This New Life: Good News for the Scattered (September 27, 2020)
Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.
Call to Worship (from Hosea 6):
Come, let us return to the Lord.
We have been torn to pieces,
but God will heal us.
We have been injured,
but God will bind up our wounds.
After two days He will revive us;
on the third day He will restore us,
that we may live in His presence.
Let us know the Lord;
let us press on to know Him.
As surely as the sun rises, He will appear;
He will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Amen.
Song: Head to the Heart
I open up to you
This love that makes me new
Oh may my heart receive
This love that carries me
From the head to the heart
You take me on a journey
Of letting go
And getting lost in you
My heart is open wide
I will receive your light
You give me faith like a child
In you my heart runs wild
From the head to the heart
You take me on a journey
Of letting go
And getting lost in you
‘cause there’s no shame
In looking like a fool
When I give you what I can’t keep
To take a hold of you
More than words
More than good ideas
I found your love in the open fields
Song: Holy is the Lord
Just a crumb from Your table
just a drop from Your well
Is all I desire
enough to fulfill
But You welcome the hungry
the weary and the least
To the river of life
to a heavenly feast
Holy, Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy is the Lord
The one who has saved us
Who is with us and made a way
Holy is the Lord
Holy is the Lord
Just a glimpse of Your glory
just the sound of Your voice
Can shatter the darkness
and silence the noise
But I’ll soon shine in brilliance
of an overwhelming light
And I’ll join the sound of angels
in the presence of Christ
You are the one who was
And is to come
And is forevermore
We are the grateful ones
Daughters and sons
We’re Yours forevermore
Prayers of the People
For the Church gathered around the world…
For the welfare of all people and nations…
For those whose lives are closely linked with ours…
For those suffering and in need…
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our Prayer
Community Life & 3 Good Minutes
Scripture Readings
Acts 1:4-8
“While staying with them, Jesus ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”
Acts 10:34-40
“Peter said, ‘I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem.'”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
This New Life: Good News for the Scattered
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)
Passing the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you,
And also with you.
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: Take a Moment
Take a moment to remember
Who God is and who I am
There you go
Lifting my load again
No longer am I held by
The yoke of this world
Come upon you the yoke of Jesus
His yoke is easy, His burden is so light
You’re lifting my load
Your love carries
Your love carries me through
All the valleys and the darkest places
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!
