Order of Service
| Prelude | Chuck Parsons, organ | |
| Opening Prayer | Shawn Mai | |
| Confession & Forgiveness | Marty Jones | |
| Gathering Song | The Lord’s My Shepherd #778 | Shawn Mai Chuck Parsons, organ |
| Greeting | Shawn Mai | |
| Prayer of the Day | Marty Jones | |
| Psalm 119 | vs. 167-176 | Harry Johansen Chris Johansen, piano |
| Scripture | Luke 15: 1-32 | Henrik Strandskov |
| Sermon | Marty Jones | |
| Hymn | God of the Sparrow #740 | Harry Johansen Chris Johansen, piano |
| Creed | Shawn Mai | |
| Prayers of Intercession | Claire Scriba | |
| Lord’s Prayer | Marty Jones | |
| Closing Prayer | Shawn Mai | |
| Blessing / Benediction | Marty Jones | |
| Closing Hymn | For the Fruit of All Creation #679 | Shawn Mai Chuck Parsons, organ |
| Postlude | Chris Johansen |
Audio Recording – Full service
Prelude
Chuck Parsons
Welcome
Opening Prayer
God of the journey,
we wander through the wilderness,
worn from our growing pains.
As we learn your ways, help us to
follow your commandments,
discern your wisdom, and
proclaim your glory.
Confession & Forgiveness
We begin worship with recognition that we do not always live up to our highest ideals or values, and with trust that God’s love encompasses us always.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
P: We confess our entanglements with justice, hurts, and greed – and God’s difficult, blessed vision of a very different way. We seek the face of God, confessing our sin.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Holy God,
we have sinned against you and each other. We pray for your forgiveness and healing. The good we want to do, we often fail to do. The harmful actions and thoughts we do not want, we turn to again and again. Deliver us, Gracious God. Save us, save our neighbors, save all your creatures from our lack of imagination and courage. Gird us for the challenges of change needed, called for, overdue. Guide our way in your way. Amen
P: We who were once far off have been brought near to God through the cross of Christ.
May we forgive one another as God in Christ has first forgiven us. Amen
Gathering Song – The Lord’s My Shepherd
1.
The Lord’s my shepherd; I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
in pastures green; he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.
2.
My soul he doth restore again,
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake;
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake.
3.
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
yet will I fear no ill;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
and staff me comfort still;
for thou art with me, and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.
4.
My table thou hast richly spread
in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.
5.
Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me,
and in God’s house forevermore
my dwelling place shall be;
and in God’s house forevermore
my dwelling place shall be.
Text: The Psalms of David in Meeter
Music: James L. Macbeth Bain, arr: Gordon Jacob
Greeting
We gather in the triune name of sacred Love. May God’s peace be ever with you, Christ’s mercy near at hand, and may the Holy Spirit guide and encourage you in all circumstances and in every need. Amen
Prayer of the Day
O Seeking God, it is always your joy to celebrate the finding of the lost treasures in our world, but most especially the returning of lives to your home. Help us today to bring our treasures and our emptiness, our missing pieces, and our very selves into your home, so that you may celebrate with us in a rich feast of joy and reconciliation which you have prepared for us through Christ our Lord
Psalm 119: 167-176
167 I have kept | your decrees
and I have | loved them deeply.
168 I have kept your commandments | and decrees,
indeed, all my ways | are before you.
169 Let my cry come before | you, O Lord;
give me understanding, according | to your word.
170 Let my supplication | come before you;
deliver me, according | to your promise.
171 My lips shall pour | forth your praise,
when you teach | me your statutes.
172 My tongue shall sing | of your promise,
for all your command-|ments are righteous.
173 Let your hand be read-|y to help me,
for I have chosen | your commandments.
174 I long for your salva-|tion, O Lord,
and your teaching is | my delight.
175 Let me live, and | I will praise you,
and let your | judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a sheep | that is lost;
search for your servant, for I do not forget | your commandments.
Scripture Reading – Luke 15: 1-32
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Thanks be to God
Reflection – Marty Jones
Hymn – God of the Sparrow
1.
God of the sparrow
God of the whale
God of the swirling stars
How does the creature say Awe
How does the creature say Praise
2.
God of the earthquake
God of the storm
God of the trumpet blast
How does the creature cry Woe
How does the creature cry Save
3.
God of the rainbow
God of the cross
God of the empty grave
How does the creature say Grace
How does the creature say Thanks
4.
God of the hungry
God of the sick
God of the prodigal
How does the creature say Care
How does the creature say Life
5.
God of the neighbor
God of the foe
God of the pruning hook
How does the creature say Love
How does the creature say Peace
6.
God of the ages
God near at hand
God of the loving heart
How do your children say Joy
How do your children say Home
Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda
Music: Carl F. Schalk
Creed
In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss.
In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving. You are our mother, brother, and Savior.
In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace.
You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.
You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.
Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. Amen
~Julian of Norwich
Prayers of Intercession
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen
Closing Prayer
Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that you your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benediction
Go with the strength you have.
Go simply
lightly
gently
Go in search of Love.
And know the Spirit of God goes with you. Amen
Hymn – For the Fruit of All Creation
1.
For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
For these gifts to ev’ry nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.
2.
In the just reward of labor,
God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God’s will is done.
In our world-wide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God’s will is done.
3.
For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
Text: Fred Pratt Green
Music: arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams