October 4, 2015
Year B, Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Genesis 2:18-24 :: Psalm 8 :: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 :: Mark 10:2-16
Editor’s Note: We are in the midst of about 25 weeks of texts which are less connected by one theme than to each other week to week. The lectionary follows somewhat sequential readings in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Psalms which supplement them. The New Testament Readings are also sequential week to week, but do not necessarily fit a theme. Given this, I will be attempting to tie Call to Worship and Invocation to Hebrew Scriptures; Stewardship and Communion to Gospel and Epistle with little concern for overarching theme.
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Adapted from Psalm 8
L: O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name.
P: You have set your glory above the heavens.
L: When we look at your heavens, the work of your hand,
P: What are human beings that you are mindful of us?
L:Yet you make us a little lower than you, O God,
P: And crown us with glory and honor.
L: O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name.
P: How majestic is your name in ALL THE EARTH!
Invocation:
Wonderful creator, God almighty, as we come into your sanctuary, make us more aware of your presence. Guide us into the holiness which this awareness demands. Help us to see anew all that you have created. Every thing and every one. Help us to know that your hand is in each person, and they are worthy of respect and honor, as one who was made “a little lower than God”. Forgive us our past transgressions against one another and your creation. Help us to live in the manner Jesus taught us. We ask it in the name and by the grace of the one who sits at your right hand.
Stewardship Moment (FOR US CONGREGATIONS):
Today is Reconciliation Sunday. A day we look back in time and recognize that we have not treated all of our brothers and sisters with the dignity of being God’s creation. It is a day when we look at our current situation and realize that while we have grown in our understanding of one another, we are not “there” yet. Today is a day when we look to the future, when all of God’s children will be truly regarded as equal, capable, loving, and loved. As we make our gifts before God, today we ask for a special gift to help make that future day come to life: on earth as it is in heaven.
Stewardship Moment (FOR CANADIAN CONGREGATIONS):
Today we look ahead to Thanksgiving. A day we set aside to celebrate and give thanks for all the Gifts God has given us. We marvel at the wonder of our bodies and how we were created. We revel in the love of true communities of family and friends giving thanks to God. We reflect on the gift of a mind and its ability to contemplate higher things. On this special day, as we give thanks to God, we honor our Disciple Commitment to higher education: to places which challenge the body and mind to grow in true community. As we bring our gifts, we ask for a special gift to help continue these wonderful places which challenge us to grow.
Offertory Prayer:
God of Wonders and Majesty, we indeed marvel at all of your creation. How you knit us together in intricacy and call us to community. We offer these gifts in the hope that one day all will know true community, all will be able to achieve their highest goals, and all will be able to honor you. Amen.
Communion Meditation:
It is WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY. The first Sunday in October, all Christian bodies have agreed to be one. To come to Christ’s table together. As Disciples, it is a polar star kind of day when the world sets aside differences of practice and belief to all engage in one act of Christian practice. Yes, communion is something we do each time we gather for worship, but somehow knowing that all believers will come to the table today still makes it more special. As we are welcomed to dine with Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, Independents, The Churches of Christ, Methodists and Presbyterians, and, and, and. . . it feels like we are honoring Jesus’ prayer in the Gospel of John “that they may all be one.” And as we come to this table, knowing all of our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world join us, we see a little slice of God’s reign on earth, as it is in heaven.
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