“Finding the Gift in These Times”
Prelude “Here in This Place” (Christopher Grundy)
Words of Welcome
Today, let us continue to explore the Path of Jesus for the 21st Century in our lives and in our families, as we come to God in worship.
Opening Song “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord”(Simon Khorolskiy)
Psalm Meditation Psalm 100 Congregation reads bold print
Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
People: Worship the Lord with gladness;
All: come into his presence with singing.
L:Know that the Lord is God.
P: It is God that made us, and we are God’s;
ALL: we are God’s people, and the sheep of God’s pasture.
L: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving,
P: and God’s courts with praise;
ALL: Give thanks to the LORD, bless God’s name.
L: For the Lord is good;
P: God’s steadfast love endures forever
ALL: and God’s faithfulness to all generations.
Song “Psalm 100” Avon Grove HS Virtual Choir
First Scripture Romans 5:1-8
Song “Schimba-mi inima (Change My Heart, O God)“ Xara Voca
Second Scripture Reading Matthew 9:35-10:23 (NRSV)
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
The Twelve Apostles
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
The Mission of the Twelve
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Coming Persecutions
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Sermon “Finding the Gift in These Times” Pastor Craig
Song “Prayer of St. Francis” Sarah McLachlan and Choir
Prayers for Our World and One Another
Let us enter now into a time of prayer for one another and for our world. We will do what is called a Bidding Prayer. I will open, and then I will bid your prayers based around various categories. During the silence after each category is bid, I invite you to add your own prayers, either aloud or in silence. I will then close with a prayer, then the Lord’s Prayer. Let us be in prayer.
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Let us pray now for all who are ill, in hospital or at home, especially those affected by cancer or COVID-19.
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Let us pray now for all medical and emergency services personnel who are responding to the best of their abilities with the resources that they have at hand.
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Let us pray now for all those who are hungry or food insecure, and for all community and religious efforts to provide food and shelter.
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Let us pray for the leaders of nations around the world, not only regarding their response to this pandemic, but also that they may do everything possible to assure the health and welfare of their citizens.
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Let us pray for our friends, family, and neighbors for their health and well-being.
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Let us also express our thanks to God for the expressions of love and caring that we have witnessed in our families, communities, and world.
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Let us express our gratitude for life and the myriad things that gladden our hearts.
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These prayers, spoken aloud or in silence, we lift into the universal embrace of the One who is Love, and we make them in the name of the One who showed us what Love looks like in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we now join our voices in the prayer he taught us, 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass 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
Prayer Response “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” (Sharon Irving)
Blessing 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (adapted)
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with holy letters, cards, phone calls, email messages. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Closing