The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTIONS
Revisiting Rahab’s story may prompt us to revisit our own histories and question if the glorious history we have been taught has also glossed over the pain and grief experienced by the 10%. Perhaps we might recover the stories of the 10% and bring redemption to the silencing of their voices for so long.
— Mira Sawlani-Joyner
COLLECT
Beggar God, you call us from the roadside to see ourselves in you: let us take heart and come to you, though your road leads to Calvary and absent sun, to love revealed for lightless eyes; through Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God Amen.
PRELUDE
GREETING
Rev. Stephen Gundlach (he/him), Worship Leader
Leader: The Lord be with you.
ALL: And also with you.
PREPARATION
CALL TO WORSHIP
based on Psalm 98:1-8
Sing to the Lord a new song, for God has done marvelous things. God’s right hand and holy arm have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation; God has shown justice to the nations.
God has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn acclaim the Lord, our God. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for God has done marvelous things!
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Rising Sun
Leslie Jorden, David Leonard, Kyle Lee, Paul Mabury, © 2012
Joy to Be
Brian Eichelberger, Zach Bolen, © 2020
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
Mark 1:14-15, NRSV
Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, you forgive all who return to you. Together, we humbly confess our sins and joyfully receive your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God. Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
from Titus 3:4-5
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us: not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his 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
Seeds of Peace
John Arndt, David Gungor, David Campbel, © 2016
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
Rev. Stephen Gundlach (he/him)
SCRIPTURE
Joshua 2:1-14, NRSV
Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night there. The king of Jericho was told, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land.” But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.” She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the Lord that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” The men said to her, “Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Mira Sawlani-Joyner (she/her)
Rahab: Converted or Colonized?
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
Generous God, you have blessed us to be a blessing to others. Use these offerings to bring renewal and hope to our city and our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
OFFERING
Rahab
a poem by Annelies Zijderveld
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
God of Kindness,
we have broken your bread and received your life.
By the power of your Spirit keep us always in your love;
through 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’s Highway
Sandra McCracken, Thad Cockrell, © 2015
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
Lisa Mezzacappa, bass
Adam Shulman, piano
Christi Chew, vocals
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocals