August 20, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Genesis 45. 1-15. Joseph, who has become a leader in Egypt, reveals himself to his brothers, who have come seeking famine relief.

Psalm 133. How good it is when we live in harmony with one another.

Romans 11. 1-2a, 29-32. God has not rejected the Jews, but has “imprisoned everyone in disobedience” so that God can be equally merciful to everyone.

Matthew 15. 21-28. A Canaanite (pagan) woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. At first he rejects her as a Gentile, calling her a dog—a racial slur. But in response to her tenacious quest, he grants her request.

Preaching Thoughts

Genesis
      Joseph (and other scriptures like Ps. 105.17) says his being sold into slavery was God’s plan. People often say that certain painful events are “part of God’s plan.” Baloney. That idea is a relic of an immature faith.. Despite many biblical stories (e.g. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart…) God’s plan doesn’t include making hurtful things happen or making people do evil things. God’s plan is that we all live peaceably, that we have life and have it abundantly. (If God was planning for Israel’s rescue in Egypt God could have figured out a better way, no?) God doesn’t engage in clever strategizing and intervention to make certain things happen. (It takes some pastoral depth to wean people of this idea!) When we blame suffering or evil on God we minimize evil and injustice and avoid the deep pain of life, and keep people from either facing evil or receiving healing. God doesn’t make bad things happen, but God’s grace is present always, even in evil deeds and disasters. It’s not a “silver lining” to a particular event but a constant. God is always present and at work, creating, blessing, liberating. Sometimes we cooperate, sometimes not. But grace is a constant, like gravity. If you are traveling a difficult road, it’s not God’s choice. But even there God will accompany you, lead you, and bless you.

Romans
       Paul has asserted that we don’t need to be Jewish to be God’s people. So where does that leave the Jews? Paul affirms God’s Covenant with Israel: that God has chosen them, that through them all people on earth would be blessed (see Gen. 12.3, 28.14). Paul says the Jews are “disobedient” in not accepting Jesus as the Messiah, so that instead of simply becoming part of Judaism, belief in Jesus would spread to Gentiles and the whole world, eventually including Jews. Without attributing such clever strategy to God, we can affirm that Christians and Jews are equally in need of God, and equally beloved. We’ve been listening to the last few weeks in the lectionary about the sibling rivalry of Abraham’s descendants, and how messed up that is. Shouldn’t we end the sibling rivalry between Christians and Jews?

Matthew
       Maybe Jesus is testing the woman, hoping she’ll jump over the little fence he puts before her. . Maybe he’s repeating a racial slur, calling her a dog, in a knowing way, with a “woke” wink. Maybe he innocently thinks his ministry is to Jewish people, and not to pagans. But more likely, Jesus, having grown up in a culture that derided outsiders, has simply unknowingly taken on that inherent bias: that they are, in fact, less than human. Dogs. It’s not just that Gentiles aren’t included in his “congregation,” it’s that they are unworthy. It’s not right to take bread from deserving people and give it to undeserving dogs. Until. She calls him on it. This uppity woman won’t take “no.” She engages him like a rabbi would, taking his words and playing with them, exposing his bias and putting it in a larger, more compassionate context—just as he does with his “you have heard it said but I say to you” sayings. It opens his eyes. She’s a human being, not a dog! Possibly regarding an unconscious bias, and definitely regarding his ministry among gentiles, he allows his mind to be changed. Maybe what makes Jesus “perfect” is not that he has no flaws but that he is growing.
       I wonder if the little girl ever knew how tenaciously, how boldly, how audaciously her mother sought her healing. And how many people without our knowing have prayed for us, advocated for us, provided for us?

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: Holy God, earth beneath our feet—
All: Holy Word, hope in our darkness—
Holy Spirit, breath within the breath—
You intend only good, and make your light shine in all our darkness.
We praise you. We thank you. We worship you.

2.
Leader: God, Eternal Love, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, Living Word, we greet you!
Holy Spirit, we are one body by your grace.
Alleluia! It is not according to our worthiness
but by your grace that we are blessed.
Even the crumbs of grace that fall from your table
nourish our hearts and heal us. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: God of Love, we have come by many arduous roads
to this day in this place.
All: You have accompanied us.
We have needed you.
And you have provided, sometimes in ways we did not see.
Still we are in your house, members of your family.
Still we are loved. So we praise you. We thank you. We worship you.

