September 4, 2016 "BARGAIN BASEMENT DISCIPLESHIP"

AFFIRMATION OF CREATION AND TRANSFORMATION
We believe in one creative God righteous and patient, merciful and just.
We believe that God is perpetually creating.
We believe that God’s handiwork is well thought out, diverse, colorful, and inspiring.
We accept that God has entrusted the earth, and all that is in it, to our care.
We believe that Jesus was given unto the world in order that humankind could know the true heart of God.
Jesus’ life revealed God’s willing presence in our lives.
His death revealed God’s love. His resurrection from the dead revealed God’s Grace.
We believe that God’s Holy Spirit came to us in the nick of time, while we held our breath,
wondering what to do next.
God’s Spirit whispers truth, love and justice, showing us how to walk humbly with God.
We believe in the church, the body of Christ called to continue his work in the world.
Like creation, the church is a living organism, evolving,
responding and transforming itself when all of creation cries out for change.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Wondrous and most merciful God, we gather together working diligently to use the word disciple when referring to ourselves as those who follow Jesus Christ. We, like Levi, are disciples of privilege and substantial resources. The disparity between those who have and those who do not isn’t a matter of luck, good fortune, faith, or grace. Your grace is poured out upon all people. Jesus called upon every disciple to choose life rather than death, to love, not hate, and to repay cruelty with kindness. Gracious God, we cannot know the suffering the early disciples endured, persecuted as they were for their faith, but we can follow their determined example, take up the cross, and walk in their footsteps along the kingdom road. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The title of the sermon tells you where I was born. I grew up 7 miles outside of Boston, which was the home of Filene’s ever famous bargain basement. For 100 years Filene’s basement was THE PLACE to find designer overstock and cast-offs marked down for the frugal, cheap and fiscally challenged of Boston. People brawled in THE BASEMENT long before the arrival of cabbage patch kids. Such brawls were so famous, films depicted them often showing two women in a tug-o-war over a girdle. The triumph of the competition was in getting the worthwhile bargain. When we stop to think and realize what Jesus purchased for us we might fully grasp that we received the best part of that bargain.
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.

August 28, 2016 "IT WAS JUST DINNER!"

Spirit of Fire Affirmation of Faith
We believe in the eternal, gracious presence of God the creator of all things.
We believe God’s fiery presence was revealed in the burning bush that was not consumed.
We remember too, how God accompanied the wandering Israelites through the darkness,
as a pillar of fire lighting their way.
We believe God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, to ignite once again,
our hearts, our minds and our spirits.
Jesus preached good news, and his words were like a fire burning within us.
He promised a baptism of the Spirit and of fire.
It was on the day of Pentecost that God’s Holy Spirit was poured out upon Jesus’ disciples.
A fiery passionate presence, the Holy Spirit opened their mouths to proclaim
God’s deeds of power, in every language.
We believe God’s Holy Spirit is ever-present advocating for ALL people.
As the body of Christ in the world, we believe that Spirit is at work
igniting within each of us a spirit of openness and radical welcome.
Thanks be to God!
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God, how wonderful it is to bind our hearts, minds and spirits with yours particularly in this time of worship. Today, we are grateful for the addition of our new members whose life experiences and fresh perspectives promise to enhance and empower our shared ministry. We give you thanks for the blessings of this day, remembering those who have suffered misfortune and loss. Help us in our efforts to be your most thoughtful servants. Keep us alert and fully tuned in to the many opportunities open to us to help those in need. Give us courageous spirits to meet the challenges that are part of life, and let us not be overwhelmed or undone by the misfortunes that befall us. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The word “join” appears relatively few times in the New Testament and is the English translation for a variety of Greek words. “Join” appears in the NT mostly when Genesis 2:24 is quoted: “A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” The word undeniably has a physical connotation. In 1st Corinthians 6 Paul does some ranting over the less than laudable behavior of the Corinthian church members. Mid –rant in verse 17 these words appear: But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. The Greek verb here translated as “joined” is Κολλάω (Kallao) means: to glue together, to cement, to fasten firmly together, to join one’s self to. With that kind of glue holding us together, there is nothing we can’t do in Christ.
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.

August 21, 2016 "JESUS UNDER STRESS"

