Sunday, September 7, 2014

14.09.07 Ordinary 23A English

Prelude:  Canzona "La Spiritata" (Giovanni Gabrieli)
Hymn:  Christ has changed the world’s direction (Shirley Erena Murray / NEW DIRECTIONS, Barry M. Brinson)*
Call to Worship
Song:  Blowin’ in the wind (Bob Dylan)
Prayer of Confession
Song of Praise:  Glory to God (Paul Vasile)*
Prayer of the Day
Gospel Acclamation (Howard Hughes)
Gospel Reading:  John 3:1-17
Sermon:  (Rev. Elizabeth Gibbs Zehnder)
Hymn:  God gives us a future (Elizabeth J. Smith / CAMBERWELL, Michael Brierley) 
Affirmation of Faith
Prayer Song:  Casa del Sol Prayer of Jesus (Philip J. Newell, based on the Lord’s Prayer / Daniel E. Poole)*
Silent Meditation
Prayers of the People
Announcements
Song:  In the midst of every blessing (unknown / NETTLETON, Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music)

*Seasonal for Ordinary Time/September

Forces:
Soprano
Piano/Organ


September 7, 2014
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Please stand, all who are able.

Hymn
Christ has changed the world's direction!
Christ can change the human heart:
agents of the new creation
mend the people torn apart;
               so are we
               charged to be
go-betweens for unity.

Peace will be our way of thinking:
common wealth and common state.
Gone the wounds, the words and weapons
that conspire to hurt and hate,
               and no power
               shall devour
earth or air where peace might flower.

Debts and doubts will be forgiven,
cancelled in the name of God,
olive trees again be planted
there where soldiers' boots have trod,
               hunger fed,
               terror fled,
justice shining in its stead.

What have we as commendation,
sent to speak, as speak we must?
Love will be our global language,
hands an enemy can trust,
               faith to faith,
               race with race,
all shall find a meeting place.

Envoys of a High Commission,
gifts of hope we find to share,
Christ the Spirit reconciling,
Christ our internet of care.
               Though we stall,
               fail or fall,
shall we now refuse God's call?

Call to Worship
One:  God beyond all names and images,
All:  we worship you in faith.
One:  God in the Christ with human face
All:  we worship you in truth.
One:  God who moves, draws, forms and enlightens our life,
All:  we worship you in Spirit.
God in relationship.
God the beginning and God the end,
you are our God.
One:  We pray:
Source of Life and Love we name God
in you we live and move and have our being.
Jesus, Companion and Liberator,
with you we walk the way of love.
Empowering and Imaginative Spirit,
through you we are made one.
God, trinity of love, we seek you in the dance of life.
We embrace your love.
We would dance.
This is the meaning of the resurrection, that we can dance.
All:  Alleluia.
Amen.

Please be seated

Song
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, 'n' how many times must a woman look up
Before she can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one woman have
Before she can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till she knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, 'n' how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can we turn our heads,
and pretend that we just don't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Prayer of Confession
NOT ON PPT

God is always more eager to forgive than we are to confess.

Let us pray.


One:  Loving God, we confess that we never praise you enough, nor serve you well enough, nor love you deeply enough.

We try. Yet we falter. Always we fall short. Sometimes we realize our limitations, sometimes we don’t. Yet you, holy Friend, go on loving and nurturing us, not counting our sins but multiplying your grace and mercy.

All:  With your steadfast love, Holy One, have mercy on us again today.
With your saving love, Chosen One, have mercy on us today.
With all your enlivening love, Spirit of God, have mercy on us today.

We place in your hands all that we have been and what we are at the moment,
so that what we may yet become shall exceed our expectations.
To your eternal praise and glory.
Amen!

—silent reflection—

One:  People of God, be certain of this: Forgiveness is real. Starting afresh is real. The regeneration of our thoughts, feelings and motivations is real. Sisters and brothers in the family of God, we are a most fortunate people.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the friendship of the Holy Spirit, will save us from all evil and give us the final victory!
All:  Thanks be to God!

Please stand, all who are able.

Song of Praise
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  Amen.

///World without end, without end.  Amen.///
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  Amen.

