Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Pentecost +9
Call to Worship (from Psalm 50)
One: The mighty one, God the Lord, calls us!
Many: We are God’s people.
One: Today, we gather, eager not to forget God!
Many: Today, we bring our gratitude.
One: Thanksgiving is our offering,
Many: and so we pray, bound to one another, and to God, by covenant.
Opening Prayer
God, you bring us together.
You offer to be our covenant partner, binding us to you and to one
another in your love.
Forgive us when we “play act.”
Shake us up when we come to worship gritting our teeth,
determined simply to bide our time in an empty exercise.
Remind us in this time of singing, praying and delving into scripture
that you are our God.
Accept our sacrifice of true thanksgiving for you and all you provide. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
Often when we come to this time in our worship, we move almost by rote. People who come frequently know it takes generous giving from many to keep the congregation “in the black.” We invite individuals and families to participate in the offering, encouraging one another to be “good stewards of the gifts God has given you” or to “return a portion of what God has given to you.”
But in Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12, the faithful (called “little flock” as a diminutive word of affection) are directed:
“Sell your possessions, and give alms.”
The word “alms” is different than regular stewardship. It comes from a Greek word for “compassion” or “mercy.” Alms are a response of compassion in the face of the poor.
Our offering time today gives us opportunity to share as stewards –
regular giving for the support of this congregation –
but also as people of compassion, giving “alms.”
Please give now, putting your treasure where you want your heart to be!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of mercy, you have made us in your image. Thank you for this opportunity to respond with compassion, in imago dei, giving alms, beyond our regular, weekly giving. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
Jesus often helped his disciples and others recognize more about God.
Often he spoke about God’s generosity and God’s desire to provide for believers. When we come to moment in worship, we see tangible evidence of God’s intention to “give (us) the kingdom”.
This table holds gifts of bread and juice, true signs of God’s nurturing care. In this one loaf, we, who are many, are “membered”, each one of us one part (or “member”) of the one body of Jesus the Christ.
In this one cup, we are united, like many grapes coming together to be made into juice.
As we eat and drink, we can glimpse what God intends:
enough for everyone, shared with all who come.
No one is turned away, no one is forbidden. All are welcome at this table of the Lord. That, surely, is a sign of God’s Realm “in this very room.”
(Consider a solo, the choir, or the congregation singing CH #295, “In This Very Room” as communion music.)