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God’s People Gather
*Welcome with Christina*Prelude with Amy
*Call to Worship
Leader: Young and old, far and near, all people: come and worship!
People: If you are wide awake, or if you are tired —come and worship!
Leader: Let go of all the burdens you carry; leave behind all that weighs you down — come and worship!
People: Listen to what Jesus wants to tell you—come and worship!
Leader: See if you can discover how Jesus wants to use you— come and worship!
People: For Jesus is humble and gentle. He will give us everything we need to follow him.
ALL: Let us worship God!
*Opening Song - You Are My All in All
*Call to Confession (based on Matthew 11:28), Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon
Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are tired, who are worn out from carrying heavy burdens. Put down the heavy load that you are carrying, and you will find rest for your souls.
God, you have created us and blessed us with free will, then told us what is good – to do justice, to love our neighbor, to pray for our enemies. But even though we know that we make our own choices, we confess that we don’t always understand our own actions. We clearly know what is right, but we don’t always do it. We also clearly know what is wrong— the thoughts and actions that hurt others and offend you— but we do these things anyway. Forgive us! Help us to know that when we are captive to you, we will truly be free. Hear now our silent prayers:
Silence is kept
Leader: People of God, know this: God is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. When we stumble, God is there to catch us. When we are weighed down, Jesus is there to lift us up. When we are lost, the Spirit will guide us. Be at peace and know that your sins are forgiven.
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*Response - Glory to God
*Sharing the Peace of Christ
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
God’s Word is Proclaimed
*Children’s Time with Nan
*Scripture - Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 & Sermon - Talkin’ Bout My Generation
16 “To what will I compare this generation? It is like a child sitting in the marketplaces calling out to others, 17 ‘We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song and you didn’t mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 Yet the Human One[a] came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved to be right by her works.”
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have shown them to babies. 26 Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. 27 “My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows the Son except the Father. And nobody knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. 30 My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”
Galatians 5: 1, 13-18
5 1 Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.
13 You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. 14 All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour each other, be careful that you don’t get eaten up by each other! 16 I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. 17 A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law.
Offering- Christ Alone
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*Prayer of Dedication
Thank you, God, for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus: the freedom to love, to give, and to work for justice. We bring these gifts freely, as you have so freely given them to us. Amen.
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: Loving God, from the beginning, you walked in complete freedom through the grasses of the earth, and all creation sang of your goodness. You created us in your image, with freedom to choose: to be at peace with you, or to follow our own will. Our selfish desires led us into rebellion against you. Prophets spoke to invite us home, but our stubborn pride only grew stronger. When the burden of our sin became too great for your heart, you sent Jesus to carry it for us. So we join in singing your praise: Blessed is the One who yokes himself to us. Jesus saw that we were enslaved to sin, so he led us into service; he saw us burdened with death, so he to died lift our burden. In dependence on him, we are liberated from sin. So we ask now that you pour out your Spirit upon this bread and this cup, that these gifts might nourish us. As we find our rest in you, may we become restless in service to your children; as we engage with you in your complete freedom, may we use our sacred freedom build a community of justice and righteousness; as we listen to your silence, may we speak out for all whose voices are ignored by the world.
We pray now for all of this world, and all of its people; for our nation, for our community, for the church, and for one another. We sing praise and glory with those who rejoice, and we weep with those who sorrow. We pray your mercy on all who suffer in body, mind, or Spirit, and we trust that the Spirit prays when we do not know how. All these prayers we offer to you, Holy God, in the strong name of Jesus, who taught us to pray saying
ALL: The Lord’s Prayer
Words of Institution
Friends, on the night Jesus was betrayed, while he was at table with his disciples, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them, saying “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup and when he had blessed it, he poured it out for them. He gave it to them saying, “This is my blood, shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” For as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the saving death of our risen Lord until he comes again.
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
Prayer after the Supper
Holy God, you have nourished us at your table, making us strong so that we may serve you by serving others. Send us out now to do your will, nourishing faith, strengthening the desire for justice, and feeding those whose spirits hunger for your Spirit. AMEN.
God’s People are Sent
*Closing Song - This is My Song*Benediction
Leader:….and let all God’s people say…
People: Alleluia! Amen!
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