Summer Schedule: During the month of August Service at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m. No Service at St. David’s
August
12th, 2012
11th
After Pentecost-41st General Council Worship
* please
stand as able
Thoughts around which to gather as we worship: What does the Lord require?
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate
and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously—take God
seriously.
THE MESSAGE: The Prophets Copyright ©2000 by Eugene H. Peterson.
Announcements The Work of
Church and Community
WE ENTER IN — To Do Justice
Welcome and greeting one another
with the Peace of Christ.
One: The peace
of Christ be with you.
Response: And with your spirit.
* Introit What
Does the Lord Require of You? VU701
Call to Worship based on Psalm 46:10
Be
still and know I am God. Arrêtez, et sachez que je suis Dieu.
Moment of Silence
Opening Prayer
* Hymn Make a Joyful Noise All the Earth VU820
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
From throughout this nation and beyond we gather, bringing with us the rich
diversity of our lives as well as the baggage of prejudice, stupidity, and
greed. We admit to you and to each other that we are unfair and unjust to our
neighbours. In our worldly economy, the rich get richer while the poor sink
more deeply into indebtedness. We lack the compassion that produces justice. We
are disloyal; we put our petty, selfish desires ahead of your yearning for the
planet's well-being. We take our wishes seriously, while ignoring the needs of
our fellow creatures, forgetting your passion for abundant life for the earth
and all her life-forms. We need your forgiveness, Holy Creator, to soften our
hard hearts and open our rigid minds. Fill us, we pray, with your Spirit, and
tune us to your intention for creation, so that we live as changed and loving
people, in the name of Jesus, your beloved and anointed child. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Listen! Put arms and legs to your prayers. Live as forgiven people
destined to enlighten the world with God's light. You already have the kingdom
of God in your core and community, so share it with that part of the world that
you can touch. Amen.
WE ENCOUNTER — To Love Kindness
Micah 6:8 What does the Lord require of you?
Psalm 130 (sung) I wait for God with all my heart VU852
The Gospel
Acclamation
John 6:35, 41–51 I am
the bread of life.
Reflection
on the Word
WE ENGAGE — To Walk Humbly with Our God
* A New
Creed We are
not alone VU
918
Offertory Invitation
In our
thanksgiving and gratitude let us make our offering to the Mission and Service
Fund and to the ministry of these congregations.
* Offering
Song/Doxology We Give You But Your
Own VU542
Prayers of the People
ONE:
To you, Holy One, we bring our prayers for the world and ourselves. To you we
offer our gratitude and praise,
ALL: Thank
you for letting us be part of your creation.
ONE:
Thank you for allowing us to meet during this week to find your truth, your
will, your justice, your compassionate love, so that we may walk with you, and
with each other,
ALL: Thank
you for calling us to serve you and your creation.
ONE:
Guide us in giving up our predatory attitudes and behaviour as we learn to care
for your lambs instead of fleecing them,
ALL: Thank
you for the capacity to be gentle, generous, welcoming, and hospitable, and
help us exercise this capacity.
ONE: We
already know, Loving Creator, what you expect of us.
ALL: Accept
our pledge, we pray, to do what is fair, to reveal your steadfast love in our
words and actions, and to laugh at ourselves more while we do your
serious business.
ONE: We
pray for peace in the world.
ALL: Lead
us in developing peace within our own hearts, and giving it away with wild abandon.
ONE:
We pray for wise distribution of the material blessings that provide for the
joyous survival of the nations.
ALL: Let
justice flow like water, and peace be an ever-flowing stream.
ONE:
Because we still live with the stolen benefits snatched from other people, we
still must learn to reject our bullying ways, to make restitution, to atone for
our greed, and to transform raging violence to healing energy.
ALL: We thank you that, in Jesus, we see that all of
these things are possible for us because
all things are possible for you.
ONE: As we have learned from Jesus, we pour out our
souls to you as we pray in the language of our choosing, to you who are to us
our Mother and…Our Father who art in
heaven…(The Lord’s Prayer)
* Closing Hymn May the God of Hope Go with
Us VU424
* Commissioning
ONE: Friends, you
have been commissioned with the Ministry of Jesus Christ. So rise up! Get to it!
ALL: May we seek
justice, love kindness as together we walk humbly with our God.
* Benediction
And as
you go forth from this place today, take with you the blessing of the God of
Micah and Miriam. Take with you the Blessing of Jesus our Christ, who walks
with us. And take with you the blessing of the Holy Spirit who leads us on into
the future. Go now in Peace.
* Choral Amen
Blessings
unto you and your congregation,
General
Council 41, Worship Planning Committee
Linda Ervin, Fran Hare, Adam Kilner, Jeffrey
Rock, Dong-Chung Seo
