Elements from this morning’s gathering

Call to Worship

O God,

Make us to be bread for the life of the world:
crack through the crust of our fearful resistance – that we may be changed.
heal the shards of our inner dividedness – that we may be whole.
Offer our lives for others like bread, pour us out for others like wine.

You spoke your word
and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ.
Fill us and all creation with that word again.

That we might believe it when you say, “God’s whole kingdom is yours!”
And that our lives might echo back to you, “Your’s, oh God, is the Kingdom!”

Scripture Reading

A Reading from Matthew, Chapters 4, 5, & 7

From that time Jesus began to announce:
“Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of the heavens!”

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

Flourishing are the poor and dependent,
because the kingdom of the heavens is theirs.
Flourishing are those who mourn,
because they will be comforted.
Flourishing are the humble
because they will inherit the earth.
Flourishing are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice
because they will be satisfied.
Flourishing are the merciful
because they will be given mercy.
Flourishing are those whose hearts are pure,
because they will see God.
Flourishing are those who work for peace,
because they will be called the children of God.
Flourishing are the ones who are persecuted for doing right,
because the kingdom of the heavens is theirs.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law or prophets. No, I came to fulfill their purpose… Anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. But I warn you—unless you practice a greater righteousness than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.