Bulletin – Sunday, October 17, 2021
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Approach
Lighting the Candle
As we light this candle, we are reminded of the power of light to overcome darkness, “a light is shining in the darkness, but the darkness does not overtake it.” (John 1:5). This candle reminds us of Jesus who came to a world of darkness and did not let the darkness overtake the light, it reminds us to be a light in the darkness this day and every day.
Call to Worship
One: Welcome! There are many places you could be this morning, but you have chosen to be here:
All: where we learn how to live in God’s Kingdom.
One: Welcome to this place—full of music, words of prayer—yet also filled with danger:
All: where we encounter a Wisdom we cannot always understand.
One: Welcome to God’s House, the most dangerous place in town:
All: where we talk about and with God, and are reduced to silence so we may hear the call to discipleship.
One: We come to pray, to sing, to learn, to be challenged.
All: We come to worship.
(adapted from Thom Shuman)
Hymn – “God is Here”
God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer,
May we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share.
Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts
Wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts.
Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace;
Here are table, font, and pulpit, here the cross has central place.
Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech,
Here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.
God of all, of church and kingdom, in an age of change and doubt
Keep us faithful to the gospel; help us work your purpose out.
Here, in this day’s dedication, all we have to give, receive;
We, who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe!
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Generous God, you are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness. Yet Almighty God, we confess that we have sought recognition and honour, fame and wealth, the successes of the world, over loving our neighbours and serving those in need around us. We would rather win the lottery and live comfortably that find new ways of sharing what we already have with the hungry and homeless.
We would rather live in safety and security than seek justice for the oppressed and marginalized.
Forgive us for our selfishness and turn us to the needs of those around us. May we remember that we are all part of your body, we are all your children. May we remember that Jesus calls us to serve others, and that instead of worldly recognition and riches, he went to the cross. May we seek forgiveness for our selfish ways, at the same time forgiving ourselves for not being perfect and not being able to do it all, and may we strive simply to do what we can, to participate in your reign on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Hymn – “Christ Has No Body Now But Yours”
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
No hands but yours to heal the wounded world, no hands but yours to soothe all its suffering,
No touch but yours to bind the broken hope of the people of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
No feet but yours to journey with the poor, to walk this world with mercy and justice.
Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace for the children of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
Through ev’ry gift, give back to those in need; as Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing,
With ev’ry gift a benediction be to the people of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
Time for All Ages
The Word
Scripture Reading: Job 38:1-7, 34-41
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone
7 when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or given understanding to the mind?
37 Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in their covert?
41 Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:35-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “Who’s Got the Power?”
Anthem – “Abundant Life”
The Response
Prayers of the People
One: We come to you this day offering our words of prayer knowing that many times our words are not enough. You challenge us to live anew in you, to love as you have loved, to forgive as you forgave, to include as you included. Hear our prayers this morning as we humbly approach you tis day. As we celebrate your goodness you challenge us to confront our own sin, our greed and insensitivity, our failure to appreciate what we have and the opportunities you have given, our readiness to complain, our unwillingness to praise. God open our hearts to love and gratitude.
All: Loving God, hear our prayer and renew us.
One: In a world that you created a world of enough for all we don’t recognize the gifts that we have been given, all we see is food taken for granted, work unappreciated and poorly rewarded; self-centered blindness to other’s needs. Deliberate deafness to the cries of the hungry, coldness of heart to those deprived of affection, God open our hearts to those around us that we might share our gifts with all people.
All: Loving God, hear our prayer and renew us.
One: We look to the beauty of your creation and all we see is something to be used for our own benefit, something for us to take. When we don’t see you in creation all we have is a landscape threatened and an economy at risk; a countryside disheartened, its communities uncertain and confused, its isolation and exclusion ignored. God open our hearts so that we might see you present in all that you have created and we might live with respect in all creation.
All: Loving God, hear our prayer and renew us.
One: We look to your presence in our lives during times of struggle, times of stress, times when things just don’t seem to go as we had planned. Even as we look for you there are often times when we don’t heed your call to come, heed your call to wholeness, heed your call to healing. Remind us of your continued presence with us every day. We ask that those whom we lift up to you this morning feel your presence with them today and every day as we pray for…Open our hearts to the we might feel you within, being our companion in all that life gives to us.
All: Loving God, hear our prayer and renew us.
One: Hear us now as we pray in the words that Jesus taught us.
All: 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 and ever. Amen.
Hymn – “Give Thanks, My Soul, for Harvest”
Give thanks, my soul, for harvest, for store of fruit and grain,
But know the owner gives so that we may share again.
Where people suffer hunger, or little children cry,
With gifts from God’s rich bounty may thankfulness reply.
Give thanks, my soul, for riches of woodland, mine, and hill,
But know that gold and timber are the Creator’s still.
God lends to us, as stewards, abundance we might share,
And thus provide earth’s children the blessing of God’s care.
Give thanks, my soul, for labours, that strength and days employ,
But know the Maker’s purpose brings toil as well as joy.
Show forth, O God, your purpose, direct our will and hand
To share your love and bounty with all in every land.
Benediction
May we always walk gently upon the Earth, in right relationship, nurtured by your love, open to the wind of the Spirit, taking only what we need, always open to the needs of others, making choices that bring wellbeing, living with generosity, striving for justice, honouring all with reverence, reconciling and peacemaking, mindful of those who will come after, recognizing our proper place as part of your creation.
Grant us the strength and courage, God, for such a radical transformation into your Kingdom.
Response
Amen, amen, amen.
