Category: healing

World Communion Sunday

by cwundershine, posted in gratitude, healing, kingdom, love
John 6 The Bread of Life Discourse as translated in The Message

WELCOME

One: May the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each  and every one of you.

People:  And also with you.

*CALL TO WORSHIP

Of Psalm 80

One: this morning’s response to the call to worship is, “Make your face shine upon us”.

One:  Restore us O God, for we are weary, lost and frightened

All:    Make Your face shine upon us.

One: You took your people out of Egypt, out of slavery and oppression, when despair and hopelessness seemed eternal.

All:   Make Your face shine upon us.

One: From hopelessness and  homelessness, you cleared a place and helped your people put down roots. You fed and nourished your people.

All:  Make Your face shine upon us.

One: Now, we are frightened again. All that we thought protected us, has crumbled and we cry out to you, Save us Lord

All:   Make Your face shine upon us.

*CONFESSION        

One: My friends, not out of fear or dread, with no shame, let us bring before God all of those things which bring us pain or regret,

All: Holy One,  the world tells us we need to earn our way and that nothing worthwhile comes freely, yet you continue to care for us with reckless abandon, sustaining and nourishing us with your very self.  We fear we are not enough and unworthy.  Your love for us, for all of creation, overwhelms and astonishes us. You ask us not only to love like that, but to accept that we are loved fully and completely. Give us courage and strength to comprehend and live into all that you would have us be.

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

One: Hear the good news, there is no fault, no  brokenness, no sin so great that God’s love does not overshadow it with grace and forgiveness.

All: In Jesus Christ we are restored!

 *RESPONSE OF PRAISE “Gloria Patri”

      Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ~ The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He  rose  again  from  the  dead;  He  ascended  into  heaven;  And  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God  the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

COMMUNION

The Great Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give our thanks and praise…

Prayer before communion,

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 debts; As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Communion of the People

Prayer following communion

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD

*Doxology—traditional

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

*Prayer of Dedication

Holy One, you are our source and our sustenance. You have given your very self to us, withholding nothing. Accept these gifts as a sign of our desire to love like you do. Amen

HYMN:                “His Eye is on the Sparrow”

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*FAREWELL

POSTLUDE

The Peace of Christ to Uphold You

by cwundershine, posted in doubt, healing, love, Paul, Surrender, transformation
Philippians 2

CALL TO WORSHIP:     Our call to worship this morning is Psalm 25: 1-9

One: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.  Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

 All: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.

One: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

All: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

CALL TO CONFESSION             

Leader: My friends,, not out of dread and fear, but believing that God is faithful to forgive, let us rid ourselves of what we no longer need to carry.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION            

All: Gracious and Holy God, our hearts are weary and anxious. We are too often impatient and demanding. We fail to see the abundant love and grace you shower us with, even in hard times. We fail to trust you and live with gratitude in our hearts. Loosen the grip of fear on our hearts and relieve us of all bitterness, weariness, and anger. Teach us to live in gratitude and love.

SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Leader: God knows what is on your heart. God does not condemn you.

People:  In Jesus Christ we are restored!

 RESPONSE OF PRAISE “Gloria Patri”

Glory be to the father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen, Amen

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ~ The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He  rose  again  from  the  dead;  He  ascended  into  heaven;  And  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God  the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Our Father, which 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 debts as we forgive our debtors, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

Let it grow, Let it become

by cwundershine, posted in burnout, change, confession, forgiveness, healing, transformation
Invisibilia Episode
Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

Sermon begins at roughly 17 minutes.

WELCOME
One: May the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each
and everyone of you.
People: And also with you.
*CALL TO WORSHIP: of Psalm 86
One: Today’s response to the call to worship is, “Teach us your ways, O Lord”
One: That we might walk in truth,
All: Teach us your ways, O Lord.
One: That we might have an undivided heart, true and reverent,
All: Teach us your ways, O Lord.
One: Great is your steadfast love, you have delivered us,
All: Teach us your ways, O Lord.
One: That we might be followers of your path,
All: Teach us your ways, O Lord.
*HYMN: “Open the Eyes of My Heart”
*CALL TO CONFESSION
Leader: My siblings, not out of dread and fear, but believing that God is faithful to forgive, let us rid ourselves of what we no longer need to carry.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy One, in whom we live and who sustains our being, forgive us our failures. Forgive our misspoken words, our irrational acts and acting out. Forgive the way we bleed on others when we fail to tend our wounds. Forgive the way we see fault in other and fail to see it in ourselves. We bring before you all our brokenness and our need for your healing. Forgive us God, restore us,
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Leader: Hear then these good words, there is no sin, no fault, no mistake that God’s love does not completely overshadow. You are wholly loved, treasured, and forgiven.
People: In Jesus Christ we are restored!

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE “Gloria Patri”
Glory be to the father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, Amen, Amen
*SHARING OF THE PEACE
As we share the peace with one another, please feel free to toot your car horn, wave, throw an air kiss or a long distance hug, text a friend, let people know they are loved!
Leader: Having been assured of God’s forgiveness and peace, let us share a sign of Christ’s peace with one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43 N.T.


SERMON “Let it Grow, Let it Become” Rev. Cynthia Wunder


*HYMN “You Are”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ~ The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.


Prayers of the People
Our Father, which 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 debts as we forgive our debtors, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

OFFERING OF OUR GIFT AND TALENTS
*RESPONSE Doxology” (traditional)
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Gracious and Holy God, where you see treasure, we see brokenness, help us to live and abide in gratitude and find refuge in your love. You have created us good, teach us to be the good in the world, that we might reflect your love and abundance. Amen
Sending Hymn: “Let It Rise”
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*FAREWELL
POSTLUDE

Growing Through the Hardpan

by cwundershine, posted in change, Evangelism, healing
Matthew 13

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ~ The Belhar

We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another; that unity is, therefore, both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; that through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet simultaneously a reality which must be earnestly pursued and sought: one which the people of God must continually be built up to attain; that this unity must become visible so that the world may believe that separation, enmity and hatred between people and groups is sin which Christ has already conquered, and accordingly that anything which threatens this unity may have no place in the church and must be resisted.