For Sunday May 13, 2012
Mothers’Day
Year B, Sixth Sunday After Easter
Sixth Sunday after Easter :: White :: Acts 10:44-48 :: Psalm 98 :: I John 5:1-6 :: John 15:9-17
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Adapted from Psalm 98
L: O sing to the LORD a new song, for the LORD has done marvelous things.
P: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
L: Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
P: Sing praises to the LORD with the Lyre, the trumpets, and the horn.
L: For the LORD is coming to judge the earth.
P: And the LORD will judge with righteousness.
Invocation:
O God of many names: Sustainer, Redeemer, Friend; Creator, Mother and Father to us all; we come before you to worship. On this day which we have set aside to honor you, we confess that we share the honor of this day with our Mothers. Guide us in our worship, that as we honor those who carried us in life, we not forget it was you who gave us life first. We offer this time of prayer and praise, asking your blessing upon it.
Stewardship Moment:
The Gospel reading today tells of Jesus Commandment to “love one another as I have loved you.” I find that a daunting task. Jesus loved us by laying down his life, forever atoning for sin. I cannot do that. I think what he means is to love sacrificially: truly giving of ourselves to others. One of the ways we can do so is through our gifts to God. When we bring our tithes and offerings, and do so out of love for all that God will do with them, we begin to fulfill Christ’s command. We will now receive the tithes and offerings: sacrificial signs of our love for God and One another.
Offertory Prayer:
O God whose giving knows no ending. We come before you today offering you signs of our love for you, and our love for one another. Take these gifts and use them for the furthering of your reign on earth. We ask your blessing upon all of these gifts and those who have brought them in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion Meditation:
On a summer afternoon at a Youth Ministry Event at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, two Disciples Musicians were introduced to one another. Josh Elson and Andra Moran were brought from California and Tennessee to lead music. They recognized each others’talents and gifts, and about the third day of the event sat down to write a song together. The result was “Table of Love”, a favorite among Contemporary Disciples because it speaks of letting go of sin, leaving it behind, and being bound together in love. On a Sunday where the uniting thread of all we say and do is love, it seems appropriate that we remember we come to this table of LOVE.
*Lyrics available at www.andramoran.com/go/lyrics?id=765074
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