The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTIONS
Of all the stories of women in the Hebrew Bible, the story of Eve, more than any other, has been used as a theological base for sexism.
— Helpmates, Harlots, and Heroes: Women’s Stories in the Hebrew Bible
Genesis 3:16, usually translated, “Your desire will be for your husband,” has been so commonly used as a justification for patriarchy, but the scope of the word here is far more specific. She will long for her husband, because only with him can she be the bearer of life. But that desire, that urge, is now set in a world of both good and evil, where it may also do her great harm. The word used here is the same used in Song of Songs, though; so the desire itself is not inherently bad, only complicated. It is a knowledge both good and evil. I actually think of the many women throughout the Old Testament—Sarah, for one—whose longing for a child proves to be conflicting. The woman Eve is called to bear life, not demand it.
— Danielle Shroyer, Original Blessing: Putting Sin in its Rightful Place
COLLECT
Lord of the changing, you help us find our voice that we might find our faith: we praise you for the Gentile woman who answered back the Son of God; release us from the crowds which command our silence and free our tongues to demand from you the healing of the earth; through Jesus Christ, the opener of the gate. Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Melisa Blankenship (she/her/hers), Worship Leader
Minister: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
from Psalm 92:1-2,4 NRSV
It is good to give thanks to you, O Lord, to sing praises to you, O God Most High,
to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.
For you, O Lord, have made us glad by your work;
at the work of your hands we sing for joy.
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Steadfast
Sandra McCracken, Leslie Jordan, Josh Silverberg, 2016
Beautiful Love
David Lunsford, 2015
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
Psalm 42:1-2,11 NRSV
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord God, in the light of your love we see the wrong we have done, the suffering we have caused, the good we have refused, and the truth we have denied. Heal us of our sin, wash us in your mercy, and sustain us with your grace, so that we may follow your way and live out the good news of the gospel. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Romans 5:8
We have seen the proof of God’s love: Christ died for us even while we were sinners.
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
All Manner of Things Will Be Well
Juilian of Norwich (1343 - 1416), Karl Digerness, 2020
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
Altogether Good
Brian Eichelberger, Zach Bolen, 2020
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him/his)
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 2:18-24, 3:1-17, NRSV
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.” Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”
The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
And to the man he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him/his)
Listening to Eve
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
Come All You Thirsty
Jenny Wahlström, 2016
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE
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
Eternal Source of truth and love, keep us faithful to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, united in prayer and the breaking of bread, and one in joy and simplicity of heart, in 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
You Are With Me
Sandra McCracken, Leslie Jordan, 2020
BENEDICTION
from Hebrews 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who raised to life the great shepherd of the sheep, make you ready to do God’s will in every good thing, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. And may 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
Wil Blades, organ
Minna Choi, piano/vocals
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocals