Monday, May 30, 2016
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
May 29, 2016 "WHO LEADS YOU?"
It was the Spirit of God who moved over the face of the waters,
and brought the universe and this earth into being.
That same Spirit breathes life into human creation.
It was the Spirit of God who conceived a Messiah, the Son and Beloved One.
The very name, “Jesus,” meant salvation. He was our Emmanuel; God with us.
When Jesus gave up his life for ours, at the last he commended his own Spirit
into God’s hands, and God, the creator, raised him from the dead.
It was the Spirit of God who poured into the hearts, minds and mouths of the Apostles
the language of salvation empowering them to tell the stories of Jesus to all the world.
And it is the Spirit of God who moves in and through the Church, the Body of Christ,
empowering us to witness to the truth of Christ, in loving service to all.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Loving and most merciful God, we are keen to be in your presence this morning longing for the Spirit’s refreshment. We confess our desire to be good neighbors, particularly helping those who are plowed under by inflexible systems demanding their due. Jesus lived in a society, in which widows and orphans were, all too often, cast aside. He sought to teach his disciples and all who came after them the way of love and compassion. When we are overly worried about not having enough to meet our own needs, we are loathe to share what we have with others. Lead us Lord in the ways of patience, trust and faith. Give us hearts and minds that are as hopeful and full as the lone widow who gave all that she had for well-being of others. Give us the ability to speak the language of all things possible. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
In the game Follow the Leader: A player is sent out of the group where he or she cannot see who is chosen as the leader. The leader begins a movement, such as tapping her foot on the ground, while the others in the circle follow suit. The leader changes the movement regularly and the rest follow the leader's movement. When the hidden player returns, he or she stands in the middle of the circle, watching the movements and tries to guess who is leading them. The guesser has three chances to figure it out. After the leader has been identified or the player in the middle has had his three guesses, another leader and guesser are chosen to continue the game. When the offering plate is passed which leader do you follow the one whose movement is always to give or the one who doesn’t.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, pour out your blessing upon these gifts and promises. We offer them with full and grateful hearts. We trust that you will always guide us to use them wisely, and always for the greater good. Proclaiming our belief that all things are possible with you, we offer ourselves in service, seeking always, in the name of the Christ, to do your work and will. Amen.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
May 22, 2016 "WHO IS JUSTIFIED?"
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.
Condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, Jesus 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 the Creator.
I believe that the Christ shall come again, one day, to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, the counselor of truth,
and the source of power from on High.
I believe in the one body, the church, open to ALL people.
I believe in the forgiveness of sins, justification by faith,
the resurrection of the body, and eternal life. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Our most Gracious Creator, Beloved Christ, and Empowering Spirit, abide with us. Help us to love and cherish the days of this life, to treasure the moments we spend in the company of loved ones and friends, to luxuriate in the kindness, and thoughtfulness of neighbors and strangers, and learn from them. Let us lift one another up always respecting our differences, and honoring all that unites us. Let us revel in our service to the Christ and all that we accomplish together in his name. May we be attentive to your empowering presence in all our efforts to care for those in need. All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
This is Trinity Sunday and Peace with Justice Sunday. One theme involves church tradition and the other testifies to our commitment to social justice and a refusal to turn a blind eye to injustice. Peace, from the Latin, “PAX” means: agreement, tranquility, absence of hostility, and harmony. Coupled with the word Justice, in the spirit of SHALOM the church is called into action, to be advocates of needed policy change “in communities and nations throughout the world.” We are Methodists United for human rights. As Christians we are called to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and open the eyes of the blind. Where there is injustice we are called to work for justice. Five Percent of your offering today will be given to support UM Peace with Justice Sunday.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, pour out your blessing upon these gifts and promises. We offer them with full and grateful hearts. We trust that you will always guide us to use them wisely, and always for the greater good. Proclaiming our belief that all things are possible with you, we offer ourselves in service, seeking always, in the name of the Christ, to do your work and will. Amen.
