June 25, 2018 "WEARING YOUR BAPTISM"

AFFIRMATION OF PROMISE
We believe in God the creator of the universe, and loving Abba Father who breathed life into us and gave the earth into our care.
We believe that Jesus is the incarnate word of God, messiah and man,
who lived and died for our sakes.
When Jesus was crucified, he spoke words of forgiveness just before his death.
God raised him from the dead as promised calling all who follow to believe in the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus first loved us, we carry him in our hearts, and his name is ever on our lips.
This loving savior promised we would not be left orphaned and alone.
We receive the Holy Spirit as the companion he promised, our counselor of truth, and advocate.
We believe that the Spirit speaks the language of redemption to our souls.
As the church, Christ’s body on earth, we gather spiritual strength
from our unfettered worship of the Abba Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit.
Refreshed and renewed we work out our salvation, side by side, united in heart,
body and mind ministering in Jesus’ name to all the world.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Most loving and merciful God, continue to pour your wondrous Spirit of welcome and renewal upon this congregation. Empower us to carry on as enthusiastic disciples of Jesus, unhampered by inexperience, age, or the physical ailments it brings. Let us not lose spiritual momentum in the heat of the summer, longing for the company of our brothers and sisters who have and will migrate to cooler climes. We are willing laborers for Christ, carrying out our faith work, to bring in the harvest of souls hungering and thirsting for stories that inspire, uplift and redeem. Indeed, this is the Good News that each one of us can share in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Have you ever been accused of wearing your heart on your sleeve? For some in our society it is a warning, a cautionary barb of sorts, against showing your feelings too often and for everyone to see. Opposite to this is one who keeps everything close to the vest, which was originally a poker idiom referring to where one should keep one’s cards. The first is tiresome, because their ever-flowing-water-works make us uncomfortable; we are inclined to give up on the second, because we can’t seem to break through the force-field surrounding their heart. When ministering in their neighborhood, Matthew’s Jesus advised his disciples to be as cunning as a snake — as inoffensive as a dove. As modern day disciples of Jesus we are called to be both vulnerable and strong. We count on the church to help us in our work, it is, therefore, our bounden duty to keep her vital and strong.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these tithes and offerings. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church and the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May all our work and all our efforts serve your will. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

June 18, 2017 "FAITH WORK"

Matthew Gray Gubler is the 30 something actor who plays the genius Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds.
AFFIRMATION OF PROMISE
We believe in God the creator of the universe, and loving ABBA Father
who breathed life into us and gave the earth into our care.
We believe that Jesus is the incarnate word of God, messiah and man,
who lived and died for our sakes.
When Jesus was crucified, he spoke words of forgiveness, just before his death.
God raised him from the dead as promised calling all who follow
to believe in the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus first loved us, we carry him in our hearts, and his name is ever on our lips.
This loving savior promised we would not be left orphaned and alone.
We receive the Holy Spirit as the companion he promised, our counselor of truth, and advocate.
We believe that the Spirit speaks the language of redemption to our souls.
As the church, Christ’s body on earth, we gather spiritual strength
from our unfettered worship of the ABBA Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit.
Refreshed and renewed we work out our salvation, side by side, united in heart,
body and mind ministering in Jesus’ name to all the world.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O, most gracious and loving God, we come into your presence with thanksgiving and praise, some of us carrying heavy burdens, while others beam bright with triumph and dreams. Let us be mindful of your presence with us in every moment. We must confess that no matter how we endeavor to remain calm, centered and well grounded, when facing change, it’s easy to get rattled. Help us open our eyes to the harvest that awaits in the community around us. Just as we welcome the arrival of October’s cooler days, following the heat of July, August and September, let us be ready, willing and able to look forward to our future. Plant in us a vision for ministry, and empower us to bring that vision to fruition. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
I bought my set of the New Interpreter’s Bible, published in 1995, in the early 2000s. The 12 volumes contain commentaries on every scripture in the Bible. Last Tuesday I wanted to delve a little deeper into Psalm 116, our Call to Worship for today. When I took the commentary from the shelf, it was still wrapped in plastic covered with a 10 year coating of dust. I removed the dusty cover and opened the pages of this brand new, possibly 22-year-old, book. I began to think about Jesus’ instruction to the disciples: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.” He was saying: don’t dig in, stubbornly lingering where you aren’t wanted; move on. Search out those longing to hear the message you offer. Time is always of the essence, when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Let us not waste a minute. Let no dust collect on the work we have been called to do in the name of Jesus Christ.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these tithes and offerings. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church and the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May all our work and all of efforts serve your will. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

June 11, 2017 "ORDER"

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR TRINITY SUNDAY
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, the Beloved One,
who was conceived by The Spirit of God and born of Mary.
Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate.
He was crucified on a cross. He died and was buried in a tomb.
We believe, that on the third day, according to plan, God raised Jesus from the dead.
We believe that the risen Christ, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of
God Almighty.
We believe that Jesus will come again, one day, to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the gift and ever-presence of the Holy Spirit, who is our advocate,
and counselor of truth.
We believe in the church universal, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life.
All Praise to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O most Glorious and mysterious Triune God, we are awed by your creation and give thanks for the gift of the earth’s resources. Let us never take for granted the food we eat quite often in abundance, or the clean water we are privileged to drink. Remind us that we carry the legacy of our forebears to be the caretakers of this earth. Let not greed or the self-serving interests of the rich and powerful keep us from our duty to preserve and protect what you have entrusted to our care. We are grateful for the prophetic voices touched by your Holy Spirit that call to us from the past and speak to us in our present. Keep us vigilant in our devotion to the example and teachings of Jesus giving us the strength to follow in his footsteps. In his name we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Do you remember receiving letters from parents or friends that changed your life, or at least, the direction in which you were headed? My father was not a frequent letter writer, which made those letters he did write most memorable. In 1974, while I was still in South America, he dashed off a quick letter, on roll-paper from an adding machine, and calmly asked me to think before making the leap I was seriously considering. He signed it Love, Ol’ Dad. There was PS that read: “I just stirred mustard in my coffee.” That single silly PS was his way of letting me know just how worried he really was. When Paul wrote his letters to churches he advised, encouraged, and challenged the fledgling Christians to invest the best of themselves in the up-building, growth and advancement of the church, to ponder and envision a plan for its future. I think maybe he and my Dad must had a lot in common.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these tithes and offerings. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church and the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May all our work and all of efforts serve your will. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