4.
Leader: Generous God, we reach out to you.
All: Healing God, we plead with you.
Our doubts discourage us.
Voices of judgment wold turn us back.
But your grace prevails.
You feed us. You heal us. You bless us.
We thank you. We bless you. We worship you.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Spirit of Love, you come to us in many ways. Open our hearts to see you before us. Open our ears to hear your voice. Open our hearts to receive your love and to bear your love to all, in the name and the grace of Christ. Amen.

2.
God of Generosity and Miracles, we come to you, humbly begging for even the crumbs that fall from the Table of your Word. Bless us that we may hear what you are saying to us, and humbly and gladly receive your grace, so that we may bear it to others, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

3.
Holy One, you still the terror of our loneliness. You feed the famine of our hearts. You heal us even when we hear we are unworthy. Your grace is the gravity of our lives. We open our hearts to you, to hear and be shaped by your Word, in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

4.
God of grace, God of mercy and justice, you have come to set us free from all that diminishes life, that enslaves our hearts, that imprisons our spirits, that constricts our love. Come to us and speak your liberating Word to us. Set us free and bring us on your Way through the Red Sea. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

God of infinite love,
the crumbs that fall
from the table of your grace
are enough for us.
Have mercy on us.
We trust in you.

Prayer of Confession

1.
Pastor: The grace of God be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
God of love, help us to see ourselves honestly,
to see each moment we intend love,
and each moment we intend otherwise.
Trusting, by the grace of Christ, that you intend only love,
we offer ourselves to you:
receive us, forgive us, heal us, and perfect your love in us.
            [Silent prayer … The word of grace]

2.
… God of love, we give you our whole selves,
and invite your grace into all that is not whole,
that is not free, that is not loving.
Forgive us, heal us, and restore your Spirit in us.

Readings

A reflection on Psalm 133

Look, how good and pleasant it is
       when we live together in unity as siblings!
Rich and poor, native and foreign, insider and outsider in unity—
      like the champagne of a great celebration!
Deserving and undeserving, honored and condemned, loved and hated—
       like the best cake at a party.
Wise and foolish, right and wrong in unity—
      it is like morning dew shining on the mountain of God.
For there God has commanded blessing:
       blessing and life forever.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

Leader: God of love, you create us and claim us; you love us and guide us.
All: We praise you and we worship you.
Beloved Christ, you heal us and forgive us; you teach us and lead us.
We thank you and we follow you.
Holy Spirit, you unite us and transform us; you empower us and shine in us.
We open our heart to you and we live by your grace. Alleluia!

Eucharistic Prayer

[After the introduction, the body of the prayer may be read responsively with the presiding leader(s) and congregation, or by the leader(s) alone.]

God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Holy One, our God.
It is good and beautiful to give God our praise.

God, we thank you, for you create us in your image,
claim us in love and continually set us free.
You work your grace in good times and bad,
and accompany us in familiar lands and strange places.
When we are lost you guide us,
and when we re in need you bless us.
Even the crumbs that fall from your table are enough for us,
and yet you bless us richly.
So we thank you, and praise you together with all Creation.

            [Sanctus, spoken or sung:]
        Holy, holy, holy One, God of power and might,
        heaven and earth are full of your glory.
        Hosanna in the highest.
        Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
        Hosanna in the highest.
               [or alternate version]

Blessed are all who come in your name,
and blessed is Jesus, your Christ,
who taught and healed, who loved and forgave,
who included the outcast and blessed the alien.
No one was beyond the reach of his love.
By his death and resurrection he blessed us still.

     (The Blessing and Covenant)
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again.
Therefore, remembering these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

             [Memorial Acclamation, spoken or sung:]
        Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
                     —or—
        Dying, Christ destroyed our death. Rising, Christ restores our life.
        Christ will come again in glory.
             [or alternative]

Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on us, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ.
By your grace in us may we forgive all who have wronged us,
for they are our kin.
May no one be outside the bounds of our compassion,
that we may share this bread with all, without exception,
in the love of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit.