SPIRIT OF FIRE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in the eternal, gracious presence of God the creator of all things.
We believe God’s fiery presence was revealed in the burning bush that was not consumed.
We remember too, how God accompanied the wandering Israelites through the darkness,
as a pillar of fire lighting their way.
We believe God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, to ignite once again,
our hearts, our minds and our spirits.
Jesus preached good news, and his words were like a fire burning within us.
He promised a baptism of the Spirit and of fire.
It was on the day of Pentecost that God’s Holy Spirit was poured out upon Jesus’ disciples.
A fiery passionate presence, the Holy Spirit opened their mouths to proclaim
God’s deeds of power, in every language.
We believe God’s Holy Spirit is ever-present advocating for ALL people.
As the body of Christ in the world, we believe that Spirit is at work
igniting within each of us a spirit of openness and radical welcome.
Thanks be to God!
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O Most Loving and Compassionate Creator, we are continually amazed by your goodness and kind consideration. Keep us from second guessing your will and way for humankind reminding us that your will for us is and has always been goodwill. Let your commandment to love one another as you have loved us, guide our thoughts and our steps along the path of discipleship. When we encounter days full of darkness and turmoil re-kindle within us the light and warmth of your presence. Let us not be impatient with your timeline. Empower us to trust that you are forever and always the God of wondrous deeds. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
A FIERY INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Discovering how to make fire changed the course of human history. If you want someone to fish or cut bait, sometimes you have to light a fire under them. If you are impressed with someone’s work performance you describe them as a ball of fire -- if unimpressed you say: “Well, she’s no ball of fire.” When deluged with criticism, we come under fire and we just might fire back. When we are thrown into a job setting or a situation unfamiliar to us, we may say we have experienced a baptism by fire, better described as a “trial by fire,” which was one of the many medieval “trial by ordeal” techniques used to decide a person’s truthfulness, guilt or innocence. May the Holy Spirit who baptizes us with fire from on high, ignite within you a spirit of generosity for the well-being of Christ’s church.
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.

August 14, 2016 "BE DRESSED FOR ACTION"

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
Dearest ABBA, Father, we have come to worship you not as solitary hearts, but as those who are joined together in community. We confess our fear of the unknown, desirous of a crystal ball that will reveal to us what is to come. We apologize sincerely for offering prayers that are more akin to laundry lists, than sincere communiques asking for guidance. Give us servant hearts, O God; hearts ready to work, hearts that are always awake and alert to your call. Give us unselfish spirits that seek to solve and resolve whatever comes, patiently, kindly and creatively, for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
In L. Frank Baum’s story of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Glinda the Good Witch of the North reveals to Dorothy Gale the charm of the “Silver Slippers” she inherited from the Wicked Witch of the East. "The Silver Shoes, have wonderful powers. And one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps, and each step will be made in the wink of an eye. All you have to do is to knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go..." Dorothy’s shoes are reminiscent of the golden winged sandals of the Greek god, Hermes, the swift messenger of the gods, as well as, the god of travel, commerce, luck, gambling and thieves!? Having a pair of golden winged sandals, or charmed silver slippers in the closet would certainly help us move into action quickly, should the need arise, but being clothed in Christ will most assuredly keep us ever-ready.
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.

August 14, 2016 "BE DRESSED FOR ACTION"

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
Dearest ABBA, Father, we have come to worship you not as solitary hearts, but as those who are joined together in community. We confess our fear of the unknown, desirous of a crystal ball that will reveal to us what is to come. We apologize sincerely for offering prayers that are more akin to laundry lists, than sincere communiques asking for guidance. Give us servant hearts, O God; hearts ready to work, hearts that are always awake and alert to your call. Give us unselfish spirits that seek to solve and resolve whatever comes, patiently, kindly and creatively, for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
In L. Frank Baum’s story of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Glinda the Good Witch of the North reveals to Dorothy Gale the charm of the “Silver Slippers” she inherited from the Wicked Witch of the East. "The Silver Shoes, have wonderful powers. And one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps, and each step will be made in the wink of an eye. All you have to do is to knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go..." Dorothy’s shoes are reminiscent of the golden winged sandals of the Greek god, Hermes, the swift messenger of the gods, as well as, the god of travel, commerce, luck, gambling and thieves!? Having a pair of golden winged sandals, or charmed silver slippers in the closet would certainly help us move into action quickly, should the need arise, but being clothed in Christ will most assuredly keep us ever-ready.
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.

August 7, 2016 "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE ABOUT?"

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 are ever grateful for your grace. When we gather together in worship, we intend, as a community of faith, to thank you formally for all of your blessings. If someone asked us why we go to church, our first and simplest answer might just be: to say thanks. The children might answer, my parents made me come church, but someday in the future they will remember the moments of goodness they experienced here. Some of us willingly confess that we are here because we need fellowship. We have a need to sing favorite hymns and learn something about the way you are at work in our lives. For some being in worship energizes their soul like a dose of spiritual vitamins. Still others are challenged by your word to ponder the meaning of discipleship. Let us never take for granted the privilege and freedom we are afforded to worship you in peace. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
In 1958 Chairman Mao Zedong declared war on sparrows. He believed they disrupted China’s agriculture. Adults and school children were recruited to the fight the war against the birds. Girls’ middle school rifle teams received training in techniques for shooting birds, and 150 free fire zones were set up for the purpose. The bird warriors ended up killing too many sparrows. Not enough survived to keep the locusts and grasshoppers at bay. The insects devoured Chinese crops and 35,000,000 people died of starvation. In the 1850s North America introduced House Sparrows to rescue Elm trees from caterpillars. It didn’t take long before ornithologists resented the bird immigrants and declared war on the alien invaders. China might have dodged a significant bullet by taking a look at our history with “sparrows.” Civilla Martin wrote “His Eye is on the Sparrow” in 1905, referencing Luke 12 verse 7: “Do not be afraid you are of more value than many sparrows.” Hmmmmm —Maybe not so much.
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 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.