Service Recording: February 2, 2020
February 2, 2020 ~ 10:30am
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
Liturgists
The People of Peace Church
Cindy Macaulay, Lay Leader
Jim Pospisil, Music Director
Nathan Holst, Faith Formation Minister
Rev. Kathryn Nelson
Prelude “Exiles & Gyres” by Wendy Durrwachter
Greeting One Another
Announcements
Ringing of the Peace Bells and Lighting of Candles
God is Revealed as We Gather
*Responsive Call to Worship
We are blessed when we hunger for justice and thirst for righteousness.
Our souls are nourished by God’s hope and grace.
We are blessed when we grieve over the brokenness of the world,
choosing, as God does, to be with those who are weak.
We are blessed when we become God’s fools,
willing to do what is right and good, not what is easy.
*Opening Hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” (#436)
Unison Prayer of Confession
How do we approach you, Holy God, with our confessions? We make you weary with our inability to do justice for those made poor and cast out.
Forgive us, God of Hope, and bless us with your mercy.
By your peace, we can do justice.
By your love, we can act kindly.
By your grace, we can walk with you humbly and hopefully.
Assurance of Pardon
Story for All Ages “Hundredth Day Disaster” by Bridget Reistad
God is Revealed in the Word
God’s Word in the Prophets: Micah 6:1–8
Song “Song of Micah” (#26 P&W Songbook)
God’s Word in the Gospel: Matthew 5:1–12
Anthem “Blessed Are You” by William Beckstrand
Sermon “Beautiful Vision”
Hymn “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” (#180)
We Respond to God’s Presence
Sharing Our Prayer Concerns, Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer (with debts) and Choral Amen
Sharing our Offerings
Offertory “Stand Up” by Emily Hysjulien
*The Thanksgiving “We Give You…” (#785)
*Prayer of Dedication
Sharing Communion Together
Welcoming to the Table
At this table we give thanks for justice, love, peace and freedom.
At this table we give thanks for friends and strangers
At this table we welcome old and young. All are invited.
Thanksgiving
May God be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up in gratitude.
Let us give thanks. It is right to give our praise.
Source of Life and Creativity whom we name God, we are gathered in your presence. Here we will offer praise and thanksgiving
Here we will remember the words and deeds of the one called Jesus of Nazareth, who dared to call you Abba and invited us to do the same.
We remember that wherever he came, people rediscovered their humanity, became filled with new meaning and purpose, and found a new courage to live, not just for themselves but for others.
We remember how he spoke of a new reality he called the realm of God, already among us yet coming in ever greater fullness, creating communities of justice, love and peace.
We remember how he spoke in parables about a lost coin, a lost child and a sheep that strayed, in order to proclaim your inclusive love.
And we remember our tradition over the ages…How, in a meal with his disciples, Jesus took bread in his hands, blessed it, broke it, and shared it with them: Let the bread you share be the means of my presence with you for all time.’ After the meal, he poured a cup of wine: ‘Share this cup, all of you, as a remembrance of the open meals I shared with all.’
Prayer of Consecration
Holy One, we take this bread and cup, breaking it and pouring it out, that through your Spirit they will be shared among us as equals. May this bread and cup nourish and sustain us on our life’s journey: transforming, enabling, and empowering us, as we continue to follow in your way of love.
Sharing the Cup and Bread
After Communion
Bind us together Enfolding God, as those who feel your love under our feet in the warmth of this, our holy ground.
Liturgy adapted with permission from Revd Rex A.E. Hunt, The Uniting Church of St James Curtin, ACT.
Our vision is to be an accessible, open and affirming community growing in Christian faith, committed to peace and justice, and reaching out in healing love to all of creation, including all people, respecting and valuing the diversity of people’s sexual orientation, race, culture, gender identity, age, opinions, and physical and mental abilities.
Song during Communion “Humble and Kind” by Lori McKenna
*Closing Hymn “We’re Singing Peace” (#17 P&W Songbook)
*Benediction
*Postlude