Tuesday, June 26, 2018
June 24, 2018 MY PRAYER FOR YOU
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 our advocate.
We believe that the Spirit speaks the language of redemption to our souls.
As the body of Christ, 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
Glorious God, you have been guiding each of us along our individual paths from the moment of our birth and somehow you brought all of us together as a congregation to be a worshiping community. A dozen years ago we couldn’t have imagined who we would become, but we began to see your handiwork as we stepped up and took a risk with our hearts and spirits, making daring commitments to “feed your lambs,” “tend your sheep,” and “feed your sheep,” in the name of Jesus. We know the work of the church is never complete, and though we have accomplished much, there is no resting on our laurels. Give us courageous spirits ready and willing to grow and flourish as we welcome newcomers and mentor them as leaders for the sake and life of the body. All this we pray in the name of the one whose love is over all, Jesus Christ, our savior, friend, and Lord. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Like our own alphabet there is a first and last letter in the Greek Alphabet: Alpha — Α α — is the first letter, its meaning recognized as the primary force. The Omega — Ω ω — is the last, its meaning recognized as the ultimate limit of a set. The small alpha and the capital Omega, which is transcribed “o” in the modern Greek alphabet, are closed letters, circular in appearance denoting, perhaps a continuity between endings and beginnings. Let the spirit that has united us be a circle unbroken, ever-widening to include all people continuous in our mission and commitment as we strive to live up to our role as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, June 9, 2018
June 10, 2018 "JESUS MELTDOWN"
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 who would be the revelation of God’s steadfast love and mercy.
Throughout his life, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.
When he died on the cross he commended his spirit into God’s keeping,
and God raised him from the dead.
This Spirit is THE VOICE that speaks to us in our present, moving ever onward
as the enlightened body of Christ into our future.
The Spirit teaches us to speak the language of salvation and empowers us to tell the stories of Jesus and his love.
The Spirit compels 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 resilient and steadfast in our witness, while we have life and breath, proclaiming the Good News to and for all!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Most awesome and loving Creator God, we lift a triumphant prayer of thanks and praise as we ponder all of the blessings you have bestowed upon us. This glorious sanctuary has been home to this worshiping community for 53 years. Many of us have embraced a whole new spiritual life here understanding at last, that your love for each one of us is not only immeasurable, but unbreakable as well. We pray never to forget the enormity of your grace and patience when it comes to dealing with human foibles. Give us hearts full of hope and spirits ready for anything. Let us not dwell in doubt, but lead us into a new day of discovering your will and way for us. All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
That expression “too close for comfort” is the idiom we use to describe the physical and psychological dis-ease we feel when we have had a “close shave” or a “near miss” or our personal space invaded by something or someone. Remember when you were a kid wondering how all those clowns fit into the clown car at the circus? Remember the teens of the 50’s working out just how many bodies could be crammed into a phone booth? Admittedly we like to see the church filled with worshipers, but if it was the case every Sunday, we would begin talking about the need for breathing room. The church is called to make a place for every soul. It is only your support that sustains us in that calling.
June 3, 2018 "HARD HEARTED HANNAHS"
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 who would be the revelation of God’s steadfast love and mercy.
Throughout his life, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.
When he died on the cross he commended his spirit into God’s keeping,
and God raised him from the dead.
This Spirit is THE VOICE that speaks to us in our present, moving ever onward
as the enlightened body of Christ into our future.
The Spirit teaches us to speak the language of salvation and empowers us to tell the stories of Jesus and his love.
The Spirit compels 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 resilient and steadfast in our witness, while we have life and breath, proclaiming the Good News to and for all!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Beloved Creator, we lift our prayer of praise and thanksgiving, assured of your ever-presence with us. From the beginning of all things, you have believed in your creation, unabashedly proclaiming that everything made with your hands was good. Help us to embrace without hesitation, without fear or timidity the goodness and authenticity you have breathed into each one of us. When we get anxious about what’s next, what’s new and different, what is to come, what may or may not change, remind us that you are walking with us through all of it. Who knows change better than you, anyway? Plant the seeds of possibility in our fertile hearts, O God, and we shall bring glorious things to flower in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The third verse of Hank William’s famous song goes like this: You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry. You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from life, to try it just ain't smart? Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart? I think similar words came tumbling from Jesus’ mouth any number of times as he encountered broken, hurting people in his ministry. As many as were healed, I am guessing there were many others who wouldn’t risk it, because that would require letting go of the past where the slights, hurts, disappointments, and regrets live. The church invites the whole world to risk being healed; the community of faith builds hearts of good courage to sustain it.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
May 20, 2018 PENTECOST SUNDAY "THE VERY BREATH OF GOD"
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 who would be the revelation of God’s steadfast love and mercy.
Throughout his life, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.
When he died on the cross he commended his spirit into God’s keeping,
and God raised him from the dead.
This Spirit is THE VOICE that speaks to us in our present, moving ever onward
as the enlightened body of Christ into our future.
The Spirit teaches us to speak the language of salvation
and empowers us to tell the stories of Jesus and his love.
