Sunday September 24, 2017
Year A, Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost :: Green ::
Exodus 16:2-15 :: Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 :: Philippians 1:21-30 :: Matthew 20:1-16
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Adapted from Psalm 105
L: O give thanks to the LORD,
P: Sing to the LORD, tell of God’s wonderful works.
L: Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
P: Seek the LORD’s strength and presence continually.
L: Remember the wonderful works of the LORD,
P: For we are the offspring of Abraham, the children of Jacob. Amen.
Invocation:
Almighty and wonderful God, we are thankful that you have claimed us as your own. We have come to give thanks and praise, for all that you have done, and offer our prayers in hope for all that you are going to do. Guide us in our time of worship, and drawer us ever nearer to you, for you are our God and we, your people, through the everlasting love and sacrifice of your Son, Jesus the Christ.
Stewardship Moment:
It has been said “You can’t out give God.” During the Exodus, when the Israelites were longing for the fleshpots of Egypt, God gave Manna. Then, as if it wasn’t enough, God sent quails each evening. No, even in the midst of the nothingness the Israelites were facing, you cannot out give God, for God is the great provider. All God asks is that you return a portion. The only question is this: will you return a portion?
Stewardship Moment for Reconciliation Special Offering:
What is your story? Your story of redemption? Your story of acceptance? Your story of faith? Do you have those stories? Most of us do. Sometimes in the cocoons of our churches, we can forget that others’ stories, even in the same city, can be very different. Through telling our stories, we begin to foster understanding. The Special Offering for Reconciliation Ministries, Our leaders in the anti-racist pro-reconciling aspect of our shared mission, helps us share and understand. As you prepare your tithes and offerings today, and next week in honor of World Communion Sunday, won’t you please consider a special gift for reconciliation? Help us to tell the stories of redemption and hope.
Offertory Prayer:
Generous God, who has filled the earth with food, our hearts with love, and our lives with grace; we come offering our gifts before you. Bless and use them, we pray, so that others may know the unending glory of your goodness. Amen.
Communion Meditation:
Christ has called us together around this table. It is no mistake that the word communion has similar roots to the word community. We celebrate and remember Christ together. As we come together at Christ’s table, let us do so in remembrance of Christ, and his call for us to love one another.
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Scripture Quotations from the New Revised Standard Version. Online Scripture links a service of the Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library, of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Check out all of the awesome resources there at http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu