November 27, 2016 First Sunday of Advent THE THRILL OF HOPE

AFFIRMATION FOR ADVENT
We believe in God, the giver of life and grace, whose wondrous deeds
bring hope and healing to people of all nations
We believe that God’s decision to be with us, in the person of Jesus,
manifested God’s immeasurable love for humankind.
We abide in Jesus, the Beloved One, whose name is written upon our hearts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is at work whispering words of hope, peace, joy and love
to ALL people.
We believe in the church, the living body of Christ in the world, to which we belong.
As members of the body, we are called to minister to all people in Jesus’ name
seeking transformation for ourselves, the church, and the world.
And so it begins. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and wondrous God of Hope, we look forward to this Advent Season as an opportunity to contemplate our spiritual lives. We confess how very much we like seeing the smiles and laughter on the faces of children as they anticipate Christmas. But help us not to rush the season. Help us be aware of people’s concerted effort to show a kinder side of themselves, even in crowded parking lots and shopping malls. We pray stay the waiting course of Advent, as we prepare our hearts and minds for the arrival of your greatest gift to humankind. We shall not dwell on the former things, or consider the things of old, but we shall perceive the new thing that is sure to make us glad. Fill us with the Hope that is in you, as these Advent days unfold. In the name of the Christ, we pray.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
How many of you thrill to a rollercoaster ride, or thrill at winning the lottery or the jackpot at your favorite slot? How many of you remember the thrill of your first kiss, your first car, your first home, or your first child? “Thrill’s” origin in the 14th century as a verb, meant: to pierce through, perforate, or penetrate as in making a hole. By the 16th century thrill was being used metaphorically to describe a penetrating emotion, that made one shiver with excitement. When translating the French Carol, O, Holy Night, into English, Boston born, Unitarian, John Sullivan Dwight, translated the word tresaille (meaning tremble) to “thrill.” Until 1971 you couldn’t find “thrill” in scripture, but an enthusiastic translator took the Hebrew pâchad meaning, to tremble with fear or dread, in Isaiah 60:5, and put the word “thrill” in its place, which is a word more welcome than tremble, to our sensitive ears, as well as, a feeling we look forward to.
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.

November 20, 2016 "THE KING'S PROMISE"

APOSTLES’ CREED REVISITED
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
Lord God, Sovereign of the Universe, on this, Christ the King Sunday and Thanksgivng Sunday, it is right and good to give thanks for your eternal love and bountiful blessings. From the beginning your desire has been to grant us good, and yet sometimes we doubt. You know well, that when troubles come, our trust and calm can fly out the window. When our confidence is shaken, keep us from anxiety over what may come. Remind us only of your powerful presence in our lives. When negativity and faithlessness invade our spirits, sweep them away like so much dust and ash. Let us trust in you like the Christ who would not lose heart. Energize us for ministry, discovering new ways to serve in Jesus’ name, and fill us, at last, with a Spirit of triumph, believing that your kingdom is won already. All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Do you remember making promises when you were a little kid? I remember promises made with words and hand gestures, as I drew a cross over my chest, and said: “Cross my heart and hope to die.” The phrase is from a much longer poem, but those 7 words were considered enough to seal the deal. I didn’t learn about pinky promises until I was too old to participate in such silliness, even though, the “pinky swear” has been around since 1860, and is believed to be of Japanese origin. Failure to keep the promise in Japan could result in the loss of said precious pinky.** We make all sorts of promises in this life: fidelity in marriage, remembering anniversaries, protecting our children, following doctor’s orders, paying for services rendered, and supporting our church. Breaking most of these promises carries obvious consequences, but there is nothing in the fine print, that says you could lose a pinky if you don’t or can’t keep your promise to the 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.

November 13, 2016 "SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?"

APOSTLES’ CREED REVISITED
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.

November 6, 2016 "JESUS' THEOLOGY OF THE RESURRECTION" or (Just explain it to me like I am a child.)

THE APOSTLES’ CREED REVISITED
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
Wondrous God of grace and glory, we lift our hearts in praise and thanksgiving on this All Saints Day. We are reminded when hearing the names of those who are no longer in our midst, to treasure these moments of worship and communion. We have been blessed by the companionship of these saints as we journeyed together in faith. They inspired us, challenged us, and loved us in their time. We confess our sadness in their absence from the body, but remember in joy that they are now present with you. As this year continues to unfold we pray your blessing upon us. Give us patience in our work and our service, as the days seem to grow ever shorter, and filled with more and more things to get done. Fill us with the hope of good things to come. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
All of us have to take tests in this life and answer questions that aren’t always simple and straightforward. Come on and admit it, how many of you get 100% of the questions right on your drivers test? Jesus was frequently tested being asked all sorts of wild and bizarre questions during his ministry. Many of those examination questions were meant to put him on the spot, and even trip him up, but he always seemed to be able to see through the weirdest most convoluted questions. Often answering a question with a question, the answers he provided, identified the core of the question posed. When asked if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus quite simply said: “Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give God the things that are God’s.” He left it up to those who had ears to hear, to decide which was which, and what they ought to do. The ushers will now receive the offering.
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.

October 30, 2016 "HE KNEW MY NAME!?"

