Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Epiphany +4
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12
Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 15)
One: Giving thanks to God, we’re eager to act out our faith.
Many: We want to do what is right, and speak what is true.
One: Today we choose to walk blamelessly and do what is right.
Many: This day we will do no evil to our friends;
One: this day we will not slander any person.
Many: This day we join in all who want to abide in God.
ALL: We stand by our confession of faith, even when that’s hard to do.
Opening Prayer
Holy God,
When we join those who have praised you over the centuries,
we remember how our actions matter.
Thank you for the delight of coming together to honor you with our voices,
our gifts and our decisions to walk as disciples of Jesus, the Christ.
Accept our praise,
and renew in us the capacity to act out our willingness to love you
and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship (inspired by Matthew 5:1-12)
When someone asks, “How are you?” many of us respond with a simple, “I’m doing well,” or “Good.”
But others respond with, “I’m blessed.” Have you heard that? Or said it?
In Matthew’s Gospel, the first part of Matthew 5 is known as “the Beatitudes.” Jesus is teaching his followers about what comes from the blessings enumerated in verses 3-12.
When someone claims, “I’m blessed,” it’s a declaration and a confirmation of the ways God provides, even for those who are poor, in mourning, or hungering and thirsting for righteousness. When someone says, “I’m blessed,” the recognition holds that even amid persecution or ridicule for following Jesus, there is reason for JOY.
Here’s the truth: When we recognize we’re blessed by God, our natural response is to pass along a blessing to others. One way to do that is to share from our financial resources, eagerly supporting the work of this congregation and our outreach ministries.
Remember! (Highlight one of your ministries that benefits from strong giving by the congregation.) Each time you give to support this __________, we pass along a blessing for others to receive.
Let’s share our gifts, demonstrating our gratitude!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Generous God, thank you for the ways you pour out your blessings on each of us, and on your whole creation. Thank you for this opportunity for us to pour out a portion of what we’ve received. Help us find ways to multiply these gifts, that together we might demonstrate your love made visible. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
The earliest followers of Jesus experienced this master teacher in a variety of settings: on a hillside, in a boat, walking the dusty roads of Galilee. No wonder they continued to follow him!
We, however, do not have the blessing of walking side by side with Jesus. We don’t see him coming in after a night of prayer, or sitting down for a meal with Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
What we DO have is this table – and the remembrance of Jesus sharing a last supper with his followers. We can bring to mind what it is to see Jesus take bread, and pour out a cup of wine before offering these simple elements to all who were at that table.
HERE, now, at this table, we do remember.
Here, NOW, at this table, we claim Jesus as Savior, and share these symbols of his love with all who will come join the feast.
Here, now, at THIS table, we learn once more how Jesus continues to teach in tiny chapels and huge cathedrals.
We recognize how Jesus continues to remind us in this sanctuary of the blessings we receive even in the midst of persecution, even when being a peacemaker calls us into danger.
So come to this table, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
for here you will find strength,
here you will find a blessing to carry with you.