This New Life: Good News for the Disgraced (September 6, 2020)

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

Welcome & Passing the Peace

Call to Worship:

Glorious God, we come together as your people.
We come as a praising people, singing your goodness;
We come as a hungry people, longing to be fed;
We come as a praying people, bringing our needs and our joys;
We come as a journeying people, looking for direction.
In this hour of worship, empower us for faithful living.

Song: Since Your Love

You are the light
Song of my life
You always lead me
You are the voice inside

You are my love
No one before You
All that I am
Longs for You

And I was made by You
I was made for You
I am unfulfilled
Without full communion

Since Your love got a hold of me
Since Your love got a hold of me
I’m a new creation
I’m forever changed

In You, is all I need
You’re my breath, You’re my life,
You’re my everything

Prayers of the People: 

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray together as God’s people:

Living God,
day by day you sustain the weary with your word,
day by day you gently encourage us to place our trust in you.
Awaken us to the suffering of those around us;
save us from hiding in denials or taunts that deepen the hurt;
give us grace to share one another’s burdens in humble service.

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the Church around the world (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling, O Creator.

Creator of the universe,
you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory.

We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,
to the glory of your name.

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the welfare of our country (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

We lift up our prayers for the community of friends in this gathering,
Our families, friends, and all whose lives are closely linked with ours.

Jesus, we ask you:
for protection,
for healing,
for unity,
for justice,
for hope.

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the community around us (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling, O Creator.
We hold up in your great light those in the darkness of deep pain,
those who suffer, all who are sick,
and the many who are worn down.

Jesus, we ask you:
for fresh strength,
for your nearness,
for Life today,
for Life to come.

Offer a spontaneous prayer for those who are suffering and in need (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

Scripture Reading: John 2:1-11

The Wedding at Cana

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’

Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.

He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’

Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”

This New Life: A Sign for the Way

Acts 5:12, 17-20

“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people… The high priest, together with his allies, the Sadducees, was overcome with jealousy. They seized the apostles and made a public show of putting them in prison. An angel from the Lord opened the prison doors during the night and led them out. The angel told them,
‘Go, take your place in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.’”

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.

Silent confession (space to confess our sins and wait in God’s presence).

The Lord has already shown you mercy.
The Lord has already had compassion on you.
The cross of Jesus has turned mourning into dancing,
And washed clean the ashes of repentance.
Jesus strengthens our weak knees
When we still have a long way to go.
Be free! We are forgiven.
Laugh out loud! We are forgiven.
Love God with everything! We are loved.

Silent assurance (space to receive God’s merciful love and say “thank you” in response)

Eucharist and 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: Mystery

Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus the Mystery

Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
And Christ will come again

Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim his coming
Celebrate his death and rising
Lift your eyes, lift your eyes

Community Life

The Cross of Christ

Blessing & Sending

3 Good Minutes

How is Jesus saving your story?