AFFIRMATION OF PERSISTENCE
We believe in God, the creator of heaven and earth.
We accept God’s abundant grace granted while we were being made in secret.
We believe that God’s testimony is written upon our hearts,
and that God forgives our rebelliousness cleansing us of all regret.
We believe in Jesus Christ, anointed to bring good news to the poor,
proclaim release to the captives, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick, and comfort those who mourn.
Because he loved us, he gave his life for us, and then God restored his life.
We believe the Holy Spirit comes to all who are in Christ, Jesus.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us according to the will of God.
We believe in the church, the body of Christ in the world, called to bring good news to the poor,
proclaim release to the captives, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick,
and comfort those who mourn.
We believe persistent prayer, in the name of Jesus,
can heal the body and the soul.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and loving Lord, it is only when we worship together that we join our hearts, minds and voices, lifting them as if singing a weekly anthem of praise to your most holy name. Ours is a corporate song, as we who are many are transformed into the one body giving thanks for your grace, mercy, forgiveness, and your persistent presence in our lives. In worship we remember all the good you have bestowed upon us, offering in response our love, devotion, and a commitment to follow your will and way for us. It is in our worship that we find the courage and stamina to rededicate ourselves, and to affirm our faith as servant disciples of Jesus Christ. In the name of our savior, redeemer and Lord, we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Mrs. Dyer, who lived next door, when I was a little girl, had the most terrific apple tree in her back yard. She would let me climb it whenever I wanted to. I loved to sit in its ample branches watching the robins and squirrels pecking and scurrying. The higher I’d climb the taller I felt. I remember watching my nephew climb a tree like a monkey at the age of 4. He would shout, “See how tall I am.” I knew then, he was destined to be an athlete. He is a linebacker at the University of Washington. Zacchaeus, the star of today’s scripture, was a diminutive man, who climbed a giant sycamore tree, not to feel taller, but to catch a glimpse of the man everyone was talking about. By the time he descended his perch, after meeting Jesus, he had grown in stature by virtue of his changed heart and a new found generosity.
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.

October 23, 2016 "MORE HEART, LESS ATTACK" Part 2

AFFIRMATION OF PERSISTENCE
We believe in God, the creator of heaven and earth. We accept God’s abundant grace granted while we were being made in secret.
We believe that God’s testimony is written upon our hearts and that God forgives our rebelliousness cleansing us of all regret.
We believe in Jesus Christ, anointed to bring good news to the poor,
proclaim release to the captives, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick,
and comfort those who mourn. Because he loved us, he gave his life for us, and then God restored his life.
We believe the Holy Spirit comes to all who are in Christ, Jesus.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us according to the will of God.
We believe in the church, the body of Christ in the world,
called to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, bind up the broken hearted, heal the sick,
and comfort those who mourn.
We believe persistent prayer, in the name of Jesus,
can heal the body and the soul.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Everliving God, pour out your blessing on all those who enter your sanctuary: the curious, the hopeful, the solid, the repentant, the redeemed, the searching, the sure, the unsure, the prepared and the unprepared. Assure us of your presence always, and your eagerness to be a part of our lives. Let your light shine through us as we count the blessings of each day. We long to embrace a positive outlook on life believing that the light at the end of that proverbial tunnel is not a train headed in our direction. Give us moments of laughter so as not to take ourselves too seriously, and lead us into a future full of hope. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Remember those test questions on exams in school that started out Compare and Contrast? You were supposed to answer how two things were alike and how they were different. I remember my mother instructing me not to compare myself to others, I think she said that because she knew I would see myself as less able or not in any way comparable to whoever I was comparing myself to. I think church people compare themselves with others in their ability to support the church financially and see themselves as less able and not in anyway comparable to the amounts given by those they are comparing themselves to. Don’t compare the generosity of your heart to dollars and cents given by others. If your heart is in your giving, that is all that counts in the eyes of God.
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.

October 16, 2016 "MORE HEART, LESS ATTACK" Part 1

AFFIRMATION OF PERSISTENCE
We believe in God, the creator of heaven and earth.
We accept God’s abundant grace granted while we were being made in secret.
We believe that God’s testimony is written upon our hearts and that God forgives our rebelliousness cleansing us of all regret.
We believe in Jesus Christ, anointed to bring good news to the poor,
proclaim release to the captives, bind up the brokenhearted, heal the sick, and comfort those who mourn.
Because he loved us, he gave his life for us, and then God restored his life.
We believe the Holy Spirit comes to all who are in Christ, Jesus.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us according to the will of God.
We believe in the church, the body of Christ in the world,
called to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, bind up the broken hearted, heal the sick,
and comfort those who mourn.
We believe persistent prayer, in the name of Jesus,
can heal the body and the soul.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Most Loving and persistent Lord, let us be aware of your desire to be a part of each and every one of us. Remind us that your word is written upon our hearts even before we take our first breath. Our challenge in this life is to devote ourselves to you. We confess how easy it is to make politics, or money, or social rank and position, our religion, as we debate over our opinions, obsess over our investments and bank balances, or climb and claw our way to the top of some recognition ladder constructed by humans. Even in our devotion to you we can get caught up in what we think is the only and right way to do something. We can forget to consider the many who make up the body of Christ; fragile, flawed, imperfect, at times impatient, humans who are striving at every cross-roads to choose life and love in the name of Jesus. Restore us Lord, when we are weary and revive our spirits daily; in the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
I find it interesting that it seems to be women who stand out in the scriptures as persistent, determined and willing to risk: The woman with the hemorrhage, the Syrophoenician/Canaanite Woman, the Woman with the Alabaster Flask, Mary Magdalene, and the widow of today’s text. The word persistence when broken into its root words means “thoroughly come to stand.” Its definition in modern verbiage is firm or obstinate, continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition; the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult, or opposed by other people. As Christians we are called to be persistent in many things: faith, trust, prayer, devotion to God, each other and to Christ’s church. Let your persistent offerings be an act of devotion to your 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.