WWWW Tet June 27, 2021

 
Worship, Witness, Word and Welcome
Online Worship with First Christian Church  (Disciples of Christ) Berea, KY
June 20, 2021

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.

Worship
Invocation We begin with prayer.
Lord, we would follow you wherever you might lead.
Forgive us when we stumble and when we stray.
Forgive us when, distracted, we lose our way.
Be the one to whom we turn, whose hand we hold,
the Shepherd who leads us, safely to the fold.
Lord, we would follow you wherever you might lead.
Lord, we would follow you.
~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Call to Worship
Voice One: Come, let us celebrate the forgiving, reconciling love of God.
Voice Two: For once we were lost and felt so far away;
now we have been found and welcomed home.
Voice One: We light these candles today,
Voice Two: Because God is with us in this time and in all these places!    
~ first two lines written by Nancy Townley, and posted on the Worship Connection page of the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/3623/worship-connection-march-6-2016

Lighting the Candles  We light our candles or lights.

Witness
    Vacation Bible School: "We Can Count on God"

Morning Prayer
Holy and Gracious God, You, the one of prodigal grace
We give you thanks for the gift of life and for the blessings of this life, for family and friends and love abundant.
From the depths of our hearts, thank you, Lord.

Lead us through the trials, the suffering and sorrow, the challenges and struggles, the tired time, despair and bleak places, back to you, and love abundant.
From the depths of our hearts, find us, Lord.

Be with those who weep or cannot sleep, those who have no peace, those who seek release and comfort them with love abundant.
From the depths of our hearts, hold them, Lord.

Fill us with hope, sustained in your mercy, with patience and stamina upheld by your Holy Spirit in your prodigal grace.
From the depths of our hearts, fill us, Lord.

Transform us and all our broken ways; transform us that we can be made whole and in wholeness, may we be the hands and heart of Christ.
From the depths of our hearts,let it be so, Lord. Amen.
~ written by Terri, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalprayerpals.blogspot.ca/


Word
Scripture: Luke 15
    Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
    So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
    “Or what woman having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
    Then Jesus[b] said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with[c] the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[d]  But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
    “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father[e] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Footnotes
Luke 15:8 Gk drachmas, each worth about a day’s wage for a laborer
Luke 15:11 Gk he
Luke 15:16 Other ancient authorities read filled his stomach with
Luke 15:21 Other ancient authorities add Treat me like one of your hired servants
Luke 15:31 Gk he
-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.

Meditation

Challenge for Discipleship

Welcome- The Lord's Supper
Invitation to the Table
All are welcome to partake in the bread and cup at the table of God's love. It is Christ who is our host. When you hear the Words of Institution, partake of the elements.

Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Linda Blair (online) and Judy Halstead (onsite).

Words of Institution 

Prayer of Response
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.

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.   And we abide in peace O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;