The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTIONS
With parables and jokes both, if you’ve got to have them explained, don’t bother.
— Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking
This is the portrayal of God, whose goodness, love, forgiveness, care, joy and compassion have no limits at all. Jesus presents God’s generosity by using all the imagery that his culture provides, while constantly transforming it.
— Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son
Rather than using his power to distance himself from us, Jesus uses it to approach us. He follows his own commandment to love your neighbor as yourself—often to his detriment, I might add—by pursuing us with great tenacity in spite of our differences. He jumps a lot of hurdles to reach us.
— Christena Cleveland, Disunity in Christ
COLLECT
Offensive God; refusing our religion of sacrifice and power: find us in our wandering, speak to us the word of life, liberate our violent hearts and let us stay with you; through Jesus Christ, the holy one of God. Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Joshua Jalandoon (he/him/his), Worship Leader
Minister: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
God will not grow tired or weary; God’s understanding no one can fathom.
God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Everlasting God
Brenton Brown & Ken Riley
I Will Sing
Leslie Jordan, Sandra McCracken, 2020
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
Isaiah 53:6, NRSV
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of mercy,
you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost.
We confess that we have strayed from you
and turned aside from your way.
We are misled by pride,
for we see ourselves as blameless when we are to blame,
and great when we are small.
We have failed in love,
neglected justice,
and ignored your truth.
Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin.
Return us to paths of righteousness,
and remind us of your constant love which has been there all along,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
SONG OF RENEWAL
Forgive Us
Brian Eichelberger, Zach Bolen
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
from Titus 3:4-5
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, God saved us:
not because of righteous things we had done, but because of God’s mercy.
This is the good news.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
SONG
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Brian Wern, 1989 | Traditional German
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!
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him/his)
SCRIPTURE
Kelly Cole (she/her/hers),
Reader
Luke 15:25-32, NRSV
“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Chuck DeGroat (he/him/his)
Shame, Shalom, and a Story We Find Ourselves In
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
Eternal Source of Love, all that we have and all that we are come from you, so we gladly give this offering, that others too may be blessed, for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
YOUTH RETREAT RECAP
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 grace,
your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry
with the bread of his life
and the word of his kingdom:
renew us now with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your true and living bread;
who is alive and reigns, now and forever. 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
Savior, Like a Shepherd
Dorothy Ann Thrupp, 1836 | Brian Ortize, Katelyn Clampett, 2011
BENEDICTION
2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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