     [Spoken or sung]
Amen.

____________
* The Blessing and Covenant
[I usually don’t print the words. I want people to be looking at the bread, not their bulletins.]

On the night in which he gave himself for us
Jesus took bread, blessed it,. broke it, and gave it to his disciples,saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
blessed it with thanks and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you. This is my blood,
poured out for you and for many, in a new Covenant,
which is the forgiveness of sin.”
As long as we break this bread and share this cup
we remember his death and resurrection, until he comes again

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) We have begged for crumbs and you have fed us with the bread of life. In gratitude we give you our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace, and use them according to your will. Send us O Love, knowing that no one is outside our care, no one is beyond our reach, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Humbly, My God (Tune: Open My Eyes)

Open my eyes, O God of grace,
to see you here in every face,
you in the poor, the stranger, the foe,
bidding me learn and love and grow.
Humbly, my God, I look for you,
ready, with love, your will to do.
Open my eyes; illumine me, Spirit divine.

Open my ears to hear your voice
leading with grace in every choice.
You come in need that I cannot hide,
so that your love will be my guide.
Humbly, my God, I look for you,
ready, with love, your will to do.
Open my ears; illumine me, Spirit divine.

Open my heart to freely care,
your undefended love to share.
Open my arms; release all my fear;
and in my love you will appear.
Humbly, my God, I look for you,
ready, with love, your will to do.
Open my heart; illumine me, Spirit divine.

August 13, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Genesis 37. 1-4, 12-28. Joseph’s jealous brothers sell him into slavery. (The lectionary skips Joseph’s dream of his brother’s subservience.)

Psalm 105.1-6, 16-22. Praise God for God’s wonderful deeds. The story of Joseph, sent ahead of the people of Israel to save them.

Romans 10.5-15. Righteousness is not obeying laws, but being attuned to the presence of God. All who turn to God will be made whole. So we are sent to convey this good news to others, who would otherwise not know.

Matthew 14. 22-33. The disciples in a boat struggle against a storm. The sight of Jesus walking on the water terrifies them, but he reassures them. He then invites Peter to walk on water as well.

Preaching Thoughts

Genesis
      This tale continues the Bible’s work as the chronicle of dysfunctional families. From Cain onward we hear family members (that’s us) saying “Am I my bothers keeper?” And God answering yes, and us saying no anyway. In God, our loving parent, we are all one family. We are all Joseph’s siblings. All whom we resent, abuse or mistreat are our siblings. Joseph will encounter his brothers again, but much later. Often the truth—that we are all one— comes to us only after a long time.

Romans
       “The word is not far from you, but in your heart.” Faith isn’t something we have to go get; a relationship with God isn’t something only certain pious people possess. God is in us all the time and all of us are always only partially aware and trusting of that. This passage is often turned into a requirement: “If you confess with your lips you will be saved,” implying that if not, you won’t. But it’s a promise. Sometimes we feel like we’re not good enough for God. But we are. All we have to do is trust that. And the same is true of others, including people whose faith we might be temped to judge. God is in them, and you can’t judge their trust level. Just work on your own. But how are they to believe if they haven’t heard? That’s where we are called—not to proselytize, but to show love. Love is the only thing that will convince folks that Love is real.

