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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