The Gathering
Tolling of the Hour
Welcome and Announcements ** Indicates, please stand.
Whether we are old or young, whether we are first-time or longtime worshipers, whether we come full of doubts or confidence, joy or sorrow, in this place we are all family, because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Welcome to all of you today!
Prelude
Prayer of Invocation
Holy and loving God, as we worship you today, we long for your Spirit to both comfort and challenge us, to help us become more holy and more loving. In a world that does not understand repentance, we pray for new understanding, humility, patience, and discipline that will help us die to sin and live for Jesus. Amen.
**Responsive Call to Worship Please stand in body or spirit as you are able.
We come to worship because we long for mercy.
We long for community. We long for God.
We come to worship because we need a good word.
We need connection. We need moral reminders.
We come to worship because we are in between:
hope and grief, faith and doubt, joy and longing, curiosity and conviction.
So we come to worship and God meets us here.
Surely, we are not alone. Thanks be to God for meeting us in the middle! Amen.
**Opening Hymn Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound #280
Call to Confession and Silent Prayer
Friends, our faith calls us to live with both mercy and righteousness. Somewhere along the way, however, we have forgotten that truth. Somewhere along the way, we began arguing about who deserves mercy and whether or not they had acted with enough righteousness to receive it. Fortunately, God does not act that way. No matter what mistakes we have made or wrong turns we’ve taken, God consistently meets us with mercy and invites us to try again. So let us lean into that good news, and in silence go to God in prayer:
Unison Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, When we fail to be righteous, show us mercy. When we fail to be merciful, show us what is right. Again and again, bring us closer to you. Again and again, show us the way. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Family of faith, hear and believe this good news: When we fail to be righteous, God is merciful. When we fail to be merciful, God invites us to try again. Again and again, God moves closer to us. Again and again, God shows us the way. Thanks be to God for this unending love. Amen.
** Passing the Peace
The Peace of Christ be with you…
And also with you.
**Gloria Patri #579
Hearing the Word
Prayer of Illumination
Loving God, Week after week we return to this space, because we long to see you. Like Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to get a peek at you as you walked by, we come to this sanctuary hoping to get a peek of your goodness, of your joy, of your light. So speak to us through these ancient words. Let us get a peek of the love that lingers here. Gratefully we pray, amen.
Scripture
Old Testament Reading Psalm 32:1-7
Instrumental Anthem
New Testament Reading Luke 19:1-10
Sermon Everything in Between – Righteousness and Mercy Rev. Morris
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
...using the prayer Your Son taught us to pray, Our Father...
**Hymn Breathe on Me, Breath of God #316
**Affirmation of Faith
In a world that loves to cast blame and point fingers, Jesus loved by different rules. He offered mercy. He invited people to dinner. He told stories of love. He chose to see the best in others. We believe that small acts of mercy and compassion have ripple effects in our lives. We believe that small acts of righteousness and justice are integral to a life of faith. So like Christ, we believe in offering mercy, inviting people to dinner, telling stories of love, and choosing to see the best in others. With God’s help, may it be so. Amen.
Invitation to Offering
Give to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Let each of us use whatever gift we have received, faithfully sharing God’s grace in many forms. Freely we have received; freely we will give.
Offertory
**Doxology #592
**Unison Prayer of Dedication
Mighty God and Father, you overwhelm us with your great mercy. At the time of our greatest need you surprised us with your wondrous love. Jesus offered his life for us to remove our dreadful curse. As you draw us into this renewing relationship of love, may we respond with gratitude as we offer the substance of our souls to continue the ministry of Christ. For his name and glory we pray and present our gifts. Amen!
We Go Out to Serve
**Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy #298
**Charge Let us say together God’s invitation to a life of Christian discipleship.
God of all times and places, in Jesus Christ, lifted up on the cross, you opened for us the path to eternal life. Grant that we, being born again of water and the Spirit, may joyfully serve you in newness of life and faithfully walk in your holy ways, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
**Blessing
Friends may the God of love, who shared his love, strengthen us in our love for others. May the Son who shared his life grant us grace, that we might share our life. And may the Holy Spirit dwelling in us empower us to be only and always for others. Amen.
Postlude