June 4, 2017 PENTECOST SUNDAY "RECEPTION"

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR PENTECOST
In the beginning, the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters,
and brought the world into being. That same Spirit breathes life into us.
The Spirit of God conceived a Messiah, the Son and beloved One.
Jesus, who we believe was God in human vesture,
showed us the true meaning of God’s steadfast love and mercy.
Throughout his life and ministry Jesus was led by the Spirit.
When he died on the cross for our sakes he commended his spirit into God’s hands,
and God raised him from the dead.
This Spirit of Pentecost is THE VOICE that speaks to us in our present, calling us,
as the enlightened body of Christ into our future.
The Spirit gives us the language of salvation, empowering us, like the first disciples, to tell
and re-tell the story of how God so loved the world in the person of Jesus.
The Spirit prods us to be at our spiciest when things look bleak,
to be the light in someone’s darkness, and to dance even when we are weary.
The Spirit urges us to be steadfast, resilient, witnesses
ever-eager to proclaim God’s grace, mercy, and love for all!
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O, most astonishing, inspiring and ever-patient God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us on this day of Pentecost. Today, we recall Jesus’ promise to his disciples fulfilled, an event that gave birth to the church, Christ’s body in the world. We confess our timidity when it comes to talking about how our faith works in our daily lives, and so we ask you, today, to instill in us the desire and daring to speak unabashedly about you, and your wondrous deeds. Teach us to chatter on and on about Jesus, not the shortcomings of our neighbors. Fill us with enthusiasm for our work as laborers in your vineyard. All this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Doing a quick overview I learned that there are 383 verses on the bible containing the word fear. I encountered to words in Hebrew that are translated “fear”: Yâ-rê' and Yi-rah. Greek words translated as “fear” are: Pho-be-o, and Pho-bos, with a rare use of Dei-nos and Theo-se-bḗs. The definitions of the 4 commonly used Hebrew and Greek words, begin with: fear, terror, to take flight and to dread. But reading on through the choices we find the Hebrew and Greek words further defined as follows: to respect, revere, be amazed, venerate, to cause astonishment and awe. Our 21st century thinking, doesn’t immediately equate being afraid with being amazed, astonished or in awe of something, or someone, and one who makes us afraid does not necessarily command our respect. However, one who is amazing, astonishing, and inspiringly awesome as is our God, does command our respect, our reverence, and our veneration, inspiring us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly in God’s presence.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these tithes and offerings. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church and the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May all our work and all of efforts serve your will. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

May 28, 2017 "ENLIGHTENMENT"

AN EASTER AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe we are created in the image of God, male and female.
Believing that God’s will for us is goodwill,
we follow in the footsteps of God’s beloved Son,
Jesus the Christ.
We believe Jesus lived to forgive, and showed us how, by serving one another,
we connect to the heart of God.
Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken-hearted is our mission also.
We believe and trust Jesus’ saving act of taking all our sin, regret and sorrow
upon his own shoulders.
He bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried in a tomb, but on the third day God raised him from the dead,
as promised.
Not long after his resurrection, also as promised, God sent the Holy Spirit into our midst
speaking truth in every language to all who have ears to hear.
We believe The Spirit is our ever-present advocate, counselor,
and friend teaching us to love God and one another as the Christ loved us.
Praise God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O most loving and ever-present God, we enter this sanctuary for many different reasons. Some of us come in search of meaning and purpose in our lives; some to find faith or a better understanding of the faith we profess; some to discover the path to holy living; some come seeking connection with the source of our being, and still, others are in dire need of making social connections, becoming part of a united fellowship. Spiritual connection is a good pursuit no matter what the reason. We pray always to be better, stronger, more hopeful people for our efforts, investing ourselves, and the gifts you have given us in the advancement of your kingdom and the building up of Christ’s church. May this fellowship always be a gift of grace, and opportunity for all. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Remember Neil Diamond’s 1983 song written for the film “ET”? It was entitled “Heartlight” and the chorus went: Turn on your heartlight, Let it shine wherever you go. Let it make a happy glow for all the world to see. Diamond might have lifted that image straight out of the gospel of Matthew. The song was surprisingly popular, not because the lyrics were particularly profound, but because they reminded people of “ET”, the lost little alien whose heart actually glowed with love. Most of us still consider the heart the prime mover of our beings, keeping us vital and alive, but we also call it the prime mover of our emotional selves. Two thousand years ago the author of Ephesians, wrote that the eyes of an enlightened heart could know hope, the hope to which God has called us. See with your hearts the hope your gifts bring.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these tithes and offerings. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church and the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May all our work and all of efforts serve your will. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.