MAY 15, 2016 "THE SPIRIT SPEAKS"
It was the Spirit of God who moved over the face of the waters,
and brought the universe and this earth into being.
That same Spirit breathes life into human creation.
It was the Spirit of God who conceived a Messiah, the Son and Beloved One.
The very name, “Jesus,” meant salvation. He was our Emmanuel; God with us.
When Jesus gave up his life for ours,
at the last he commended his own Spirit into God’s hands, and God, the creator,
raised him from the dead.
It was the Spirit of God who poured into the hearts, minds and mouths of the Apostles
the language of salvation empowering them to tell the stories of Jesus to all the world.
And it is the Spirit of God who moves in and through the Church, the Body of Christ,
empowering us to witness to the truth of Christ, in loving service to all.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O most Glorious and Mysterious Creator, we cannot begin to fathom your movements in the universe through all time and space. We are finite thinkers able to imagine the infinite, but unable to fully grasp how our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings fit into your kingdom plan. Today as we commemorate the birth and birthday of Christ’s Church, we call upon you in this time of prayer to pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. If we are hesitant to offer a commitment, fill us with a spirit trust and enthusiasm. If we are being stubborn and afraid, fill us with a spirit of trust and surrender. If we are angry and doubtful, fill us with a spirit of trust and possibility. Help us to follow the footsteps of Jesus believing that they will lead us along the path of trust. All this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
My grandfather was a big fan of thermometers. His favorite was the underwater thermometer used to take the temperature of the salt water swimming pool he had constructed on our property in Kennebunkport, Maine. He was diligent checking the submerged instrument several times a day, and recording his findings on a chalk board for all family members considering a swim. 70° meant “refreshing”; 74° easier to get used to; 76° “just dive in, the water is fine.” In the church we like to use symbolic thermometers to indicate just how close we are to meeting a financial goal. I draw your attention to our Glory Campaign Thermometer. (Drum Roll) Behold! The RED is on the rise as it should be on this Pentecost Sunday.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, pour out your blessing upon these gifts and promises. We offer them with full and grateful hearts. We trust that you will always guide us to use them wisely, and always for the greater good. Proclaiming our belief that all things are possible with you, we offer ourselves in service, seeking always, in the name of the Christ, to do your work and will. Amen.
Monday, May 9, 2016
May 8, 2016 "WHO SHALL BE THE + 1"
O Most Gracious and Loving God, we give you thanks for this new day, this holy sanctuary, and these moments of worship shared with people of generous and caring hearts. Teach us to be alert and attentive to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but let us not to be overcome by them. May we listen not only with our ears, and our heart, but also with a practical mind, when we take on the role of sounding board. Let us not be quick to judge the merit of an individual based solely upon their piety, their practice, their life experience, their economic status, their political leanings, first impressions or fashion statements. Lead us not into flaring tempers when ideas, thoughts and opinions are shared. Our only goal is to serve the Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
Do any of you gamble? I am not referring to feeding pennies into a one armed bandit. I am talking about casting lots, such as throwing dice at a craps table, or placing a ballot in a ballot box. The shards of pottery on today’s bulletin cover bear the names of the 10 men who would be chosen to kill the remainder of those Jewish insurrectionists trapped in the mountain fortress at Masada before the Romans overtook them. In our scripture today the remaining disciples in Jerusalem wrote the names of male disciples on similar pottery shards and casting them to determine which disciple would be elevated to the status of the 12th taking the place of Judas Iscariot. Assuming the shards weren’t loaded it was believed that God’s hand determined the outcome of the cast.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, pour out your blessing upon these gifts and promises. We offer them with full and grateful hearts. We trust that you will always guide us to use them wisely, and always for the greater good. Proclaiming our belief that all things are possible with you, we offer ourselves in service, seeking always, in the name of the Christ, to do your work and will. Amen.
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