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worship service for sunday, september 27, 2020

9/23/2020

PLUMSTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 27, 2020— 17th Sunday After Pentecost
Watch a video of the service

* Call to worship
Listen, O people, to holy teaching;
tune your ears to hear God’s word.
We gather to proclaim our sacred story,
to tell of God’s wondrous deeds.
Come, O people, into holy space
to worship the Lord, our sustainer and guide.
Let us turn to God in prayer and praise.

* Hymn             220 All People That on Earth Do Dwell

Confession and Assurance
The grace of God overflows for us through Christ Jesus who came into the world to save sinners. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
Loving Lord, you desire that we have the same mind as Christ and imitate his compassionate service. But our minds are fixed on attitudes and ambitions that draw us away from you. We labor for ourselves and attend to the needs of a precious few before considering how our time and talents could bless the world. We look up to the rich and famous and overlook the lowly rather than affirming the dignity of all.
Transform us, we pray. By your grace, give us the same mind and the same love as our Lord Jesus Christ, and work within us until our actions bear witness to the faith our tongues confess.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Jesus Christ came not for the righteous, but to save sinners. Therefore, we can believe the good news that we are in fact forgiven and even now made new creations in Christ.
Thanks be to God!

Prayer for illumination
Lord, what does it profit us to gain the whole world and lose our souls? In the din of demands and distractions, send your Spirit to help us discern your Word and your will. Grant us ears to hear and faith to obey your teachings that offer life and life abundant. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Scripture readings
Exodus 17:1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Matthew 21:23-32
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Sermon

* Affirmation of Faith                                  Philippians 2:5-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God:
Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Lord in your mercy, or Lord, in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offering
With what shall we come before the Lord? What do we have to give to our Lord who emptied himself, humbled himself to the point ot death, death on a cross, for the sake of the world? While we can never repay God for all God has done for us, we are invited, privileged even, to offer in gratitude gifts that represent our joy, loyalty and love. Let us worship as we give.
As a sign of our desire to be faithful, to hear and heed your teachings, we offer you these gifts, Lord of all. We recognize that all we have comes from you and that you hold nothing back from us. In joyful thanksgiving we give you these earthly resources, trusting that you will use them for your divine purposes. Bless this offering. May it bear witness to our love for you and your love for the world. Amen.

* Hymn              306 Fairest Lord Jesus

* Charge and Benediction
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and remain with you always.
* Please stand if you’re able

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worship service for sunday, september 20, 2020

9/18/2020

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To view online worship video
PLUMSTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 20, 2020— 16th Sunday After Pentecost
Welcome and Announcements
* Call to worship (Psalm 105:1-6)
O give thanks to the Lord, call on God’s name,
make known God’s deeds among the peoples.
Sing to the Lord, sing praises to God;
tell of all the Lord’s wonderful works.
Glory in God’s holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Seek the Lord and God’s strength;
seek the Lord’s presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works God has done,
the miracles and the judgments God uttered,
O offspring of God’s servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, the Lord’s chosen ones.
* Hymn      207 (Red) We Have Come to Join in Worship
Confession and Assurance
God offers us grace, and yet we grumble. God hears our grumbling and provides, and yet we want more. God’s generosity knows no bounds, and yet we begrudge God’s goodness. Recognizing the many ways we miss the mark of discipleship, we come to a time of confession, grateful that God’s loving kindness persists even in the face of our ongoing sin.
Lord God, you hear our cries of pain and our murmured complaining. Your relentless compassion for your people defies any human logic or understanding. You provide manna in the wilderness, bread from heaven and the assurance that you will not abandon us in our need. Despite your overflowing goodness, we grumble. Rather than rejoice in your grace to us, we resent that you extend kindness to others. Instead of gratitude for your mercy, we question why you would embrace those we think undeserving — forgetting that none of us are righteous, all of us saved by grace. Forgive us for judging others and begrudging your generosity. We thank you for yet again hearing our cries and responding with love. Amen.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Jesus Christ came not for the righteous, but to save sinners. Therefore, we can believe the good news that we are in fact forgiven and even now made new creations in Christ. Thanks be to God!
Prayer for illumination
Lord, the days run together and our ability to discern your voice through all the world’s noise grows difficult. Recognizing that you still speak, no less than to Moses or Mary, we ask you to send your Spirit that we might hear the word you have for us this day. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.
Scripture readings
Exodus 16:2-25
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but” against the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’“ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’“
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lordhas given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.’“ The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.” But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.
On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers apiece. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord; bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.’“ So they put it aside until morning, as Moses commanded them; and it did not become foul, and there were no worms in it. Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field.