Matthew
      Note the story begins with Jesus making for himself the solitude he didn’t get when the crowds interrupted him.
     When we’re “battered,” when the “wind is against us,” we tend to revert to fear. Again and again God’s Word is, “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.” In our troubles God is with us. Jacob wrestling with the angel, Joseph’s brothers, the disciples facing a crowd of thousands of hungry people, or caught in a storm: they’re all learning to trust God’s presence and God’s grace. A challenge is that sometimes we’re more terrified of God than our troubles! Maybe something in us knows that even our troubles are actually about God. It’s not that God causes our troubles, but that our troubles in life expose our trouble with God. Our real struggle is to trust God is always present, and to let God be God. Notice that when Jesus and Peter get into the boat, when the disciple’s inner struggles resolve, the outer struggle disappears: the wind ceases. Sometimes our troubles are external manifestations of inner struggles. But not always—so don’t use this to blame yourself or others for suffering!
     While the disciples are wondering if they’re seeing a ghost, Peter knows the test: the real Jesus would ask him to do something risky, scary, seemingly impossible and requiring deep trust (like feeding 5000 people). So Peter launches the test: “Ask me to walk on the water.” Ah, good ol’ impulsive Peter steps right into this own trap. He’s right, of course. Jesus asks us to do stuff that’s risky, scary, seemingly impossible and requiring deep trust.
     Peter begins to sink— Matthew says “he became frightened.” He was probably already afraid, but focused on Jesus—until his fear took over. Fear is natural; but faith is acting with courage even when we’re afraid. Peter noticed the strong wind. He focused on what was against him instead of what was for him, what he lacked instead of what he was offered. (Remember the measly little loaves and fish?) And he focused on how he was doing. He judged himself. He measured his performance. That sinks us every time. What saved him was his belovedness. Never mind if you’re good enough. Just love, and let Jesus hold you up. None of us knows how to walk on water as we ought. But the Spirit intercedes for us. When we talk about believing in Jesus, it doesn’t mean having certain opinions. It means reaching out for him. Literally giving him your heart, or, sometimes, giving him your hand.
     The image of Peter in the water is a great image of baptism. Sinking in the waters of baptism, we acknowledge our need for Christ—who hold us and gives us life even in the harshest storms.

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: In all our troubles, God,
All: you are there to save.
Despite all our fears
you give us courage.
When we are sinking
you hold us up.
We thank you. We praise you. We worship you.

2.
Leader: Loving God, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, we greet you!
You are with us in our troubles,
and your hand holds us through every danger.
Alleluia! Hold us now, O Divine presence.
Holy Spirit, come and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: Eternal God, we cry to you, lost and alone.
All: Faithful yet unseen, you are present.
Wind and waves beat against us.
Jesus calm and steady, you are there.
Fear and doubts rise up in us.
Spirit of peace, you are herewith us and within us.
In awe and gratitude, we that you.
We reach out to you. We worship you.

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Gracious God, your Word is not far away, but near us. It is on our lips. It is in our hearts. Grant us stillness this morning, that we may be mindful of your presence and open to your Word. Help us always to know that you are near, in stillness and in turmoil, in calm and in storm. Help us always dwell in your presence, listen for your Word, and reach for your hand. Amen.

2.
Loving God, in danger you are our salvation. In loneliness you are our companion. In fear or uncertainty you are our courage. We thank you. We love you. We trust you. We reach for you. Hold us, and lead us to life. Amen.

3.
Faithful One, as Jesus walked across the stormy sea to the disciples, so you come to us in our troubles. Come to us now, walk across all our fears and doubts, bear to us your presence, and and give us your peace. Amen.

4.
Holy One, give us the patience of Joseph to trust your presence. Give us the faith of Peter to reach out for you. Amid loneliness and betrayal, amid storms and struggles, give us the grace to give our our hearts. We pray in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Loving God, you are our life.
We reach out for you,
for you are here.
Hold us, and give us life.

Poetry

     Walking on water

Years later the curious would ask,
“That night on the lake, really and truly,
did Jesus actually walk on water?”

And one of the disciples might reply,
“Yes. But the curious thing
that nobody ever mentions is that
every day of his life, wherever he went
his feet were always wet.”

Another disciple says, “No, that’s just a story.
But another time he did.”

Or, “I don’t recall. All I remember
is how afraid I was to see this apparition,
how relieved to see it was him,
and how afraid when he looked at me
as if I could do the same.”

One says, “Not at first. That was just
a metaphor. But as the story spread
so many went there looking for him
that he walked out there often to meet them.”

And one: “Oh, yes, it was very real, more so
than you think. The story has him floating
like a cloud. Actually, the waves were pretty choppy.
It was hard. He fell a couple of times.”

One time a disciple simply replied,
“He is still there, every night.”

Another says, “Honestly, I don’t remember that morning,
but all the mornings since then.”

Another: “My heart is a deep and unpredictable lake.
And he always walks toward me, never away.”

But usually they just look at you and say,
“Why are you asking me?
You must go and see for yourself.”

