grateful for those men and women who recognized your Christ, who followed him, believed in him and, in turn, took up their crosses. Their courage and persistence in discipleship kept the story of Jesus relevant and alive so that we, like them, might be blessed. Pour into us your spirit of leadership, your spirit of purpose realizing that you have given to each of us gifts which empower and enable us to serve others. Let us not wonder about the days of our life, what we are doing here, if we are simply taking up space until you call us home. Make us instruments of your grace and goodwill. Let the light of your Christ shine in and through us. If we should get downhearted about anything remind us that your consolation is as close as a prayer. We are blessed to be your people, followers of the Christ in whose name we pray. Our dearest Abba Father, in heaven, we hallow your name offering our thanks and praise. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We ask no more than our daily bread and that you forgive our trespasses, empowering us to forgive those who trespass against us. Let us not be overcome by the temptations of the world, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
In 1971 Curtis Mayfield wrote: We who are young, should now take a stand. Don't run from the burdens of women and men. Continue to give; continue to live, for what you know is right. Most of your life can be out of sight. Withdraw from the darkness and look to the light where everyone's free; that's the way it's supposed to be. We just keep on keeping on. It isn’t easy to keep on keeping on, when we can’t see what lies ahead, but we do it — through the storm, through the night, led on to the light holding the hand of our precious Lord who leads us home. The ushers will now come forward to collect the offering.
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