Philippians 1:21-30
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Sermon

Affirmation of Faith    from A Brief Statement of Faith
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba Father.
In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.
But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.
We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage.
Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.
With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Lord in your mercy, or Lord, in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Offering
God provides for us, giving us manna in the wilderness, extending mercy when we fail to follow Jesus, granting grace instead of condemnation. In response to such generosity, we offer our gifts for the sake of making God’s love of creation evident to those in need of knowing that the Lord hears their cries and responds with compassion.
Generous God, receive these gifts as an outward sign of our inward gratitude. We cannot repay you for your goodness to us, but we know you accept that which is given in faith. Take and distribute this offering in ways that show forth your mercy and goodness. Multiply what we offer in ways that nourish others hungry to know they are your beloved people. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.
* Hymn       God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me
God, be the love to search and keep me;
God, be the prayer to move my voice;
God, be the strength to now uphold me:
R O Christ, surround me; O Christ, surround me.

Bind to myself the Name of Holy,
Great cloud of witnesses enfold;
Prophets, apostles, angels witness: R

Brightness of sun and glow of moonlight,
Flashing of lightning, strength of wind,
Depth of the sea to soil of planet: R

Walking behind to hem my journey,
Going ahead to light my way,
And from beneath, above, and all ways: R

Christ in the eyes of all who see me,
Christ in the ears that hear my voice,
Christ in the hearts of all who know me: R.

* Charge and Benediction
* Please stand if you’re able
Pastors: Rev. David Bowman, Rev. Phyllis Zoon
Music: Mrs. Gail Miller

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Food for Thought from "The Courage to see"

9/12/2020

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I often begin my day with a reading from a little book of meditations, The Courage to See. Each one includes a quotation from great literature, a passage from Scripture, and a prayer. This one popped up this week as I was getting ready for Sunday, September 13:

When you encounter another person, when you have dealings with anyone at all, it is as if a question is being put to you. So you must think, What is the lord asking of me in this moment, in this situation? If you confront insult or antagonism, your first impulse will be to respond in kind. But if you think, as it were, This is an emissary sent from the Lord, and some benefit is intended for me, first of all the occasion to demonstrate my faithfulness, the chance to show that I do in some small degree participate in the grace that saved me, you are free to act otherwise than as circumstances would seem to dictate. You are free to act by your own lights. You are freed at the same time of the impulse to hate or resent that person. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, 2004

Then Peter came to [Jesus] and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22

God, help us to forgive, as we expect to be forgiven. Give us strength to live together and love each other.

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Worship Service for Sunday, September 13, 2020

9/12/2020

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Click here to watch recording
PLUMSTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 13, 2020— 15th Sunday After Pentecost
Welcome and Announcements
* Call to Worship     (Psalm 103:1-5)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all God’s benefits —
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Confession and Pardon
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord will not always accuse,
nor will God be angered forever.
God does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Trusting this promise, we boldly confess our sin to God and before one another.
Lord Christ, you declare: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. You instruct us to forgive seventy-seven times, to remember God’s grace toward us and extend it to one another. Despite your clear word to refrain from judging others, we pronounce others guilty and unworthy of our compassion. We quarrel over opinions and sow division when you call us to cultivate relationships and demonstrate our unity in Christ. Instead of responding to your grace with gratitude, we attempt to limit the love you command us to share. Forgive our hard-heartedness. Expand our circles of concern. Enliven our communities with your boundary- breaking, reconciling Spirit. Amen.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is the Lord’s steadfast love toward those who fear God; as far as the east is from the west, so far the Lord removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children, so the God has compassion for those who fear the Lord.
Friends, believe the good news, through Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
Prayer for Illumination
Lord, we come to this time overwhelmed with distractions, consumed with busyness, occupied by worries and unsure of what to do next. And yet, we are here, yearning for a word from you, wanting a sense of your presence, seeking your wisdom for this time and place. Send your Spirit to focus our attention and hone our hearing in order that we might hear what you are saying to your church. Amen.
Scripture
Genesis 50:15-21
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Sermon
Affirmation of Faith (Colossians 1:15-20)
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible.
All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Lord in your mercy, or Lord, in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Offering
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. Knowing this truth we hold nothing back from the God to whom we belong, offering with thanksgiving a portion of what God has entrusted us to steward.
Generous God, we worry that we cannot possibly give you what you deserve, that despite our desire to be faithful, we will fail and fall short. In your grace, you remind us that we need not, that we cannot, repay you for your mercy and goodness toward us, but that you accept and use whatever we offer in gratitude. Bless these gifts given as a symbol of our loyalty and love for you. Amen.
* Charge and Benediction
As God’s own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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worship service for sunday, september 6, 2020