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) By your Word you calm our stormy hearts and call us to greater risks in faith. You grant us your presence and strengthen us to serve you. Give us the faith always to hold on to you as we serve you in all circumstances. Send us now into the world to spread your grace in the name of Christ and the power of your Spirit. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

Keep on walking

In the beginning: water and the Spirit. “Let the light shine through.”
Always a beginning, Spirit and the water: God makes all things new.
Chorus: Keep on walking, step into the water,
God will bring us over with an outstretched hand.
Remember our history: through the pain and mystery
runs the way to the promised land.

We have been walking, walking through the water,
walking through the great Red Sea.
Pharaoh once bound us; chaos now surrounds us:
that’s how Gd sets us free.
Chorus

We have been walking, walking on the water,
walking on the storm-tossed sea.
“I will give you power to live, to do great things. Follow me.”
Chorus

We have been walking, waling by the water, baptized in God’s name.
Dies in the water, born in the water, we will never be the same.
Chorus

July 30, 2023

Lectionary Texts

Genesis 29.15-28. Jacob works seven years for Laban to marry Rachel. Laban tricks him and gives him Leah; Jacob works another seven years for Rachel.

Psalm 105. Praise God for God’s wonderful deeds.

Romans 8.26-39. We don’t know how to pray, but the Spirit intercedes…. All things work for good …. God has predestined us to be loved, to be like Christ, to be glorious with love. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52. Parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, hidden treasure, the precious pearl, the great net. The householder brings out what is new and what is old.

Preaching Thoughts

Genesis
       We take the Bible so seriously that sometimes we forget that sometimes it has a rollicking good tale to tell. This is one. Sure, it’s about God continuing to provide… and it’s also about trickery. Jacob is a scheming, self-serving dude… but here’s a sweet side to him: his love for Rachel. Imagine working 14 years for something you really want.

Romans
       Paul really does believe in God’s grace. God saves us when we’re sinful, forgives us when we don’t deserve it, and prays for us when we can’t. Faith isn’t something we have but something we receive. God is not some far-off stranger requiring us to get their attention and explain things to them. God is within us, and knows us better than we know ourselves. When we “don’t know what to pray” we’re just aware of what’s always true: we don’t actually “know how” to pray. We’re not actually doing the praying. We’re just letting the Holy Spirit speak up. Real prayer is letting God pray in us. And listening.
      This passage is often used to justify some notion of predestination, as if God has already decided your life. Paul does not say God has predestined the events and trajectory of our lives; he says we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. And we are destined to be called, justified and glorified. There’s no plotting of our future here: this is not a predetermination of what we’ll do or what will happen to us, but of who we are. We’re God’s Beloved. That’s a given. Or, in Paul’s language, predestined.
       Here’s is the Good News. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nothing. Not even our own sin. (Remember Rom. 5.8: “Christ died for the ungodly.”) Faith is not earning that gift, but receiving it. Think of all the things we think, at one time or another, can separate us from God’s love. Go ahead, name them. And add them to the list of things that are not able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Matthew
      Jesus tells various parables about the Realm of God being valuable and fruitful treasures hidden among us. They are stories about seeking, finding, paying attention and honoring God’s presence.
     •Mustard seed. God’s grace is life-giving, not demanding; sheltering and welcoming, and seems to rise out of nothing. There’s no measuring grace. The smallest and seemingly insignificant act of love may be huge in God’s realm. You are a mustard seed of God.
     • Yeast. The word for “three measures” of flour isn’t like three cups, but more like three bushels. God’s grace is invisible but has a huge impact. And a little bit affects the whole lump. Your little acts of love change the whole world. Musicians get this: In a choir if only one person changes the note they’re singing it changes the whole chord. (You can demonstrate that in your sermon with singers or handbells.)
      • Treasure. So often we’re looking for God in certain places when God actually is everywhere. Because of the treasure the whole field is valuable. Because God is everywhere and in everything, everything is blessed. God is present, even in evil situations. We’re invited to buy the whole field, to love the whole world. And God buys the whole field of you because you hold the hidden treasure.
      • Pearl. Imagine what is worth the total of everything else in your life put together. What would you give up everything for? Imagine seeking God, loving God like that. I don’t think it means to abandon your life, friends, career, and all that. I think it means paying attention to what you most care about in your day to day (or year to year) life. What if that pearl is to be loving? Say you’re in an argument with a family member or co-worker. What’s the fine pearl you’re after? To win? To look smart? To be right? Or to love? What are the other less valuable things you have to give up to really love?
      • Great net. The realm of God is inclusive. Jesus welcome everybody to the table. And God welcomes all of you, your whole self. You are not all good or bad. You are made up of fish of every kind. God gathers all of who you are, the fish of every kind that make up you, and sorts out what’s fruitful and what’s not. The fish that’s tossed out is not you, it’s your faults and foibles. God will sort out what’s valuable and what’s not. But God takes the whole package. Isn’t that how we love our friends? We take the whole netful, the good with the bad, and love them whole.
      •New and old. Paradox. Balance. Heritage and reform. Found and created. A tradition of transformation.

