Bulletin – Sunday, September 20, 2020

Sunday, September 20, 2020
Creation 2

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

We light the Christ candle knowing that Christ’s love shines like a beacon for those of us who are troubled, who are anxious, who are unsure, who are feeling lost, who are questioning, and when we light this candle we know that were we being welcomed into the presence of our God, who loves us into fullness.

(adapted from Fern Gibbard, Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2020, page. 32)

Call to Worship

The wonders of God’s abundant creation call out to us.
We marvel at the magnificence of God.

Yet God has Entrusted all this to our stewardship.
We marvel at the immensity of God’s trust in us.

God has given us all we need to live abundantly, joyfully, and generously.
We come to worship God, creator and lover of all.

(adapted from Jean Leckie, Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2020, page 27)

Hymn – “Sing Your Praise to God Eternal”

Sing your praise to God eternal, sing your praise to God the Son,
Sing your praise to God the Spirit, living and forever One.
God has made us, God has blessed us, God has called us to be true.
God rules over all creation, daily making all things new.

Join the praise of every creature, sing with singing birds at dawn;
When the stars shine forth at nightfall, hear their heavenly antiphon.
Praise God for the light of summer, autumn glories, winter snows,
For the coming of the springtime and the life of all that grows.

Praise God in our days of gladness for the summons to rejoice;
Praise God in our times of sadness for the calm, consoling voice.
God our Maker, strong and loving, Christ our Saviour, Leader, Lord,
Living God, Creator Spirit, be your holy name adored!

Prayer of Approach and Confession

God of the mountains and the seas, of dry land and living waters, may we always look to you where your Spirit leads us, in truth. May we always notice you where hope does not disappoint us, because we know that your love has been poured over all.

O Gracious God, you are the reasons we are here. You have given us, on this earth, everything we need to survive and live. You provide what will fill our bellies, minds, and souls.

Please show us the way so all who inhabit the earth can live in harmony with each other sharing what you provide. May we not waste what you have given us. Forgive us and challenge us to a new way when we do.

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(adapted from Wand Winfield and Scott Martin, Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2020, pages 27, 28)

Words of Assurance

Time for All Ages

Hymn – “Lead On, O Cloud of Presence”

Lead on, O cloud of Presence, the exodus is come.
In wilderness and desert our tribe shall make its home.
Our slavery left behind us, new hopes within us grow.
We seek the land of promise where milk and honey flow.

Lead on, O fiery Pillar, we follow yet with fears,
But we shall come rejoicing through joy be born of tears.
We are not lost, though wandering, for by your light we come,
And we are still God’s people. The journey is our home.

Lead on, O God of freedom, and guide us on our way,
And help us trust the promise through struggle and delay.
We pray our sons and daughters may journey to that land
Where justice dwells with mercy, and love is law’s demand.

The Word

Scripture Reading:

Exodus 16:2-21

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “Only What We Need!”

Anthem – “Holy Manna”

The Response

Prayer

God, like the Israelites in the wilderness, we too have known your love, and experienced your care and provision. You invite us to extend that love to the world around us—to care for others as deeply as we care for ourselves. And so we bring the needs of our world before you now. Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the many who do not have enough: enough food to eat, or shelter to keep warm; enough employment, or money to pay their bills; enough medicine or medical care. Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We also pray for those who have more than enough, but who still struggle to find meaning and purpose in life; who indulge in dangerous or self-serving activities to dull their pain or loneliness. Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Compassionate God, we pray for those who suffer, those who are sick and living with pain, Those who are afraid because they have no control over their bodies, those who are alone with no one to comfort them. We also lift up to you, Loving God, those in this community whom we hope will feel your gentle presence in their lives today, as we pray for…Lord, in Your Mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God, your grace reaches out to all of us. You call us to live as citizens of heaven, working together with one heart and mind. Strengthen us to live in a manner worthy of the Good News we have received, offering our lives in service of your kingdom, where the last are first, and the first are last, and there is grace enough for all. Lord, in Your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

We offer all these prayers to you as we continue to pray in the words that Jesus taught us;
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 – “Bless Now, O God, the Journey”

Bless now, O God, the journey that all your people make,
The path through noise and silence, the way of give and take.
The trail is found in desert and winds the mountain round,
Then leads beside still waters, the road where faith is found.

Bless sojourners and pilgrims who share this winding way,
Whose hope burns through the terrors, whose love sustains the day.
We yearn for holy freedom while often we are bound.
Together we are seeking the road where faith is found.

Divine Eternal Lover, you meet us on the road.
We wait for lands of promise where milk and honey flow.
But waiting not for places, you meet us all around.
Our covenant is written on roads, as faith is found.

Benediction

May Jesus Christ, who restores life to our planet, fill you with his presence to share in this restoration with all humanity, Go in peace, serve and love one another as we together care for one another in the midst of God’s wondrous creation, this earth. Amen.

Response

Travel on, travel on, there’s a spirit that is flowing,
A spirit that is flowing night and day.
Travel on, travel on, with the spirit that is flowing,
The spirit will be with us all the way.
Travel on, travel on, with the river that is flowing,
The spirit will be with us all the way.