Congregation Stewardship Commitment Sunday
Welcome - Jeff Foels PC(USA) Worship for Reign of Christ Sunday: Leadership from: The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, executive director, Presbyterian Mission Agency; the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Elona Street-Stewart and the Rev. Gregory Bentley, co-moderators of the 224th General Assembly. In addition, the service includes liturgical leaders: Princeton Abaraoha (Igbo), Rafael Viana (Portuguese), Denise Anderson, Moongil Cho (Korean), David Gambrell, Laurie Kraus, William McConnell, Amy Mendez, Rosa Miranda (Spanish), Jihyun Oh, Ralph Su (Mandarin) And musical leaders: Carter Anderson II, Marissa Galván-Valle, David Gambrell, So Jung Kim, William McConnell, Phillip Morgan Sermon: Seeing Jesus; The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett Opening Sentences Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kindom of heaven. to eradicate systemic poverty. Jesus says: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Jesus says: Blessed are the peacemakers, Blessed are you, O holy, triune God, and blessed is your holy realm forever. Gathering Prayer And then all that has divided us will merge And then compassion will be wedded to power And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind And then both men and women will be gentle And then both women and men will be strong And then no person will be subject to another’s will And then all will be rich and free and varied And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many And then all will share equally in the Earth’s abundance And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old And then all will nourish the young And then all will cherish life’s creatures And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth And then everywhere will be called Eden once again —Judy Chicago Hymn: Soon and Very Soon Hymn #384 Confession and Pardon A voice is crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin. Merciful God, we confess that we have wandered from your way of truth and life. You call us to share all that we have but we hoard up treasures for ourselves and deny others their daily bread. You call us to set the captives free and seek justice for the oppressed, but we live in fear of our neighbors and hide ourselves from our own kin. You call us to walk in newness of life and to be witnesses to the resurrection, but we dwell in the valley of dry bones and keep silent about your saving love. Forgive us, God of grace. through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hymn: Change My Heart, O God Hymn #695 Sung in Spanish, Korean, and English Hear the good news: God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit. I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to GodPrayer for Illumination Speak to us, O God, with the voice of your Holy Spirit, that we may know the way of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Scripture: Matthew 25:31–46 Litany of Commitment Hymn: Come Now, O Prince of Peace Hymn # 103 Sung in Korean Jesus says: Repent, Matt. 4:17 I invite you, in the name of Christ, rejecting all that is contrary to the gospel Do you renounce We renounce them! Will you devote yourself We will, with God’s help. Do you renounce We renounce them! Will you devote yourself that separate us from one another? Do you renounce We renounce them! Will you devote yourself to the breaking of bread and the prayers? We will, with God’s help. Affirmation of Faith: A Brief Statement of Faith (excerpts) We trust in Jesus Christ, preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives. We trust in God, and makes everyone equally in God’s image to live as one community. We trust in God the Holy Spirit, and binds us together with all believers With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of Godin Jesus Christ our Lord. Offering Jesus says: The realm of heaven has come near. Matt. 10:7–8 Freely you have received; therefore, freely give. Let us offer our lives to the Lord. Anthem: Jesus, Be with Us Prayer of Thanksgiving We give you thanks and praise, O Lord: You have called us to be a blessing for others. Use the gifts of your good creation and the works of our hands and build up your church; of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Hymn: When the Lord Redeems the Very Least Hymn #852 Blessing and Charge The God who was and is and is to come Matt. 1:23; 28:20 is with us in Christ Jesus. Jesus says: Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Thanks be to God. God bless you while you stay steadfast in His Love! |