We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms, building community in a fragmented world.
Prelude - Behold! The King Rides Forth! [Todd Kendall], Jan Green
*CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Luke 19:29-40)
ONE: After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When Jesus had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them…
As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
ALL: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’
ONE: Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’
ALL: He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
*OPENING HYMN - All Glory, Laud and Honor #192, v.1-3
1 All glory, laud and honor to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are a child of Israel, Great David’s greater son;
you ride in lowly triumph,Messiah, blessed One!
2 The company of angels are praising you on high,
and, we with all creation in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present.
3 To you, before your passion, they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted, our melody we raise.
As you received their praises, now hear us as we pray.
Since you delight in goodness, rule in our hearts today.
Invitation to Give
Invitation to Give - Christina Brant
Offertory - Loving Kindness by Gerald Peterson, Jan Green
Doxology #46
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Children's Moment - Rev. Chad Delaney
FULL to the BRIM: Looking for Abundance
Pastoral Prayer
I. Spellbound
Scripture: Luke 19:45-48
45 Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; 46and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’
47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
HYMN - Open My Eyes, That I May See #586, v. 1-3
1 Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
2 Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
3 Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
II. Amazed
Scripture: Luke 20:20-26
20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21So they asked him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ 23But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24‘Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?’ They said, ‘The emperor’s.’ 25He said to them, ‘Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ 26And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.
MUSIC - Have Thine Own Way, Lord #588, v.1 & 4
1 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.
4 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!
III. Abundance
Scripture: Luke 21:1-4
He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’
HYMN - More Love to Thee, O Christ #527, v.1-2
1 More love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make, on bended knee;
this is my earnest plea, more love, O Christ, to thee,
more love to thee, more love to thee.
2 Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
now thee alone I seek, give what is best;
this all my pray'r shall be, more love, O Christ, to thee,
more love to thee, more love to thee.
IV. Near
Scripture: Luke 21:29-33
29 Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
SPECIAL MUSIC - “Come as You Are ” Ryan and Karly Lind, Songwriters: Ben Glover / David Crowder / Matt Maher
V. Covenant
Communion Meditation
Hymn - “These I Lay Down” #391, v.1, 3, 5
1 Before I take the body of my Lord,
before I share his life in bread and wine,
I recognize the sorry things within:
these I lay down.
3 The narrowness of vision and of mind,
the need for other folk to serve my will,
and every word and silence meant to hurt:
these I lay down.
5 Lord Jesus Christ companion at this feast,
I empty now my heart and stretch my hands,
and ask to meet you here in bread and wine
which you lay down.
Prayer & the Lord’s Prayer
Words of Institution - Luke 21:14-23
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ 17Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 20And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ 23Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
Communion Music: Gentle Spirit by Donald F. Callendar
*BENEDICTION
We Believe written by Roddy Hamilton
We believe the time is now
(with the taste of bread fresh on our lips)
to go into the world and face the darkness
We believe the moment is right
(with the bitterness of the wine sharp in our mouths)
to face the powers of the world with the love of heaven
We believe the place is here
(with the sound of covenant echoing in our ears)
to endure the suffering love calls us to
We believe the path is before us
(with the crumbs of heaven still scattered across the table)
to side with truth in a deafened world
We believe the hour is come
(with the table conversation a turmoil in our minds)
to conspire with Christ and move against injustice
We believe the gospel is this
(with bread lying broken and a goblet left empty)
love is betrayed but death shall not have the final word
Shepherd Me, O God #734
[Refrain]
Shepherd Me, O God,
beyond my wants,
beyond my fears,
from death into life
POSTLUDE - Were You There? by John M. Rasley, Jan Green