July 31, 2016 "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU"

A TIMELY AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in the one God, the creator of the universe, redeemer of humanity,
and bestower of grace, mercy and love.
We believe in Jesus Christ who came into the world that we might
see the face of God, in whose image we are created.
Bringing the Beloved One of God into our hearts, we are re-created,
and become new beings in his name.
We believe that Jesus holds all things together,
binding the hearts and minds of those whose faith is in him.
Jesus gave his life for ALL, and through his sacrifice we are reconnected with God.
We believe God raised Jesus from the dead.
We believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit, who walks with us through this earthly life
until the day when Jesus will present us holy, blameless, and irreproachable before God.
Steadfast in faith, we cling to the gospel hope, pleased to serve our Lord,
offering ourselves, our prayers, our gifts, and our witness for the sake of the gospel.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Our dearest ABBA, Father, we feel blessed to be in this sanctuary, joined together as a community of faith. We may have only just met each other for the first time today, but our faith in Jesus binds us together in perfect harmony. We are grateful to be empowered by your most Holy Spirit to manifest a spirit of welcome, embracing folks from all walks of life; all shapes, colors, sizes and opinions. That said, O Lord, we are not immune to the trauma and trouble that threatens the integrity of our nation and our world. We confess a desire to walk around wearing earplugs so we can’t hear the vitriol that echoes forth even from our own mouths. Help us cool our jets, O God, and stay the course, which, as disciples of Jesus Christ, must always be in the direction of your kingdom come upon the earth. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
In the play “You Can’t Take It With You,” Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman introduce a household of kooky characters who appear to live a totally chaotic existence in New York City in 1936 as they wish, dream, and take each day as it comes. The world outside is orderly, organized, straight-laced and uptight, filled with people making plans to enjoy life someday. When the play was written, this country was smack dab in the middle of the Great Depression when people were hungry—hungry for work, food, a roof over their heads, and hungry too, for a story about love, hope and enough, before money, power and privilege. The play is still relevant even 80 years later reminding us right now, right this minute, to treasure our life and the lives of those all around us. Because stuff is just stuff and you can’t take it with you.
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.

July 24, 2016 "LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY"

Bulletin Cover Art is the graphic design used at the 2013 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
A TIMELY AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in the one God, the creator of the universe, redeemer of humanity,
and bestower of grace, mercy and love.
We believe in Jesus Christ who came into the world that we might
see the face of God, in whose image we are created.
Bringing the Beloved One of God into our hearts, we are re-created,
and become new beings in his name.
We believe that Jesus holds all things together, binding the hearts and minds of those whose faith is in him.
Jesus gave his life for ALL, and through his sacrifice we are reconnected with God.
We believe God raised Jesus from the dead.
We believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit, who walks with us through this earthly life until the day when Jesus will present us holy, blameless, and irreproachable before God.
Steadfast in faith, we cling to the gospel hope, pleased to serve our Lord, offering ourselves, our prayers, our gifts, and our witness for the sake of the gospel.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O Most Loving and merciful God, we proclaim and believe that your will for us is always goodwill. Even when we falter or fail in our efforts to be genuine disciples of Jesus, you hold out hope that we will carry on in faith, pressing on to the goal of your kingdom. We are well aware that there are potholes all along the road of life, but we are confident that you are eager to help us over the rough spots. Encourage our prayers, O Lord, and let us be transformed from the inside out empowered by your presence within us. Nourish our spirits through your word and sacrament that we may be fully energized to do the work of the gospel. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
When John Wesley was having a crisis of faith the evangelist Peter Bohler said to him: “Preach faith until you have it, then, because you have it, you will preach faith.” Wesley himself said: “Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame if I cannot write better now than I did seven years ago.” Preaching and sermon preparation is a spiritual discipline that must be cultivated by every preacher. Prayer is a spiritual discipline that must be cultivated by every disciple, because the more we pray the better we pray. Like preaching and praying, pledging to support the church is a spiritual act and requires a willing and disciplined heart.
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.

July 17, 2016 "OBSESSED OR IMMERSED"

A TIMELY AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in the one God, the creator of the universe, redeemer of humanity,
and bestower of grace, mercy and love.
We believe in Jesus Christ who came into the world that we might
see the face of God, in whose image we are created.
Bringing the Beloved One of God into our hearts, we are re-created,
and become new beings in his name.
We believe that Jesus holds all things together,
binding the hearts and minds of those whose faith is in him.
Jesus gave his life for ALL, and through his sacrifice we are reconnected with God.
We believe God raised Jesus from the dead.
We believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit, who walks with us through this earthly life
until the day when Jesus will present us holy, blameless, and irreproachable before God.
Steadfast in faith, we cling to the gospel hope, pleased to serve our Lord,
offering ourselves, our prayers, our gifts, and our witness for the sake of the gospel.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious and Most Loving God, how wonderful it is to gather together in worship singing praises to your name. Our Spirits are renewed as we affirm our faith and offer prayers of thanksgiving. We trust that you will heed our prayers of petition and intercession for the healing of loved ones, ourselves, our nation and the world. When we hear the horror stories boiling up from the cauldron of prejudice, fear and hatred, help us not to react with more fear, more prejudice and more hatred. Help us, Lord, to choose the better part. Show us the path of true discipleship as we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
It isn’t in my DNA to be a laid back sort of individual. I work hard at most everything, even playing. A nursing colleague once said to me that my somewhat obsessive nature made me a good intensive care nurse. I was. The reward for me was in the meticulous attention to detail required by that kind of nursing. As a matter of fact, I referred to myself as a patient detailer. I confess to getting annoyed lab techs and x-ray technician showed up and threw me off my schedule. I even got testy when too many family members wanted to visit too often for too many minutes. I discovered, after many years, that focusing on the sick and injured parts of a person can make it difficult for them to muster the SPIRIT of healing within. When the church, as a body, suffers injury, or loss much like the ICU patient, the body must strive to locate and enlist the help of that same SPIRIT of healing that resides within.
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.