The Spirit compels 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 resilient and steadfast in our witness,
while we have life and breath,
proclaiming the Good News to and for all!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Wondrous and surprising God, today we celebrate the coming of your Holy Spirit. John proclaimed that the Spirit was gifted to Jesus’s disciples on the day of the resurrection. Luke wrote that the Holy Spirit came crashing in like a might wind on the day of Pentecost causing the 120 remaining disciples of Jesus to speak in foreign languages. And growing up in the church, we are taught that on the day of our Baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We confess that we are not always attuned to that Spirit at work in us, but we believe that when we are in synch with the Spirit, we are fully connected with you. O, Lord, when our hearts are one with yours, we can do marvelous things in your name. Help us not to get downhearted or put off, when our work is delayed or sidetracked by the workings of the world. Set our eyes, hearts, and minds on the prize which is forever and always, your kingdom come, upon the earth. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
How many of you are drawn to high-spirited people? We hope what they have is catching. I confess I am not drawn to people who are chronically low-spirited, because that can also be contagious. When people’s good spirits are in evidence we want to bask in the glow of their good vibrations. Further we describe people as free spirits and kindred spirits, or possessed of a holiday spirit, a willing spirit, a carefree or blithe spirit, a spirit of adventure and a fighting spirit. But how often have you described a kindred spirit as “Holy Spirited?” Right here, right now own that we are Holy Spirited people, thoroughly and completely possessed of the promised Holy Spirit individually and corporately. Let us celebrate our Holy Spiritedness as the ushers come forward to receive your high-spirited gifts.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
May 13, 2018 "THEIR PRAYERS FOR US"
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 that by serving one another,
we are connected to the heart of God.
We believe we share Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our regrets and sorrows upon his own shoulders,
and bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead, as promised.
After Jesus’ resurrection, we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit was their ever-present advocate, counselor of truth, and companion.
We believe that same Spirit resides with us, interceding for us,
and empowering our work in the name of the Christ.
The Spirit reminds us daily to love God and one another as
the Christ loved us. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Loving and Generous Lord, today is the final Sunday of Eastertide, the day of Christ’s ascension to that heavenly seat at your right hand. Before his death and after his resurrection, the gospels tell us how Jesus prayed mightily for his disciples and the work that they would carry on his name. As we embrace our future open our eyes as you did the eyes of the first disciples. Let us see all of the new and glorious ways there are to serve you in this day and age. Because we have needed you in our lives, we believe others we meet along the WAY will need you as well. As we share stories of how we came to be your friends through Jesus, may those who are listening believe your friendship also belongs to them. All this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
It was my mother who first quoted these verses from Hamlet: “To Thine own self be true.” I assumed she was telling me to be truthful, honest, and ethical, never being afraid to stick to my guns, to keep my own counsel, not follow the of the crowd. If I marched to a different drummer so be it. The full verses of Polonius to Laertes read: “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” I learned that this fatherly advice to be loyal to his own best interests first, and take care of others later, finds Laertes betraying his best friend. Contrary to modern day interpretation “To thine own self be true” was not written by Shakespeare as an ideal to be lauded or emulated. Judas was true to himself. Jesus taught us to put others before ourselves.
MAY 6, 2018 "A CHARGE TO KEEP"
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 that by serving one another,
we are connected to the heart of God.
We believe we share Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted.
We believe that Jesus took the burden of our regrets and sorrows upon his own shoulders,
and bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead, as promised.
After Jesus’ resurrection, we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers.
The Holy Spirit was their ever-present advocate, counselor of truth, and companion.
We believe that same Spirit resides with us, interceding for us,
and empowering our work in the name of the Christ.
The Spirit reminds us daily to love God and one another as
the Christ loved us. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O most glorious Creator, you are not only the master builder of the universe, but a doting, patient, and forgiving parent. Indeed, You surprise us by your immeasurable grace. Even when we think the very worst of ourselves, you work diligently to help us move beyond self-denigration. When we head out in the other direction thinking too much of ourselves, puffing ourselves up to great heights of entitlement, you open our eyes to the plight of those who have lost everything. You are always at work inspiring us to take that oh so, necessary step forward, prodding us to choose the smarter way, the compassionate way, the way of Jesus. Strengthen our resolve to be an even stronger, more open, ever more involved and welcoming body of Christ as we reach out to the community and the world around us. Let us bring glory to your name, O Lord, we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
In anticipation of his death Jesus left humanity a will. He had no hard cash, property, blue-chip stocks or bonds to leave his disciples. He had nothing in the way of tangible assets to help his followers carry out their call to minister in his name. He hadn’t the wherewithal to build a Chrystal Cathedral in downtown Jerusalem. Nevertheless Jesus did leave a will, an ethical will, which he gave to his disciples for safekeeping. His words, his deeds, his encounters with people from all walks of life he left for us, a treasure to cherish. Much liked the servant in the parable of the talents who buried his one talent in order to return it to the master intact; not all of Jesus’ disciples shared what was left to them. Please help the church carry on sharing Jesus’ legacy of Love.
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