Prayer
NOT ON PPT

God of delight,
your Wisdom sings your Word
at the crossroads where humanity and divinity meet.
Invite us into your joyful being
where you know and are known
in each beginning,
in all sustenance,
in every redemption,
that we may manifest your unity
in the diverse ministries you entrust to us,
truly reflecting your triune majesty
in the faith that acts,
in the hope that does not disappoint,
and in the love that endures. Amen.


Please be seated

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel Reading
John 3:1-17
NOT ON PPT

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.


Reader:  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
All:  Thanks be to God!

Please be seated

Sermon

Please stand, all who are able.

Song
1.  God gives us a future
daring us to go
into dreams and dangers
on a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow
in the Spirit's power
we will let God change us
for new life starts now.

2.  We must leave behind us
sins of yesterday
for God's new beginning
is a better way.
Fear and doubt and habit
must not hold us back:
God gives hope, and insight
and the strength we lack.

3.  Holy Spirit, teach us
how to read the signs
how to meet the challenge
of our troubled times.
Love us into action
stir us into prayer
till we choose God's life, and
find our future there.

Affirmation of Faith
One:  Unpredictable, irrepressible,
dancing, laughing Spirit,
when we're tempted to be cautious and hesitate,
All:  Draw us forward
into the surprising and joyful future
you have waiting for us.

One:  Unpredictable, elusive Spirit,
when we're tempted to opt for certainty,
All:  Free our spirits to adventure and risk,
as your people have always done.

One:  Unpredictable, people-loving,
freedom-loving Spirit,
when we're tempted to be shackled to comfort and conformity,
All:  Enable us to leave such things behind,
call us through your people
into the surprise of each new day.

One:  Clear our vision, so we may see things,
to which we've paid no attention in the past.
All:  Sharpen our listening,
so we may hear pleadings and cries
we've never heard before.
One:  Strengthen our hands,
so we may do things we've previously not dared try.
All:  Put a new spring into our step,
so we may follow your leading into new situations.
Draw us dancing and laughing into tomorrow.

Please be seated

Prayer Song
Cantor:  Ground of all being,
All:  Ground of all being,
Cantor:  Mother of life,
All:  Mother of life,
Cantor:  Father of the universe, your name is sacred, beyond speaking.
May we know your presence,
All:  May we know your presence,
Cantor:  may your longings be ours,
All:  may your longings be ours,
Cantor:  our longings in heart and action.
May there be food
All:  May there be food
Cantor:  for the human family today,
All:  for the human family today,
Cantor:  for the whole earth’s community.
Forgive us the falseness
All:  Forgive us the falseness
Cantor:  of what we have done,
All:  of what we have done,
Cantor:  as we forgive those who are untrue to us.
Do not forsake us
All:  Do not forsake us
Cantor:  in our time of conflict,
All:  in our time of conflict,
Cantor:  but lead us into new beginnings.
For the light of life,
All:  For the light of life,
Cantor:  the vitality of life,
All:  the vitality of life,
Cantor:  and the glory of life are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
All:  Amen.
Cantor:  Amen.
All:  Amen.

Silent Meditation

Prayers

News of the People
Not on ppt:
Welcome cards
Service concludes with bilingual celebration
9/7 Deacons offering
9/7 Newcomers lunch
9/7 Concert
9/13 Healing Center workshop
9/27 Presbytery mission gathering
9/28 Blood drive

Please stand, all who are able.

Song
1.  In the midst of every blessing
may my heart be filled with grace.
Streams of goodness, ever flowing
call for songs of highest praise.
May my words be filled with gratitude;
may my glad heart humble be.
As a holder of a blessing
May I share it gratefully.

2.  In the midst of every trial
may my heart be filled with grace.
Streams of comfort, ever flowing
call for songs of highest praise.
May I find the strength within me;
may I sense it everywhere.
As I face what must be handled
may I find truth I can share.

3.  In the midst of all our living
may our hearts be filled with grace.
Streams of goodness ever flowing
call for songs of highest praise.
May we seek and find encouragement;
may our choices worthy be.
As we journey on together,
may we know integrity.

Song
///You came down that we may have love,///
Hallelujah, forevermore.

///You came down that we may have peace,///
Hallelujah, forevermore.

///You came down that we may have joy,///
Hallelujah, forevermore.

///You came down that we may have life,///
Hallelujah, forevermore.


No comments:

Post a Comment