Worship at Home: March 7, 2021

You can watch a recording of 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: Again and again,
All: We come to this space.
One: Again and again,
All: We gather as a community.
One: Again and again,
All: We move closer to God.
One: And again and again,
All: God is here.
One: We are met.
All: We are heard.
One: We are shown the way.
All: So again and again,
Let us worship holy God.

OPENING PRAYER (BOOK OF COMMON WORSHIP)

Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, that we may become instruments of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

CALL TO CONFESSION (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)

Science tells us that a person makes about 35,000 choices in a day. 35,000 choices each and every day! In the prayer of confession, we pause to take a moment to think and to ask: how many of our decisions are choices God would have us make? How many are not?

So let us pray together, knowing that we need guidance, and trusting that even if we fall, God is showing us the way.

Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you confess this week?

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)

One: God of Justice,
We are guilty of building tables.
All: We have built tables that oppression dines on,
Sexism thrives on, and racism lives on.
One: God of Justice,
We are guilty of forgetting where we are,
All: Of turning faith into a negotiation tool
And the church into a place for insiders.
One: God of Justice,
We are guilty of ignoring the point;
All: For you taught that the temple is for worship
And your message is for all.
One: God of our hearts,
All: Be in our decision making.
One: Draw near to our choices.
All: Forgive our mistakes.
One: And as you do,
All: Flip every table, habit, belief, or point of view that needs adjusting.
One: With hope we pray for a better day. Amen.

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)

Family of faith,
The good news is that God took on flesh and walked this earth to show us the way.
God took on flesh so that we could see what it looks like to disrupt and overturn systems of corruption.
God took on flesh to teach us another way.
God took on flesh to point us to restoration.
God took on flesh so that we might be forgiven.
Friends, we are held, loved, and forgiven by a just and merciful God.
Thanks be to God for a love like that.

PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)

Creator God,
We don’t just want to listen.
We want to hear you.
We want to read scripture aloud and
Know that you are as close as you have always been.
We want to read scripture aloud and
Feel your word resonating inside our bones.
We want to read scripture aloud and
Have your words stuck in our heads like a melody,
Falling off our lips like a love song.
Creator God,
We don’t just want to listen.
We want to hear you.
So turn our hearts toward you,
Just as you turned strangers into disciples.
Turn our ears toward you,
Just as you turned tables in the temple.
We are listening.
Amen.

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING

John 2:13-22 (NRSV)

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Consider:

In John 2, what exactly is Jesus revolting against? Is he protesting the fact that commerce is taking place within the temple, trying to keep that space sacred and pure? Is he protesting the context and manner in which the commerce is taking place—during the Passover when fellow Jews should be preparing for the feast, as a means to counterfeit the poor and the foreigner, as a way to increase profits for the Temple?
Where do you see modern day examples of corrupt and abusive commerce?
Where is the Spirit overturning oppression—swiftly, perhaps with destruction and chaos?

HYMN “Reckless Love”

music and lyrics by Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, and Ran Jackson
© 2017 Cory Asbury Publishing, Richmond Park Publishing, Watershed Worship Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me

There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NRSV)

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Again and Again, We Are Shown the Way” here.

HYMN “Holy Spirit, come to us (Veni Sancte Spiritus)”

lyrics by Taize Community
music by Jacques Berthier
© 1998 Les Presses de Taizé (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A

Holy Spirit, come to us
Kindle in us the fire of your love
Holy Spirit, come to us
Holy Spirit, come to us

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)

O God, your commandments give us a sense of direction for renewing our discipleship. Your way and pattern of life shown in your commandments enable us to enter ever more deeply into the Christian life. We ponder your commandments in their depth and breadth. You have called us not just to refrain from violence, but to restrain hurtful and unkind words. Indeed, you have called us to ponder deep flourishing for all of your children and for our planet. Empower us to live by your way in the world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy one, help us to be an embodiment of the peace that we pass to one another, and by so doing that we might be your peace in the world. We know too well our divisions based in gender, race, sexuality and class, but help us bear witness to a different reality. Help us begin the process of healing and deliverance. Help us form new ways of being in mutuality, love and justice with and through one another. Empower us to live out of your love in all that we do, healing divisions, addressing enmity and reaching out to those we perceive as enemies. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of all nations, we pray for all countries around the globe — for those who have been charged to exercise leadership on behalf of the common good. Help them to discern the wise use of resources, including vaccines, to address the needs of citizens suffering from the pandemic and its grave economic strains. And move us all to attend to the cries of the marginal in our midst. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray saying…

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 God of Grace and God of Glory

1 God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.

2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.

3 Cure thy children’s warring madness;
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.

4 Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore.
Let the gift of thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.

INVITATION TO OFFERING (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. God has given us life and resources for it, so let us give in return.

MORNING OFFERING

If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. 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 (ROGER GENCH, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)

O God, may these gifts be used as a witness to your love, peace and justice at work in the world, renewing the face of the earth. Amen.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (WRITTEN BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)

We believe in a God who knows holy rage—
A God who stands with the underdog,
Who passionately protects the suffering,
And who overturns systems of corruption.
We believe in a God who leads by example—
Feeding the hungry,
Welcoming the children,
Offering water to the Samaritan,
Eating with the tax collector,
Healing the sick,
Preaching from the mountaintop,
And offering second chances.
We believe in a God who knew that we would lose our way,
And still said, “This is my body broken for you.”
We believe in a God who knew our capacity for mistakes,
And still said, “I’m going to prepare a place for you.”
And because of this love,
We believe that God shows us the way,
Again and again and again.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION (ADAPTED FROM A BENEDICTION BY SARAH ARE FOR A SANCTIFIED ART, LLC)

As you leave this time of prayer,
May your mouth speak of God’s goodness.
May your arms hold those in need.
May your feet walk toward justice.
May your heart trust its worth.
May your soul dance in God’s grace.
And may this be your rhythm—
Again and again and again,
Until God’s promised day.
In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself,
Go with courage, go with heart, go in peace.

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. You can find other events throughout the week on our CALENDAR.

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