Ordinary Time - A Season for Spiritual Growth
Before we begin, gather a candle or small light, your Bible, a cross, a piece of bread and a cup of juice or water. Place them at the center of a calm area in your home and gather comfortable seating for all who will join you. Place your phone, tablet or computer where you can see and hear it. You may want to connect a charger, rather than rely on battery. Add a piece of green fabric or a plant to remind us of growth in this season of Ordinary Time.
Musical Meditation
Focus
Lighting the Christ Candles We light our candles or lights.
Voice One: In the beginning, God said,
Voice Two: "Let there be light," and there was light!
Voice One: We light these candles today,
Voice Two: Because God is with s in this time and in all these places!
Call to Worship
L: Has it been a tough week?
P: So much has happened; some of it good, other things that are hurtful.
L: The Lord has been with you in all that has happened.
P: We need to see the loving presence of God.
L: Open your eyes and see God’s wondrous love active in your life.
P: Lord, help us to take our focus away from our strife and place it on you. AMEN.
P: So much has happened; some of it good, other things that are hurtful.
L: The Lord has been with you in all that has happened.
P: We need to see the loving presence of God.
L: Open your eyes and see God’s wondrous love active in your life.
P: Lord, help us to take our focus away from our strife and place it on you. AMEN.
Invocation We pray together in unison.
Seed-planting, fish-netting, bread-baking, pearl-hunting God,
you shape us into living parables.
Pray with your Spirit in us
so that we may understand our experiences
as healing metaphors,
and become creative and abundant stewards
of the environment you entrusted to our love. Amen.
Scripture:
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-5213:31 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;
13:32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
13:33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;
13:46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;
13:48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.
13:49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
13:50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13:51 "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes."
13:52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Sermon
Invitation to the Table The bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people
.
Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Judy Halstead and Dennis Blackburn.
Words of Institution We break the bread and lift the cup as the words are spoken.
The Lord's Supper We share in the bread and cup as we hear the music.
Prayer of Thanksgiving "The Lord's Prayer"
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Prayers of the People
L: Dear Lord, can we too be like mustard seeds. If we can, Praise be to God for the wonders that are hidden within us, yet to be uncovered and grow!
P: Help us to never over look the power of life in a little mustard seed.
L: Lord we find wondrous gifts and talents in each other. Sometimes we get impatient and cant wait as you work to reveal those gifts among us. Bless each of us with patience and self control as we wait for your gifts to emerge along side you call. Help us to get ready so we can love you and love our neighbor and love others as the call demands.
P: God, give us patience and help us to wait for you to work within us.
L: Work your spirit among us so we can be like yeast! Praise be to God for the wonders that you have worked in and among us; wonders which in the right conditions begin to grow and become!
L: Lord bring your energy and joy and abide among us! Influence us with the fruits of your spirit. OPen our hearts to hope,, peace, love , joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, generosity and self control.
P: Lord, give us patience and help us to be ready to work for you!
L: Make us a great are treasures of great value. Praise be to God for the wonders that are hidden within us, yet to be discovered!
Make us treasures but help us, O Lord, not to get too impressed with ourselves. Give us hearts that focus on others in your name.
L: We come this day and discover who you call us to be.
P: We come, O Lord, offering our praise and our prayers to you in confidence of your abiding presence and creative intention within each one of us. AMEN.
Challenge for Discipleship
Blessing We speak in unison.
The Light that was in one place and at one time,
is now in all places and all times,
for God has placed the light in us.
We abide in peace!
No comments:
Post a Comment