NOTES: Throughout our lives, we experience "watershed" moments or turning points from which we mark "before " and "after." Many times these moments center on an important decision that confronts us. In today's scripture, Jesus encounters a young man who is waffling along in his relationship with God. He believes he has done everything he can, but still he asks the question "What must I do?" Jesus explores this question with him, ultimately calling the question and reframing it as a choice. He does not force the young man to do the right thing. Jesus' empathy for the man in this story speaks to us in our moments of decision.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:17-31
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money[c] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is[d] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another,[e] “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,[f] 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
8:30 AM Order of Service
The Gathering
Welcome
Prelude
We Gather in The Light of Christ
Lighting the Christ Candles
Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!
Hymn of Praise:#90"Come, Christians, Join to Sing"( verses 1 & 2)
Call to Worship
Leader: We look in the mirror and what do we see?
People: We see people who try to be faithful
when questions and struggles challenge us.
Leader: We look in the mirror and how do we see?
People: We see with open hearts, seeking to trust when all the evidence
tells us not to be so foolish.
Leader: We look in the mirror and who do we see?
People: We see Jesus, the One who struggles with
the questions we raise, who models faithfulness
for all who would follow.
People: We see people who try to be faithful
when questions and struggles challenge us.
Leader: We look in the mirror and how do we see?
People: We see with open hearts, seeking to trust when all the evidence
tells us not to be so foolish.
Leader: We look in the mirror and who do we see?
People: We see Jesus, the One who struggles with
the questions we raise, who models faithfulness
for all who would follow.
~ adapted from a piece written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary
Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/
Invocation (UNISON)
Holy Dwelling Place,
Your tent is wide enough to provide
shelter for all who seek you,
food for all who hunger, and
healing for all who suffer.
Meet us here today, and fill us with confidence in your
presence,
that we may risk sharing Jesus’ cup and his baptism
so the world may become
the place of love and justice you desire for all.
Amen.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn:#585 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" ( all verses)
Praying Together
Wind-riding God,
Wind-riding God,
the blue skies, the sunshine,
the cool breezes cradling falling leaves:
all creation reminds us
of the delicate Artist
who has shaped us
and all that is around us.
We lift our songs
of gratitude and awe to you.
Servant-calling Jesus:
you humble our arrogance
with your acts of mercy;
you tip over our pretensions
with your modest nature;
you laugh at our hunger for power
with your words of grace.
Heart-keeping Spirit:
you bear our prayers
to the throne of grace
when they are only whispers
in our souls;
you unfold the road map
to show us the way to the Kingdom;
you transform our stuttering words
into praise and wonder to our God.
God in Community, Holy in One,
be with us in this and every moment,
in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn:"For Everyone Born" (verses 1 & 2)
Communion Hymn:"For Everyone Born" (verses 1 & 2)
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn:#344 "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" ( verses 1, 2, & 4)
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
10:40AM Service
Welcome
Prelude
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: We look in the mirror and what do we see?
People: We see people who try to be faithful
when questions and struggles challenge us.
Leader: We look in the mirror and how do we see?
People: We see with open hearts, seeking to trust when all the evidence
tells us not to be so foolish.
Leader: We look in the mirror and who do we see?
People: We see Jesus, the One who struggles with
the questions we raise, who models faithfulness
for all who would follow.
People: We see people who try to be faithful
when questions and struggles challenge us.
Leader: We look in the mirror and how do we see?
People: We see with open hearts, seeking to trust when all the evidence
tells us not to be so foolish.
Leader: We look in the mirror and who do we see?
People: We see Jesus, the One who struggles with
the questions we raise, who models faithfulness
for all who would follow.
~ adapted from a piece written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary
Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/
Hymn of Praise:#546 "Amazing Grace" (verses 1 & 3)
Invocation (UNISON)
Holy Dwelling Place,
Your tent is wide enough to provide
shelter for all who seek you,
food for all who hunger, and
healing for all who suffer.
Meet us here today, and fill us with confidence in your
presence,
that we may risk sharing Jesus’ cup and his baptism
so the world may become
the place of love and justice you desire for all.
Amen.
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith:#113 "Jesus Loves Me" (all verses)
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn:#585 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" ( all verses)
Praying Together
Wind-riding God,
Wind-riding God,
the blue skies, the sunshine,
the cool breezes cradling falling leaves:
all creation reminds us
of the delicate Artist
who has shaped us
and all that is around us.
We lift our songs
of gratitude and awe to you.
Servant-calling Jesus:
you humble our arrogance
with your acts of mercy;
you tip over our pretensions
with your modest nature;
you laugh at our hunger for power
with your words of grace.
Heart-keeping Spirit:
you bear our prayers
to the throne of grace
when they are only whispers
in our souls;
you unfold the road map
to show us the way to the Kingdom;
you transform our stuttering words
into praise and wonder to our God.
God in Community, Holy in One,
be with us in this and every moment,
in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn"For Everyone Born" (verses 1 & 2)
Communion Hymn"For Everyone Born" (verses 1 & 2)
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn:#344 "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" ( verses 1, 2, & 4)
Discipleship Hymn:#344 "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" ( verses 1, 2, & 4)
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song:#442 "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ" (verse 1)
Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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