March 26, 2017 "WHAT SEEDS WOULD A SOWER SOW IF A SOWER WOULD SO SEEDS?"

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR LENT
We believe in God the creator of heaven and earth, who grants us grace and life.
We believe that nothing in all the world can separate us from the love of God,
who willingly forgives the repentant heart.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God in human vesture, who came to live with us and taught us to choose life in his name.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our sins upon himself and carried them to the cross,
where he gave up his own life for our sakes. This was his ultimate gift to humanity.
We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he will come again one day
to take us to himself.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is present with us, offering
good counsel and truth in every language.
When we willingly embrace the Spirit’s presence, our hearts are warmed,
and we are transformed.
As the church, Christ’s body in the world, we are called to a ministry of service,
working for justice and reconciliation.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Dearest Lord, this morning the story of Johnny Appleseed comes to mind, the kindly nurseryman and missionary who planted apple orchards from east to west, read the gospel for a place to lay his head, and sang his song of praise for all of us to embrace. “OOOOOOh, The Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun, the rain, and the apple seed. The Lord is good to me.” With his tin-pot chapeau, and discalced feet, he reminded us to seek simplicity as did the Shakers with these words written 3 years after Johnny Appleseed’s death. When true simplicity is gained to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed, to turn, turn, will be our delight till by turning, turning we come round right. May our turning always be in your direction O, most gracious God. In the name of, Jesus, the master of simplicity, we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
In the film the Long Hot Summer, Ben Quick conned Jody Varner into buying the Old Frenchman’s place by seeding the ground around the old house with some fake gold doubloons. When clouds are seeded with silver iodide it changes the amount or type of precipitation that falls to earth from the clouds. New start ups, be they businesses or even churches, need seed money sown by investors, friends or family members to get the project started. You may not have given this notion much thought, but your gifts don’t just sustain or maintain the church; they are often the seeds that help us initiate new programs for growth and outreach. Well done!
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these gifts and tithes. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church, and for the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May the work we do in Jesus’ name serve your will. Amen.