The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTIONS
Teach us to pray, God, as you have always welcomed us to pray: fully human, fully yours, fully held, and fully loved. We will tell you the truth of our lives and of this world. And we will listen to the truth you speak back to us: The truth of our belovedness, of your justice, of your faithfulness, of love. And say, Let it be so, Let it be in me.
— Sarah Bessey,
A Rhythm of Prayer
The sufferer who keeps looking for God has, in the end, privileged knowledge. The one who complains to God, pleads with God, rails at God, does not let God off the hook for a minute—she is at last admitted to a mystery. She passes through a door that only pain will open, and is thus qualified to speak of God in a way that others, whom we generally call more fortunate, cannot speak.
— Ellen Davis,
Getting Involved With God
I will have nothing to do with a God who cares only occasionally. I need a God who is with us always, everywhere, in the deepest depths as well as the highest heights. It is when things go wrong, when good things do not happen, when our prayers seem to have been lost, that God is most present.
— Madeleine L’Engle,
Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriages
COLLECT
Divine love, undaunted by death and fear, who went to the depths to bring back life: in the power of the cross shape a people of service, breaking bread for a hungering world; through Jesus Christ, the true food. Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Rev. Stephen Gundlach (he/him/his), Worship Leader
Minister: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 117, NRSV
Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol the Lord, all you peoples!
For great is God’s steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Let us praise the Lord!
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
O, the Deep Deep Love of Jesus
Samuel T. Frances, 1834-1925 · Thomas J. Williams, 1890
God With Us
Jason Ingram & Leslie Jordan, 2012
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
Psalm 36:7-9, NRSV
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of love, it is your will that we should love you with heart, soul, mind, strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, but we are not sufficient for these things. We confess that our affections continually turn away from you; from purity to lust, from freedom to captivity, from compassion to indifference, from fullness to emptiness. Have mercy on us. Help us to order our lives by your law of love, and conform us to the image of your loving Son, Jesus, that we may shine before the world to your glory. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
1 John 4:9, NRSV
God’s love was revealed among us in this way:
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
In Christ, we are loved and forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
SONG
Seeds of Peace
John Arndt, David Gungor & Dave Campbel
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
Let This Heart Not Wander
Eric J. Marshall, 2014
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
SCRIPTURE
Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-5, NRSV
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Melisa Blankenship (she/her/hers)
Unlimited Access to God
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
Creator of abundance, Spirit of wisdom, may you use the gifts of the church and the gifts of our lives that your kingdom may come and your will be done through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING
God’s Highway
Sandra McCracken, Thad Cockrell
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
Lord of this feast beyond measure and price; we thank you for meeting us in our brokenness so that none might be lost: liberate us now to share bread with our neighbor, each receiving from the other what we need to be ourselves. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Sarah Dahl (she/her/hers)
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
Open Up
David Gungor & John Arndt, 2011
BENEDICTION
May the outrageous welcome of the Father accept us for who we are;
may the incarnation of the Word touch and hold us close;
may the wandering of the Spirit help us risk ourselves for love;
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
Jason Muscat, bass
Adam Shulman, piano
Christi Chew, vocals
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocals