Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Epiphany +7
Genesis 45:3-11,15
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40
Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 37)
One: Be still and know; wait patiently for God.
Many: All who wait for the Lord will enjoy rich blessings.
One: Today we focus our hearts and minds to take delight in the Lord.
Many: God’s goodness surrounds us!
One: God is our refuge in times of trouble.
Many: Today we’re stepping away from the clamor to be still and know
as we wait for the Lord!
(If you have Worship and Wonder children, invite them to respond by singing “Be Still and Know.” Or introduce and use the first verse from this online version.)
Opening Prayer
God, we delight in you!
In the midst of challenging times, when winter continues to surround us, remind us from the dawning of each day through the darkness of each night, you are ever-present. Thank you for this new day, for the opportunity we have to focus our hearts and minds on your goodness.
Help us not fret! We’re eager to share the deepest thoughts of our minds, and the unspoken fears of our hearts.
Help us look beyond the limitations of our eyes, into the boundless wonder of your love, even as we lift our praise, for you are our refuge.
Moment for Stewardship (from Luke 6)
Have you heard this scripture in church, or from your parents, or Sunday School teachers: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).
For some congregations, this Sunday helps us focus on the work of the Week of Compassion.
What’s that about? Week of Compassion is the Christian Church (Disciples) organization which reaches around the world, across the whole year to respond to all kinds of disasters.
Can you imagine what it would mean for us to be faced with the destruction of our church building and our homes? What would we want others to do for us?
Can you imagine if we had such a long drought it became impossible for everyone to grow food across our whole country? What would we want others to do for us?
We would want folks to do what Week of Compassion suggests:
Stay! (it’s not yet time to go help repair)
Pray!
And Pay!
Today, every dollar you give for disaster relief to Week of Compassion will provide the whole dollar go respond to disasters around the world. Every dollar which is contributed in general support will continue allowing Week of Compassion to keep on working. Long after the headlines have faded and the cameras have been turned off, Week of Compassion and its partners will still help with long-term recovery.
Our offering today includes our regular giving, and our appeal to give generously for Week of Compassion, knowing our gifts will help both right now and in the months and years to come.
With gratitude, let us do to/for others as we would have them do to/for us!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Mighty God, you brought all of creation into being and saw it was good. You sent Jesus to show humanity the Way of Love. Thank you for opening our hearts and our hands as we seek to do to others as we would have them do to us. Let these gifts be the measure we give because we yearn to remain in love. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
In the Luke 6 text we’ve heard today Jesus teaches:
“love your enemies,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you”.
Most of the time, these sound like impossible tasks.
But, when we come to this Table, when we give thanks for Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and when we lovingly share in this communion, we recognize how the Spirit moves in us, giving us capacities we do not have on our own.
Today, as we focus on the love symbolized at this table, breathe in your connection to Jesus Christ and to the saints (both present and beyond) who make up this part of the body of Christ.
And rejoice, for you are able to do far more than any of us can do our own own when our hunger is satisfied here.
(Use CH # 429, “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart” as your communion hymn.)