Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Pentecost +19
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
Consider using Hayden’s “The Heavens are Telling” in this service.
Here is one possibility: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXdSJwSpAi0
Call to Worship (adapted from Ps. 119)
One: The heavens are telling the glory of God!
Many: In the beauty of nature, the wonders of the stars,
the shining of the sun,
One: we celebrate the gifts which come from God!
Many: In the law, the commandments and the ordinances of the Lord,
our eyes are enlightened.
One: More wanted are the Lord’s teachings than bars of gold.
Many: The heavens are telling! The land proclaims God’s handiwork!
And so we pray:
Opening Prayer (Ps. 19:14)
Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable to you, O Lord,
our rock and our redeemer. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
Jesus’ parables often draw pictures of God’s Realm. Matthew 21:33-46 (also told in Mark and Luke) describes a landowner who improves the land and leases it to tenants. Rather than responding as they had agreed to do, the tenants damaged two sets of the landowner’s servants, and killed his son, hoping to retain all the profits from the land.
Jesus asked the crowds, “what will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants when HE comes?”
We, who have been loaned/leased this earth, may tremble when we hear the answer! Jesus teaches that the Realm of God will be taken away from those who’ve tried to steal, and given to those who produce the fruits of God’s Realm. Those who grab the goods and step on others to reach the top will be removed.
We may not relish the words of Jesus as prophet, but Matthew, Mark and Luke all record these parabolic teachings.
As we come to offer our gifts, what will you bring?
As you consider all you have received, how can you live as a grateful recipient?
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of all good gifts, we offer you a portion of what we have received.
May the meditations of our hearts lead us to consider anew how best to use what we possess, for we do yearn to live in your Realm, both now and in the life to come. AMEN
Invitation to Communion (inspired by Philippians 3:12-14)
We often speak of communion as a remembrance of the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples before Judas betrayed him.
Today, however, I invite you to think of this communion table and these communion elements as a rehearsal setting in anticipation of the Great Banquet.
Paul wrote to the people of Philippi, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…”
This Table is our opportunity to forget even as we repent and are forgiven. (Consider inviting the congregation to stand with their backs to the chancel) That is, literally, we turn our backs on the evil/wrong we’ve done in the past. And we re-turn (repent/turn to the front) and press on toward the goal of abundant life in Christ Jesus.
At this table, we have a foretaste of the Banquet when God’s beloved will come from north and south, from east and west, and sit at the table where Christ is our host.
Today, we bring to the present moment our awareness of Jesus, symbolized in these gifts of bread and juice.
Here, we seek to become honest, loving stewards (care-takers) of what God has entrusted to us.
Here, we rejoice in the wonder of this world (the heavens are telling!)
and deep awareness of life as a gift from our loving Creator.
Come! Share in this feast, a foretaste of God’s full communion!