We believe in God, the all-powerful Sovereign of the Universe,
the loving ABBA, Father, creator of heaven and earth.
We 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.
We believe, the risen Christ ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Creator.
We believe that the Christ will come again one day
to take all who are in him to himself.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the source of truth and power, sent to us from on High.
We believe in the one body, the church open to all people.
We believe in the forgiveness of sins,
justification by faith, the resurrection of the body,
and the promise of eternal life. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Loving and Compassionate God, hear our prayer. This has been a week of remembering those who gave their lives defending the freedom of all souls; remembering loved ones who finished their course in life, and remembering past presidents of the republic. As a nation we ask you to pour out your spirit of renewal upon our imperfect union. Empower us by your glorious spirit of renewal, to work with our new leaders seeking, always, to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the Welfare of all, and keep secure the blessings of Liberty. Let us not be a people of complaint and negativity, fear and doomsday thinking. Let us soldier on not for our own interests, but as citizens, who embrace equality for all people, and the right of every individual to pursue happiness. The Christ calls us to an even higher level of commitment, and that is to do whatever it takes to love one another as he loved us. All this we pray in his name. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Do remember Henny Penny, also known as, Chicken Little? It was an oral folk tale first published in the Danish Language, in 1823. In America in 1840, it appeared in a children’s illustrated volume and was called: “The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little.” Multiple versions with multiple endings, have appeared across the centuries, including the one in which Henny Penny and her friends, Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey, and Turkey Lurkey, are eaten by Foxy-Loxy, before Henny Penny can notify the king that the end of the world is at hand. Chicken Little’s hysterical mantra, “The Sky is Falling!” is the conclusion she came to when an acorn fell on her head. Today, that idiom is used to make light of a very human tendency to jump to conclusions, along with our penchant for mass hysteria and doomsday thinking. The moral of the story could be, not to overthink any moment in time. Like right now, try not to overthink your gift to the church. (historical info from Wikipedia)
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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