The Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTION
Our problem in life is not the thing we fear. It is what gives birth to the thing we fear.
— Rev. Dr. Paula Williams
COLLECT
Lord of heaven’s reach, of earth reborn; you call us from starless graves to sing under infinite skies: we praise your name for those who have walked this way unheralded and unnumbered but known to you, their beginning, their end, their joy in life; give us the same grace to be unbound and take the step of faith; through Jesus Christ, the alpha and omega. 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
Psalm 121, NRSV
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
God will not let your foot be moved. The one who keeps you will not slumber
Behold, the Lord, the keeper of Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil. God will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
PRAYER OF ADORATION
PRAISE
SONGS
Hear the Sound
David Leonard, Leslie Jorden< Matt Maher, ©2012
Beautiful Love
David Lunsford, ©2015
RENEWAL
CALL TO CONFESSION
based on Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Eternal One, and you will surely find; call upon your Creator, for God is near. Let the corrupt abandon their ways, and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them return to God, who delights in showing mercy, let them return to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, you despise nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who come to you. Create in us new and contrite hearts, that, truly turning away from our sins and acknowledging our brokenness, we may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, peace and forgiveness, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Ephesians 2:8, NRSV
By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. 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
Traditional German, Brian Wern, ©1989
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
Come Now O Wisdom
Irish Folk Tune, Jann Aldredge-Clanton, ©2006
COMMITMENT
WORDS OF WELCOME
SCRIPTURE
Caroline Knowles (she/her), Reader
Esther 4:12-16, NRSV
When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Rev. Dr. Paula Williams* (she/her)
The Courage of Esther
*We welcome to City Church The Reverend Dr. Paula Williams. Paula is the pastor of preaching and worship at Left Hand Church in Longmont, Colorado, a pastoral counselor with RLT Pathways and a sought-after speaker to corporations, government agencies, universities, and religious institutions on issues of gender equity and LGBTQ advocacy. She has been featured in the New York Times, the Denver Post, New Scientist, Radio New Zealand, Colorado Public Radio and The Huffington Post. Her TEDxMileHigh talk on gender equity has had more than two million views.
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
Lord, you are the giver of every good gift. Accept these offerings we pray, that through them we may do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you, our Savior and our God. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING
I Need You Now
by Smokie Norful
arr and performed by Destiny Muhammad
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
Christ our host, we thank you for this table where all are welcomed and discover your grace: may our hearts learn to yield to your longing for us and our lives be shaped by the sanctifying Spirit. 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
Open Up
David Gungor, John Arndt, ©2011
BENEDICTION
May the crucified Christ shatter our brittle fear, draw all people to his glory and make us servants living for the world; 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
Destiny Muhammad, harp/vocal
Jeff Marrs, drums
Jason Muscat, bass
Adam Shulman, piano
Wil Blades, organ
Christi Chew, vocal
Karl Digerness, guitar/vocal