9/2/2020

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Click here to watch a video recording of the online service.
PLUMSTED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 6, 2020— 14th Sunday After Pentecost
Welcome and Announcements
* Call to Worship
The dark night is gone forever,
the new day blooms all around us.
Sing to our God a new song,
let the assembly of believers sing praises.
Throw away all that belongs to darkness,
clothe yourself with garments of light.
Rejoice in the Creator who shaped you,
celebrate the One whose realm is light and love.
Wrap yourselves in the mind of Christ,
for Christ’s love fulfils the law of God.
The Lord enjoys the fellowship of the Lord’s people,
and beautifies them with the Lord’s presence.
Confession and Pardon
God is ready to deal with our pressing needs, our frustrations and our sin.
Merciful God, for some of us it is one of those days
when we do not feel so much ashamed of our sins as thwarted by them; when we are feeling more weary than contrite and more frustrated than guilty.  In all honesty we must admit to you that this is truly how it often is with us.
Therefore. we pray for whatever form your saving love must take to rehabilitate us and put things right. Utterly discomfort us, if that is the best way to go. Lead and encourage us, if that is what we truly need. Give us your stinging rebuke, if that will get us in the right frame of mind. Soothe and tutor us, if that is the remedy best suited to our situation. Please give each of us that particular spiritual make-over which will restore the defaced divine likeness within us all.
We place ourselves at your mercy, praying for the forgiving and renewing and disciplining love of Christ Jesus to redeem us from all evil. In Jesus’ name we so pray.
Fellow stumblers on the path of Christ, lift up your hearts. God is faithful and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Get rid of every weight that hinders you, every fear that limits you, and embrace the new day of God’s love, mercy and truth. Amen!
Prayer of illumination
Sometimes, O God, Your Word is hard for us. Sometimes, O God, we don’t want to hear You. Sometimes, O God, we’d rather pray our comforting prayers, and turn away from what You require. Send Your Holy Spirit, that we may turn to You,
in the Word read and proclaimed, that we may listen, understand, change and obey.
Amen
Scripture
Romans 13: 8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Matthew 18: 15-20
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Sermon
Affirmation of Faith   The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Lord in your mercy, or Lord, in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Offering
God, who has given us food in due season, calls us to share our bread with the hungry. In the name of the one who lived God’s truth among us, we commit ourselves anew to bearing witness. The Holy Spirit, whose winds restore our breath, sends us forth as life-givers. Celebrate this opportunity to give.
May our gifts go forth into our world, so that where people hunger, they may be fed; where there is war, peace might be welcomed; where families are broken, they made be made whole. Then others will be as blessed as we have been by your love, grace, and compassion.  In Jesus' name, we offer our gifts and this prayer of gratitude.  Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
The table is ready.
It is the table of company with Jesus and all who love him.
It is the table of sharing with the poor of the world, with whom Jesus identified himself.
It is the table of communion with the earth, in which Christ became incarnate.
So come to this table, you who have much faith and you who would like to have more; you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time; and you who have tried to follow Jesus, and you who have failed; come.
It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.
Loving God, through your goodness we have this bread and this cup to offer, which has come forth from the earth and human hands have made.
May we know your presence in the sharing, so that we may know your touch and presence in all things.
We celebrate the life that Jesus has shared among his community through the centuries, and shares with us now.
Made one in Christ and one with each other, we offer these gifts and with them ourselves, a single, living act of praise.
Amen.
This is the body of Christ, the bread of heaven.
This is the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.
Prayer after Communion
Thank you, gracious God, for giving us bread for the journey. As we travel on through the wilderness, help us to share your grace with others and draw us ever closer to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* Charge and Benediction
May you who are strong go out into the world with gentleness, and you who are weak go on your way with new strength.
May you who are confident by nature walk now with humility, and you who are anxious step out with more certainty.
Get on with life, knowing that you are the sisters and brothers of Jesus, and the children of the Most High God.
The love of Christ Jesus redeem you from all evil, the love of God hold your fast when all else fails, the friendship of the Spirit keep you in perfect peace, now and evermore.
Amen!
* Please stand if you’re able.

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