Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
The Center for Faith and Giving will undergo a change in leadership this August as Bruce Barkhauer retires after over 14 years of leading the work of generosity for the Disciples of Christ. You can learn more about our new director, Melissa St Clair here. If you are interested in making a gift to the Fund for Generosity in honor of Bruce’s ministry, you can learn about it here.
As always, you can support the work of this ministry by following this link: donate
Pentecost +10
Call to Worship (inspired by Ephesians 3)
One: We’ve come to share our joy because Christ lives in our hearts.
Many: We’re rooted deeply into the love Jesus offered to the world,
One: and we’re strengthened by the power offered through God’s Spirit.
Many: So let’s open our hearts, eager to be filled with God’s fullness.
One: We’re gathered to give GLORY to God.
Many: Glory be to the One who fills our hearts!
(consider using some “camp” songs with “heart” in worship today like
“Into My Heart”, with the line “shine into my heart, Lord Jesus”)
Opening Prayer
Shine into our hearts, Lord Jesus,
lighting our lives so we can worship the One you called “Abba”.
Let your love fill us to overflowing,
so all we think, say and do will be pleasing to you, God of our lives.
Then, shine OUT of our hearts, Lord Jesus. Let our lives be signs of your abundant life, demonstrating your desire for a world of justice, gratitude and peace,
even as we pray this day through the strong name of Jesus. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
John doesn’t name the boy who brought five barley loaves and two fish with him. We don’t know what inspired the child to put what he had into Jesus’ hands.
Yet, from such a gift, look what happened!
As we come to our morning offering, imagine what could happen if each one of us would eagerly mimic the action of that boy!
We might have people willingly offer their time to stock the food pantry, organize the Worship and Wonder shelves, make phone calls to our shut-ins, write a note to our visitors…
What time could you give to share God’s love in our congregation?
What talents would you offer to spread the Good News of Jesus’ love to folks beyond these walls?
Your IT skills?
Your musical talent?
Your ability to build a ramp for someone unable to leave their home?
What treasure would you place in the offering plate or give on-line through our web-site, today?
What will you offer to add to your will
or leave as an inheritance for this congregation?
You might not be remembered by name, but the story of this boy’s offering has endured thru’ two centuries! Your offering might be like that, as well.
Let us respond with generosity as we receive our morning offering.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of abundance,
Thank you for all you provide for us, day by day.
Thank you for these gifts, now offered back to you
from the lives of your gathered people.
Please accept them. Help us use them in the best ways possible,
that our living faith will be marked by the same generosity
as that young boy offered. AMEN
Invitation to Communion (inspired by John 6:1-15)
As the Paris Olympics began last week, many of us began watching to see who will win in some of the 329 competitions, across 32 sports. These are many of the best athletes in the world. Some of them have been training for years to win a contest which last only a few minutes.
Behind the pageantry and the pure athleticism, I wonder how these 10,000+ athletes find nourishment for each day. Can you imagine trying to prepare for the challenge of feeding this many hungry people? Can you bring to mind how many different cuisines are expected?
John’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus feeding the masses who came to hear him. No chefs, refrigerators or massive tents available. No well-trained athletes coming from around the world. Instead, Jesus faced a mass of humans who had walked to find Jesus on the lakeshore.
A giant crowd, surely now all hungry.
What joy when hunger is met, whether we’re on a lakeshore, all the way to Paris or right here in our own church home!
Joy, which today also comes from knowing we are not in competition, not vying for a gold, silver or bronze metal.
Instead, we ALL are invited,
we ALL are welcome,
we ALL will be fed,
and there is enough for all.
Come! Come with joy!
(use CH #420 “I Come with Joy” as your communion hymn, or as
communion music)