A King & A Kingdom: On Earth (November 8, 2020)

Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.

Call to Worship:

Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus said, this is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come. Your 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory,
forever and ever,
Amen.

Song: King of my Heart

Let the King of my heart
  Be the mountain where I run
  The fountain I drink from
   Oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart
  Be the shadow where I hide
  The ransom for my life
  Oh, He is my song

You are good, good, oh
  You are good, good, oh

Let the King of my heart
  Be the wind inside my sails
  The anchor in the waves
   Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart
  Be the fire inside my veins
  The echo of my days
  Oh, He is my song

You’re never gonna let
  You’re never gonna let me down

Practice: Forgive as We Forgive

Song: One Blood

O God you have made us all of one blood
  And sent us your blessed Son
Proclaiming your Kingdom, justice and peace
  He’s calling to everyone,
  the far and the near may come

Let the nations of the earth seek after you and find you
  Let our neighbors see in us your love

Pour out your Spirit,
  Pour out your Spirit,
  Pour out your Spirit on all people

Hasten the coming,
  Hasten the coming,
  Hasten the coming of your Kingdom

Prayers of the People

For the peace of the world

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For leaders,

O Lord our Governor, whose glory fills all the world: We commend this Nation to your merciful care, that we may be guided by your providence, and dwell secure in your peace. Send down on those who hold public office the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve to promote the well-being of all people. Grant to the President of this Nation and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them continually mindful of their calling to serve this people in reverent obedience to you.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For the unity of this community

Heavenly Father, you sent your Son among us to proclaim the Kingdom of God in cities, towns, villages, and lonely places. Behold and visit, we pray, our community. Renew the bonds of charity that uphold our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Deliver us from poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness and justice with mercy. And at the last, bring us to your Holy City, the New Jerusalem, where we shall know perfect unity and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

For our enemies

O God, the Creator of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you in Jesus Christ; in whose Name we pray. Amen.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Community Life

• In-Person & Online House Churches Continue Next Sunday
  Join us for House Churches next week at 10:30am, either in person or online at thepari.sh/gather
• Parish Prayer + Community Forum
  A new online space for the Parish community to share life together, lift up prayer needs, and build community. Request to join online using your facebook account at thepari.sh/prayer
• Golf for Peace
  Support our friends at Peace Prep Academy in Atlanta with their upcoming golf tournament at the Country Club of Roswell. You can sign up to golf, sponsor a hole or the event, or volunteer to help out. Details at peaceprep.com/golf

Scripture Readings:

Colossians 3:1-3, 7-10, 12-15

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…

These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things — anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 

Do not be false with one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator…

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.”

Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

A King & A Kingdom: On Earth (An Alternative Belonging)

Confession & Assurance

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor:

All:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will,
and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Passing the Peace

Eucharist & Sacrament of Desire

Now let’s draw near in the presence of our Savior.

The Lord be with you!
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

On the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way he took the cup saying,
“This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.”

Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
He is.

This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We are his people.
We are redeemed.

Therefore by taking this bread & drinking this cup, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

These are the gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, And feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Alternatively, for those who are not receiving communion, the Sacrament of Desire may be prayed.

Sacrament of Desire

Now, in union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church,
I present to You my soul and body
with the earnest prayer that I will remain united to you.
And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I pray that you would come to me spiritually.
I unite myself to you, and embrace you with my soul’s affection.
Let nothing separate me from you,
that I may live and die in Your love.
Amen.

Song: Everything is Sacred

Teach me that it all belongs
   That everything is sacred
I eat the bread and drink the wine
  But help me love my neighbor

And show me how to hold this life
  ‘Cause I don’t wanna waste it
   No I don’t wanna waste it

Oh, Heaven is upside down
   Oh, it can be here and now
Oh, seeing it all around
   That everything is sacred

Ordinary shines and glows
   Fueled with Your intentions
You don’t see the lines we draw
   Between secular and sacred

Life is a gift and the Giver is good

The Cross of Christ

All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!

All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!

All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!

All our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!

Blessing & Sending

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
Thanks be to God.