The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTIONS
It is no secret nowadays, particularly to women, that many American males, even those of middle-aged appearance, wearing suits and holding down jobs, are in fact, incredible as it sounds, still small boys inside.
— Thomas Pynchon
… we are each other’s
harvest:
we are each other’s
business:
we are each other’s
magnitude and bond.
— Gwendolyn Brooks
COLLECT
God of the dispossessed, you teach us to hunger for justice even when the weak are shut out and the powerful turn over in their beds: in the heat of our anger and the bitterness of our complaints, give us the courage to protest, the persistence to pray and the heart to love; through Jesus Christ, the true judge. 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
from Psalm 118 & Revelation 7:9-11, NRSV
Give thanks to the LORD, for God is good; God’s love endures forever.
In our anguish we cried to the LORD, and God answered by setting us free.
The LORD is our strength and our song; God has become our salvation.
We will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
For salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks, honor, power and strength, be to our God forever and ever. Amen!
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Lobe den Herren, 1665 | arr. Nathan & Christy Nockels, 2004
Lighthouse
David Lunsford, 2015
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community (1967)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...We love because he first loved us.
— from 1 John 4:18-19
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of Love, we confess that we have been led astray by the idols of our world. We have depended on our possessions and our privilege, and have not placed our trust in your grace. We have carelessly consumed the gifts you offer and have failed to be faithful stewards of the earth’s resources. We have sought security in the might of the sword rather than the strength of your Holy Spirit. Forgive us, we pray. Lead us in the way of Jesus, that we may serve you faithfully. Through Christ, our Lord, we pray. 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
Open Up
David Gungor, John Arndt, 2011
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 RENEWAL
Altogether Good
Brian Eichelberger, Zach Bolen, 2020
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
Rev. Fred Harrell (he/him/his)
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 1:8-22, NRSV
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.
The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Dr. Peter Choi (he/him/his)
The Way of the Midwives
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
God of extravagant mercy, with hands outstretched you have poured out wonder and pleasure and delight, goodness and beauty and bounty. So take these offerings, we pray, as our protest against all that is evil and ugly and impoverished, trivial and wretched and tyrannical, in San Francisco, our world and in ourselves, that all may know the healing of your new kingdom. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING
Everywhere You Turn
by Reid Anderson
COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORDS TABLE
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, 2017
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
May we who have fed at Wisdom’s table take her welcome out to where tables are reserved and doors are closed; may the Spirit drive us to break our bread on the altar of the world. 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
Come Holy Ghost
"Veni, Creator Spiritus" attr. Rhabanus Maurus,ca. 800; tr. by Richard Mant, 1837
Bruce Benedict, Ray Mills, 2005
BENEDICTION
May Almighty God, who is our help and our shield, fill your hearts with rejoicing, as you trust in God's unfailing love. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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, vocals/guitar