Call to Worship

1.
Leader: God, your love is a fine pearl:
All: beautiful, and perfect,
worth more than everything else.
Your grace is the treasure we seek:
lovely, and hidden in the field of our lives.
So we sell all we have and buy the field.
We leave all else aside and worship you,
shovels in hand, seeking your Word.

2.
Leader: Creator God, we praise you!
All: Risen Christ, we greet you!
Holy Spirit, you are the treasure that we seek.
And here you are, within and among us!
Spirit of love, we do not know how to worship as we ought.
But you live within us; you pray in us. You are the heart of our worship.
Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

3.
Leader: God of love, your grace is the mustard seed
that grows in us, that gives life and beauty.
All: Your love is the net that gathers us in in all our diversity.Christ, you are the treasure hidden in the field of our lives.
You are the fine pearl we seek.
Holy Spirit, you are the yeast that leavens us with love.
You are new and old, eternal and always coming anew.
In awe, in gratitude, in joy,we worship you.

4.
Leader: Loving God, we are yours; and we praise you.
All: Crucified and Risen Christ, we are made new, and we thank you.
Holy Spirit, we live by your power alone, and we serve you.
Holy God, we come to tell the story of your grace and to sing your praise.
We come to hear your love, and to sing you love.
We come to worship. Alleluia!

Collect / Prayer of the Day

1.
Loving God, you are the treasure within, the pearl we seek. In the grace of this morning we quiet our souls and open our hearts to your presence; we still our minds to listen for your Word. Speak your grace to us, and create us anew. Amen.

2.
Gracious God, we do not know how to worship as we ought. But you are in every moment and in every place; and your Spirit in us helps us worship even now. Open the eyes of our hearts to be mindful of your presence and to allow you to live fully and powerfully in us, by the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

3.
Gracious God, we confess that we give value to so many worthless things; yet the only treasure we truly have is your love. Forgive us for our idolatry and help us to turn our hearts to you alone. Give us the faith to love you with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We pray in the spirit and the presence of Jesus, your Christ. Amen.

Listening Prayer

(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to prayer)

Loving One,
we do not know how to pray as we ought.
But the yeast of your love
lives in us, works in us,
leavens us with your grace.
You pray in us,
with sighs to deep for words,
and we listen.

Prayer of Confession

God, we do not know how to live as we ought.
But your Spirit intercedes for us,
with sighs too deep for words.
In your mercy forgive our sin,
heal our fear, and empower us
to change our habits
for the sake of love.
May your grace leaven our hearts. Amen.

Readings

1.
Matthew 13.31-33, 44-48 —a meditation

“The realm of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

         [Imagine God’s grace as a tiny seed in you, a tiny seed among all of us, growing great.
         Where do you see those seeds bearing fruit in your life?
         Where do you see it in this church?]

Jesus told them another parable: “The realm of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three bushels of flour until all of it was leavened.” Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; he told them nothing without a parable.

         [Imagine all of your life, even the plain, heavy parts, are leavened with God’s grace.
         What does that feel like? How does it change how you see those parts of your experience?]

Jesus said, “The realm of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in her joy she goes and sells all that she has and buys that field.”

         [Imagine buying the whole field of your life, and everything in it,
         because God’s love is hidden there. Your whole life, even the hard parts.

         What might you have to embrace to really own your life?
         What might you have to give up— to “sell all you have”—to fully possess your life?]

