The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTIONS
Needless to say, this is a grim story. A dire story. But what I appreciate most is that it’s an urgent story. It doesn’t mince words about what’s at stake. It doesn’t pretend that our years are limitless and our options infinite. This is a story about time running out. About alternatives closing down. This is a story for us.
— Debi Thomas,
Journey with Jesus
Notice that is the note on which the parable ends. We are reminded once again that seeing the un-seeable, caring for the disenfranchised, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, setting the oppressed free are not only marks of discipleship or acts that contribute to the reality of the Kingdom of God in our midst (Psalm 146). They are moments of resurrection. They bring the dead to life.
— Karoline Lewis,
Professor of Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary, in Working Preacher
No matter our social and financial status, we all have responsibility for the other. A cautionary tale, this parable pushes us to see and hear the suffering of the poor and to cross that enormous gulf that exists between people, between communities. To see the poor and the sick as people with names, not just some jumble of faces. To name the injustices and illnesses they deal with. To reach out while we’re all still living, because it is the only chance we have to try and make things right.
— Melissa Bane Sevier
COLLECT
Unseen God, drawing all people to the end of our desires: teach us to know true bread from false and to feed on him who shares our flesh to share your love, Jesus Christ, our communion. Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Rev. Melisa Blankenship (she/her/hers), Worship Leader
Minister: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Psalm 105:1-2; Revelation 4:8, NRSV
Give thanks to the Lord, call on God’s name, make known God’s deeds among the peoples.
Sing to God, sing praises to God; tell of all God’s wonderful works.
Glory in God’s holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come!
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Step By Step
Proverbs 20:24, Psalm 63 · Beaker
Christ be All Around Me
David Leonard, Jack Mooring, Leeland Mooring, Leslie Jordan
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
Psalm 130:7-8
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with God is full redemption. God is the one will redeem Israel from all their sins.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, our success and affluence have tricked us into thinking we don’t need you. Our failures and hardships have made us doubt your patience and love. Forgive us for all the ways we attempt to hide from you, and make us strong in your grace so that we might love others as you have loved us. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
John 11:25-26, NRSV
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
In Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
SONG
Doxology
Thomas Ken, 1674 / anonymous 7th c. hymn · Karl Digerness & Brian T Murphy, 2013
BLESSING OUR CHILDREN & YOUTH
Leader: People of God, what is our prayer for our children and youth?
People: May the Lord be with you.
Children: And also with you.
Leader: May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord grow you strong in Divine grace,
may the Lord fill you with the love of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God!
SONG OF Assurance
Wounded Healer
Audrey Assad
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
SCRIPTURE
Luke 16:19-31, NRSV
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him/his)
The Rich Man and Lazarus
OFFERING OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS
The offering is a way for Christians to support the mission and ministry of the church. Christians offer a sacrificial portion of their resources–time, talents, possessions–as an act of faith and gratitude in response to God’s grace. While many at City Church make their regular contributions through online giving and automated bill pay, offerings are a part of our worship service as an opportunity for the regular, proportionate and generous giving of the resources God has given us.
OFFERING PRAYER
Loving God, give us generous hearts, and set us free from the love of money. Remind us that you are a loving parent who delights in giving us what we need, and in this present moment of uncertainty, give us courage to enter into the joy of giving, through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING
Blessed Are the Poor
by Karl Digerness, 2021
Luke 6:20-31
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE
Rev. Melisa Blankenship (she/her/hers)
CONFESSION OF FAITH: APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord!
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
SONG
Sanctus
by Karl Digerness
Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD & CUP
The Gifts of God for the People of God
COMMUNION PRAYER
God of all mercy,
in this eucharist you have set aside our sins
and given us your healing:
grant that we who are made whole in Christ
may bring that healing to this beautiful and broken world,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
SONG
God of Justice
Tim Hughes
BENEDICTION
May God, the Holy Trinity,
make you strong in faith and love,
defend you on every side,
and guide you in truth and peace;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
MUSICIANS
Jeff Marrs, drums
Adam Shulman, piano
Christi Chew, vocals
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocals