September 20, 2020

 Morning Worship Text: September 20, 2020 

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. Include something that reminds you of a food that in your household is "comfort food." (Recipe card, box or can from the cupboard, secret ingredient, special plate, etc.)

Welcome

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 us in this time and in all these places!

Call to Worship   

Voice 1: Here, wherever we are. Now, as we gather.
Voice 2: God welcomes all the dreamers, and all the doubters:
Voice 1: Here, the worriers and wanderers can call on God by name.
Voice 2: Now, we can remember all the ways God has graced us:
Voice 1: Here, we are reminded that God is with us, always!
Voice 2: Now, we are gather courage to step out of comfort into the unknown:
Voice 1: Here and now, in faith, we will find the courage to cry out:
Voice 2: 'God, save us!'

-adapted from a Call to Worship by Thom Shuman.  Posted on his Lectionary Liturgies blog: August 7, 2011 (Proper 14A).


Invocation    We pray together in unison.
O God, long ago, you led your people out of slavery and through a wilderness to a new future. Today, we seek your journey. With parted waters,  set us free.  With cloud and fire, guide us. With gushing waters,  quench our thirst.  With food from heaven,
feed us. Draw us out with joy and singing, that we might know your ways. Amen.
—posted on the Ministry Matters website.


Scripture:  Exodus 16:2-15
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.”
Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’” And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”
In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
-New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sermon 
Invitation to the Table
The bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.

Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Kathy Sharp and Kyle Sowers.


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
Holy God, you call us to prayer and praise in many ways.
This day, bring us together just as you called the people of Israel
to gather manna in the desert to eat and sustain life. We lift of the names of the friends, neighbors and family that we long to share a meal with.....

Holy Spirit, come! Give us this day our daily bread.


Offer us the nutrients we need to remain connected to you.
As spiritual beings, we desire to receive food that endures—
faith, hope, and love.  We open our hearts to you now. Show us where our spirits are hungry.

Holy Spirit, come! Give us this day our daily bread.

All life is created and nourished by you, God!
May we grow into new circles of understanding and being,
reflecting the ways in which we have been touched by your holy manna.

Holy Spirit, come! Give us this day our daily bread.

~ from The Bread of Life, written by the Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi.  Posted on the United Church of Christ website.  http://uccfiles.com/

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!