September 20 Worship
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Download the Worship Bulletin Here
Worship will be live streamed on Grace's YouTube channel (above), and the video recording uploaded here afterward.
We Gather
CENTERING WORDS
Phil 1
United in one spirit, we are called to stand strongly.
United in one mind, we are called to live faithfully.
United in one God, we are called to love abundantly.
PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather here to worship God.
Guide our minds to focus on You, O Lord.
We gather here to follow Jesus.
Guide our actions, that they might fulfill your commandments, O Christ.
We gather here to serve God.
Open our hearts, that we might be filled with your love and compassion, O Christ.
Come, let us worship, let us follow, let us serve our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Amen.
OPENING HYMN No. 475
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
(Because the singing of hymns is discouraged during this period of pandemic, you are invited to meditate on verses 1 & 3 below.)
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!
O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
CALL TO PRAYERS
We continue to believe that we must earn our way into God's heart. But God's grace is given to each of us, for all of us, freely, unconditionally, always. Let us open our lives to this mercy as we pray together saying,
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION & INTERCESSION
Exod 16; Phil 1
Forgive us, Mighty God, when we doubt your strength. Assure us, Faithful God, when we doubt your constant presence. Renew us, Loving God, when we neglect to love others as you have loved us. Empower us with your strength, and encourage us with your steadfast love. Unite us through the power of your Holy Spirit, that we might live with a faith that honors you, and abide with a hope that encourages others to know your love and grace.
Love through us, living God, in the power of your Holy Spirit. Love through us, Holy One, by the grace of your child, Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, that we may respond with trust and hope. In your mighty name, we pray. Amen.
Let us lift our prayers to God for the brokenness of this world and for the needs of our community and our hearts.
Silence
ASSURANCE OF GOD WITH US
This is the good news: there is no ranking in God's kingdom. God graces everyone with the same gifts: mercy, restoration, new life.
God has kept the covenant. We have been forgiven, we have been made new people. Thanks be to God. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Phil 1
United in one mind and spirit, let us share signs of love and peace with one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
And also with you.
We Reflect
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, as we turn to your Word for us, may your Spirit rest upon us. Help us to be steadfast in our hearing, in our speaking, in our believing, and in our living. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Exodus 16:2-15
GOSPEL LESSON
Matthew 20:1-16
SERMON
A Fair Wage
Rev. Kathryn R. Mustaro
We Respond
OUR GIFTS OF SACRIFICE and THANKSGIVING
Invitation Ps 105; Phil 1
God has generously blessed us and granted us the privilege of sharing our blessings with others. Thanks be to God for this sacred trust.
Thank you for sending your offerings. They make a great difference to our church’s work in the world.
Musical Meditation
Prayer of Dedication
Exod 16; Ps 105
With hope in our hearts, we offer our gifts to you, O God, trusting that you will use them in the work of your kingdom which welcomes all, loves all, needs all, and serves all. Amen.
We Are Sent
CLOSING HYMN No. 71
Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me
(You are invited to meditate on the refrain and verses 1and 2 below.)
Refrain: Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense,
and God will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs of salvation
and on that day you shall say, “Give thanks to the Lord
and call upon God’s name.” (Refrain)
Make God’s deeds known among the peoples;
see that they remember that the Lord is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for God has done great things
and this is known in all the world. (Refrain)
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Please join us for prayers and fellowship on ZOOM at 10:30 a.m..
All songs not in the public domain are used by permission of CCLI #1124594.