You can watch today’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art LLC)
One: In worship we tell a story:
All: A story of an unfettered love that changed the world.
One: In worship we tell a story:
All: A story of how we live and how we long to live.
One: In worship we tell a story:
All: Because we are forgetful people.
One: So may we remember who we are.
All: May we release the narratives that trap us.
One: May we reimagine this world to see what God sees.
All: And may we work toward restoration.
One: It’s all that easy, and it’s all that hard.
All: Let us worship holy God.
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
We are called to imitate Christ, but too often we emulate the lesser gods of our culture. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. Yet, we fail at making our discipleship that which is distinctive about us. Nonetheless, God is merciful and abounding in steadfast love. Therefore, we are confident in our coming before the Lord with our honest confession. Let us pray.
Please join me in the prayer of confession, followed by a silent personal prayer.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, to restore is to bring back; so today we bring our hearts back to you, our thoughts back to love, and our prayers back to peace. We try to stay in this place, but we confess, it’s never been that easy for us. We flirt with reconciliation and then back away. We come face-to-face with an opportunity for justice, but get scared. We are offered an opportunity to re-write our story, but we lose our way. Bring us back to this moment. Bring us back to your story. Bring us back. Restore us. Forgive us. Gratefully we pray. Amen.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you confess this week?
Assurance of Pardon
The Lord our God answers us and forgives us. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. Friends, believe the good news: through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God, we cannot do the work of restoration without your Word. We cannot do the work of remembering, releasing, or reimagining without your Word. We need you like the earth needs rain and a sailboat needs wind. We come to you in prayer to ask that you breathe new life into us. Grant us the clarity needed to hear your Word anew. And as you do, restore us to your breath. Restore us to your Word. Restore us to one another. Gratefully we pray. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 96:1-9
O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless God’s holy name;
tell of God’s salvation from day to day.
Declare the Lord’s glory among the nations,
God’s marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
greatly to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before the Lord;
strength and beauty are in the sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name;
bring an offering, and come into God’s courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before the Lord, all the earth.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
John 21:1-17
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’
Consider:
- Imagine what it would be like to be among the disciples on the beach, eating breakfast with Jesus. What do you picture? How do you feel?
- How and where are you called to feed and tend Jesus’ sheep?
- Who are Jesus’ sheep and how do they fit into the story of our church?
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Restore the Story,” here.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art LLC)
Restoring God, you have always been in the business of beginning again with us, of restoration and return. First you breathed life into dust. Then you guided brother back to brother after years apart. You sent prophets when the people lost their way. You fed the hungry and healed the sick. You let the little children come to you. You forgave us from the cross, And then you returned to remind us of our call. You have always been in the work of restoration— of seeing us, claiming us, loving us, and inviting us to return to you.
Today we come to you in prayer, asking that once more, you would restore us—all of all of us. Restore our narratives about who we are to truth. Restore our actions toward one another to love. Restore our dreams for this world to your dream for us.
And when our time and place tries to teach us that a man’s worth is his income, that men cannot display emotion, and that being sensitive is feminine, Oh God, hear our prayer: Restore all of who we are to you.
And when our time and place teaches us that a woman’s beauty is more valuable than her soul, that a woman’s body is property, and that a woman’s “no” is optional— oh God, hear our prayer: Restore all of who we are to you.
And when our time and place teaches that brown bodies and black bodies are less valuable than white bodies, give us the strength to speak out and to expect more from our history teachers, our churches, our law enforcement, and our politicians. Oh God, hear our prayer: Restore all of who we are to you.
And when our time and place tries to ignore the impacts of our consumer practices, may we remember the hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes of the last year—may we remember the consequences of global warming. Oh God, hear our prayer: Restore all of who we are to you.
And when our church places shame, instead of caring for everyone, when we idolize tradition instead of making room for the Spirit to move, and when we forget your call to love our neighbors as ourselves, Oh God, hear our prayer: Restore all of who we are to you.
Holy God, you have always been in the business of beginning again with us,
of restoration and return. We trust that you hear our prayer. For we believe that a restored world will be a world where all are welcome at the table, where all are fed and where all belong. A restored world will be on earth as it is in heaven.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us, Much we need your tender care;
In your pleasant pastures feed us, For our use your folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, You have bought us, we are yours;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, You have bought us, we are yours.
2 We are yours, in love befriend us, Be the guardian of our way;
Keep your flock: from sin defend us, Seek us when we go astray:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, Hear your children when we pray;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, Hear your children when we pray.
3 You have promised to receive us, Poor and sinful though we be;
You have mercy to relieve us, Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, Early let us turn to you;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, Early let us turn to you.
4 Early let us seek your favor, Early let us do your will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior, With your love our spirits fill:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, You have loved us, love us still;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, You have loved us, love us still.
INVITATION TO OFFERING (Psalm 99:9)
Extol the Lord our God, and worship at God’s holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy. Let us extol and worship our holy God with the gift of our morning’s offering.
MORNING OFFERING
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street). Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art LLC)
Holy God, there was Eden, and then there was east of Eden; which is all to say—this world is not what you intended it to be. You planted a garden and dreamed of Sabbath—and it was good. It was so very good. However, when we look around today, we know that we have lost our way. So today we bring our hearts, minds, and money back to you in hopes that you will sow good. This is the work of restoration, for we want to be a restoration people. Use these gifts for your hurting world. Restore us to you, oh God. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art LLC)
One: We believe in a restoring God,
All: Who restores our bodies through the gift of Sabbath.
One: We believe in a restoring God,
All: Who restores our souls through the gift of grace and second chances.
One: We believe in a restoring God,
All: Who restores this hurting world through the gift of mercy and God’s son Jesus Christ.
One: And we believe in a restoring God who invites us to join in this restoration work.
All: As people of faith, we seek to restore creation to God
by feeding the hungry, loving our neighbors,
forgiving seventy times seven, welcoming the children,
seeing all, loving all, and living like we belong to all.
One: And so we will work until God’s promised day.
All: This we believe.
Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
Remember that if we say that we love Jesus,
then we are called to feed his sheep.
God has been with us when the net has come up empty and when the net has been overflowing,
and God is with us now.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with this link. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003.