Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Pentecost +22
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Luke 20:27-38
Call to Worship (from Psalm 145)
One: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!
Many: We’ve come together as God’s people, eager to offer our praise!
One: God’s greatness is unsearchable.
Many: With one voice, we declare God’s mighty acts:
One: Justice, kindness, saving grace – these mark God’s every move.
Many: Surrounded by this company of people who love God,
let us worship the Lord our God!
Opening Prayer
Mighty God,
thank you for your myriad merciful ways.
You’re slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Hear us as we call on you in truth,
grateful for your promise to watch over us.
May our cries pour forth, even as you save us for service now
and for celebration each day as we taste your Realm here on earth.
Receive our praise in this hour! AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
Just a week ago, many of us observed All Saints Sunday, remembering those whose lives came to an end in the last year and lifting up some of the saints of the church.
As our lives continue, each one of us has the opportunity to decide how we share our time, our talent and our treasure for the things we most desire.
If all people were to know about us was captured on our credit card bill or our check book record, what would they show? If all our time was divided into categories, what portion would our “giving to others” time slot show?
And if the demonstration of our talent could be seen, would it show up in a list of faith-related activities?
Truly, all of us are challenged to offer our lives as stewards of God’s many gifts. This is the time in our service for you to respond to this invitation:
with your offering of treasure, of time, and of talent.
What does your offering say about you?
How might you change what you offer if you were to look at your gift as a distinctive demonstration of your identity as a follower of Jesus, the Christ?
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Living God, as we present these gifts to you, we say “thank you” for the ways Jesus modeled true stewardship, sharing all he had as he taught, healed and witnessed to your love. Now please accept our gifts as signs of our true identity as disciples/followers of Jesus. Help us translate this money into acts of compassion, justice and reconciliation. Open our eyes to see a glimpse of the way your will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is asked questions about what happens in the resurrection. His response comes with direct correlations to the teachings of the Torah. He reminds his listeners that they/we serve a God not of the dead, but of the living (Luke 20:38).
We are living AND we are children of the resurrection!
That combination becomes visible when we come to this communion table. Here we remember Jesus and his disciples, gathered in an upper room. We also recognize this as a rehearsal for the banquet when the Risen Christ will welcome all (from north and south, east and west) to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Because we are living, we relish this opportunity to share in tangible reminders of Jesus.
Because we are children of the resurrection, we also eagerly anticipate the time when God’s will is fully done and the “circle won’t be broken.”
So come to this table, for you are alive
and by your faith, you’re claimed as a child of the resurrection!