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God’s People Gather
*Welcome with Christina
*Prelude with Amy
Prelude Pondering
“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym
*Call to Worship (Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19) - with Kayla, Mike, & Brayden
Leader: Let us join our words with the words of the Psalmist, as we are gathered to worship. We gather to worship in gratitude and love for God.
People: Because God has heard our cries for mercy; God listens carefully to our prayers.
Leader: “What can we give back to you, O God, for all that you have done for us?“
People: We will keep the promises we made in the presence of all God’s people.
Leader: We join the Psalmist in saying:
People: O LORD, your servants; you have freed us from our chains, and we offer you thanksgiving and praise for all that you have done for us.
Leader: We will keep the promises we have made to you!
People: We are thankful for all that you have done for us!.
ALL: Let us worship God!
*Opening Song - The Summons
*Call to Confession & Assurance of Pardon
So often, we who are following Christ act as if there is nothing more we need to do once we have professed our faith. We take for granted the grace we have received, and we fail to extend that grace to others. We do things we know we should not, and we fail to do what we should. But God in Christ is always ready to forgive us and set us back on the path we are called to follow. Trusting God’s mercy, we now pray together our prayer of confession.
Holy God, in Jesus Christ you have claimed us and called us. You have sent us out to the world. But we are reluctant to go where we are sent; we doubt we can actually do what you ask of us. So we hang back, unwilling to try. We fear that we won’t know what to say, so we fall silent. Or we speak when we should listen. We spend precious time and energy trying to insist that others obey Jesus, when we would do better speak peace to them and move on. Forgive us, God, and renew our spirits through your Spirit. Show us how to befriend those who are already seeking you so that they too may walk this path alongside us. Show us how to live in ways that speak peace and healing to others. AMEN
Silence is kept
Leader: Friends, hear the good news: the same Jesus who sends us out to proclaim healing and new life has given that healing and new life to us. We are transformed by his grace for service to this world. Give thanks, people of God.
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
*Response - Glory to God
*Sharing the Peace of Christ
Leader: Because of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God! Let us now share that peace with one another, saying: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
God’s Word is Proclaimed
*Children’s Time with Nan
*Scripture Reading & Sermon - Keep the Change
Responding to God’s Word
*Offering
If you are able, please continue to send in your offering and pledge.
*Prayer of Dedication
Holy God, we know that the best gift we can offer you is our hearts. So we bring our hearts and hands to you, that you may use us in your service. We bring our gifts to you so that others may know the peace you give in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
If you are enrolled in electronic funds transfer, there is no need to do anything
different. If you would like to give online using Paypal, click this
link:
bit.ly/FPCsterling*Prayer of Dedication
Holy God, we know that the best gift we can offer you is our hearts. So we bring our hearts and hands to you, that you may use us in your service. We bring our gifts to you so that others may know the peace you give in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer
(Adapted from the Prayers of the Faithful Against Racism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2018)
For our Church, that we may celebrate and welcome the diverse faces of Christ in our community, our worship, our ministries, and our leaders, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Church, that we may celebrate and welcome the diverse faces of Christ in our community, our worship, our ministries, and our leaders, let us pray to the Lord.
For world leaders, that they may work to end the violence perpetrated by verbal attacks, deadly weapons, and cold indifference. May our nation and countries around the world become havens of peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For our community, that we may receive the grace to see every human being as a child of God, regardless of race, language, or culture, let us pray to the Lord.
For parents and educators, that we may teach our children how to resolve differences non-violently and respectfully and have the courage to model it in our own behavior, let us pray to the Lord.
For this faith community, that we may respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to act together to end violence and racism, let us pray to the Lord.
For our public officials, that the Spirit of Wisdom may help them strive to work for equal education, suitable housing, and equal employment opportunities for all, let us pray to the Lord.
For solidarity in our global human family, that we may be vigilant in our protection of those who are most vulnerable and most in need, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who have died, especially those who have died in the pursuit of justice, may they be welcomed into the great glory of God’s love, let us pray to the Lord.
Loving God, whose promise of justice sustains us, hear these our prayers that we might ready our hearts and our communities for the coming of Christ, our example in all things. We ask this through Christ our Lord who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
*Closing Song - Sent Out in Jesus’ Name
*Benediction
Leader:….and let all God’s people say… People: Alleluia! Amen!
For our community, that we may receive the grace to see every human being as a child of God, regardless of race, language, or culture, let us pray to the Lord.
For parents and educators, that we may teach our children how to resolve differences non-violently and respectfully and have the courage to model it in our own behavior, let us pray to the Lord.
For this faith community, that we may respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to act together to end violence and racism, let us pray to the Lord.
For our public officials, that the Spirit of Wisdom may help them strive to work for equal education, suitable housing, and equal employment opportunities for all, let us pray to the Lord.
For solidarity in our global human family, that we may be vigilant in our protection of those who are most vulnerable and most in need, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who have died, especially those who have died in the pursuit of justice, may they be welcomed into the great glory of God’s love, let us pray to the Lord.
Loving God, whose promise of justice sustains us, hear these our prayers that we might ready our hearts and our communities for the coming of Christ, our example in all things. We ask this through Christ our Lord who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
God’s People are Sent
*Closing Song - Sent Out in Jesus’ Name
*Benediction
Leader:….and let all God’s people say… People: Alleluia! Amen!
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