“Again,” Jesus said, “the realm of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

         [What is that one pearl of great price for you? What is the one thing you treasure the most?
         Are you willing to give up everything else for it? ]

Again, the realm of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.

         [When God’s grace enters your life it leads you to make new choices.
         What are the new things you are called to embrace?
         What are old things you need to let go of?]

2.
Romans 8.26-39 — a paraphrase

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit prays in us with sighs too deep for words. And God, who knows everything in our hearts, understands, because the Spirit speaks for God’s holy people according to God’s desire for us.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose. For God has chosen people from the beginning to share the image of the Only Begotten, so that Christ would be the firstborn in a large family. And when people are chosen they are called, and when they are called they are made right with God, and when they are made right with God they shine with God’s glory.

So then here’s what this means: If God is for us, who could be against us? God did not hold back the Only Begotten, but gave Christ up for all of us; so trust that God will also give us everything else. Who will bring any charge against God’s chosen ones? Since it is God who justifies, who has the power to condemn? Our judgment is in the hands of Christ Jesus, who died, and yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who is on our side.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or poverty, or danger, or violence? As scripture says, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are looked on as if we are sheep to be slaughtered.” No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through the One who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus the Beloved.

Response / Creed / Affirmation

(Romans 8.26-39)
     God, we give you thanks, for you have called us according to your purpose. You have destined us to be conformed to the image of Christ, to be called, to be justified, to be glorified.
     Christ, we give you thanks, for you have died and been raised and intercede for us. You have given up everything for us, and justified our lives, so that no one may condemn. In you nothing can separate us from the love of God: not life or death, hardship or distress, persecution, poverty, danger, suffering or violence. No earthly powers or choices or anything else in Creation can separate is from God’s love in you.
     Holy Spirit, we give you thanks, for through you all things work for good to those who love God. We do not know how to live as we ought, but you intercede for us in ways deeper than words. You empower us to live as more than conquerors, through the love with which you love us. We love you, and we entrust ourselves to you. A,men.

Prayer of Dedication / Sending / after Communion

[Adapt as needed.]
Gracious God, we thank you for (the mystery that you give yourself to us / this mystery in which you have given yourself to us.) Dear God, for all of the treasure that you have given us we thank you. Receive these gifts of our hearts. Through our giving, help us to treasure you alone, and to give of ourselves freely in love of you. Use our gifts to bear your blessing to the world, that all may know of the unsurpassed wonder of your grace. Amen.

Suggested Songs

(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page)

All of the Gifts I Have (Tune: Fairest Lord Jesus)

All of the gifts I have, all that is within me,
you give to me, O God, with care;
all of my prayers and skills, passions and energies
you grant to me to freely share.

Here are my hopes and dreams, attitudes and deepest loves,
all of the treasure to which I cling.
I will not hold them in, stilling my ardent song,
but serving you I’ll freely sing.

In all I keep or give, may I do my very best
in everything I say and do,
in harmony with you, only to love and bless,
with joy, to serve and honor you.

The Heart of Heaven (Original song)

There’s a heart in heaven that knows you,
and speaks your name in love from heaven’s throne,
that has laughed and labored here beside you,
and says, “I know your journey as my own.”

There are eyes in heaven that adore you,
and weep with joy at the beauty of your soul,
for they see the courage of your living,
and share your deepest yearnings to be whole.

There’s a tear in heaven that remembers,
there’s a deep, weary sigh that understands;
there are gentle, wounded hands that know the struggle
to do the work of God with human hands.

There’s a voice from heaven within you,
a spring of life-giving water flowing free.
Let it flow, let grace and peace shine in you
with heaven’s loveliness for all to see.

Oh, the heart of heaven is within you,
the universe embraces you in love,
for the humble One who walks beside you
is the One who rules the sun and stars above.


With Open Hands (Tune: The Water Is Wide)

O God, we come with open hands for grace we do not understand.
We simply take, and we are blessed that you receive us as your guest.

We open all our treasure stores in gratitude that freely pours
from open hearts that you have healed, so in our love, yours is revealed.

You open wide great heaven’s doors; your love includes, heals and restores.
We share your feast, and we are called with open arms to all the world.