Bulletin – Sunday, October 13, 2024 – Sixth Sunday of Creation / Thanksgiving Sunday

Sunday, October 13, 2024
Sixth Sunday of Creation / Thanksgiving Sunday

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

One:   We light this candle to begin our worship.
All:      This candle is the light in the window reminding us that God will always welcome us home, no matter what has happened or what we have done or left undone.

One:   Come and worship to remind yourself of that vital promise.
All:      We come, knowing that God is here to welcome us.

Call to Worship

One:   Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet God provides for the basic sustenance of life.
All:      May our hearts be open to trust you.

One:   Look at the birds of the air, they neither study nor plan, nor plot their course and yet God writes the instinct for migration into their hearts.
All:      May our eyes be open to see you.

One:   Look at the birds of the air, they neither talk nor vote nor debate their responsibility, yet God weaves them into communities which nurture and defend.
All:      May our hands be open to serve you.

Hymn – “We Praise You, O God” (VU #218)

We praise you O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
We bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship you, God of our mothers and fathers,
Through trial and tempest, companion and guide.
When perils o’ertake us, you will not forsake us,
But faithful to your promise, you walk by our side.

With voices united our praises we offer
And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
Our sins now confessing, we pray for your blessing,
To you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!

Prayer of Approach and Confession

O God, we want to have our cake and eat it, too: we want to be a friend of the world and still be your friend.

Yet, Jesus taught us no one can serve two masters.

Give us strength and courage to get our priorities straight: help us to seek your kingdom first. Help us to live faithfully and joyfully in the world, and to be friends with the people you call us to serve. Help us to also remember that our best relationship is the one we have with you, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Words of Assurance

In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, and we are given a new way to live. Let us accept God’s grace, and live new lives of faith, obedience, and joy.

Sung Response – “O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)

O beautiful Gaia,
O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
Calling us on.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, ⁴ who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God;    there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,

⁶    who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. ⁷ For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-33

²⁵ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ²⁸ And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “Grateful” (MV #182)

Grateful for the life you give us, thankful for your holy Son,
Joyful in your spirit flowing over all, O God of Love.
Grateful for the Bread of heaven, thankful for your Holy Word,
Joyful in your mercy flowing, we will praise you.

You are more than we imagine, Ancient, Holy, Living Lord.
Event when we doubt your presence you are faithful to your World.

Grateful for the life you give us, thankful for your holy Son,
Joyful in your spirit flowing over all, O God of Love.
Grateful for the Bread of heaven, thankful for your Holy Word,
Joyful in your mercy flowing, we will praise you.

May our lives proclaim your justice, may our voices sing your praise.
May our hands work in your service to the glory of your name.

Grateful for the life you give us, thankful for your holy Son,
Joyful in your spirit flowing over all, O God of Love.
Grateful for the Bread of heaven, thankful for your Holy Word,
Joyful in your mercy flowing, we will praise you.

Meditation

Anthem – “I Will Give Thanks”

I will give thanks to the Lord, my God.
I will give thanks to the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, Most High.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.

I will give thanks to the Lord, my God.
I will give thanks to the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, Most High.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.

In the seasons of my plenty, in the seasons of my need
God has faithfully provided growing harvest from the seed.

I will give thanks to the Lord, my God.
I will give thanks to the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, Most High.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.

With my whole heart I will love him. With my lips I’ll sing his praise
With my life I’ll seek his guidance as I serve him all of my days.

I will give thanks to the Lord, my God.
I will give thanks to the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, Most High.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.

I will give thanks to the Lord, my God.
I will give thanks to the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, Most High.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.

I will give thanks to the Lord, my God.
I will give thanks to the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, Most High.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.
With my whole heart I will give thanks.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

The world has many needs. They will not be met unless we all commit to a different way, God’s way. Each of us can contribute in some way to bringing about God’s vision for our world. We give of time, talents, and treasures so that others may know of God’s great love for all of Creation. The offering will be received.

Offering Response – “For the Gift of Creation” (VU #538)

For the gift creation, the gift of your love,
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

Offering Prayer

Great God of Heaven and Earth, you call us to leave behind our preoccupations and to follow you into the future. Sometimes we find your call challenging. We are comfortable, maybe even complacent, in our present. May this act of giving be a gesture of our willingness to follow where you lead. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Today we ask you keep Marlene, Rob, Heather, Barb, Angela, Joe, Nick, Brenda, Laila, Bert, Paul, Sylvia, Grace, Cam, and Greg in your hearts and minds. Let us pray.

Loving God, who desires everyone to be healed and come to know the truth. You ask us to pray for those in positions of power that we may all come to live together, quietly and in peace and in dignity.

Yet how should we pray for those who have misused that power over others?

Should we be honest in our anger and ask that their logging trucks break down, their fishing nets tangle and their drills go blunt?

Will that bring the peace you desire? Will that lead to dignity for everyone? Or would economic hardship just redouble their efforts?

How should be pray for them Lord? Should we be pious in our prayer and ask that they find peace in Christ, a deep respect for the land, care for the poor who live upon it? Will that do Lord? Will these prayers lead to the godliness you desire? Or is this the godliness we desire? A quick fix, an easy solution, all provided by you and little required from us.

So how should be pray for them Lord? How shall we hold the actions of an abuser, an oppressor, or a bully, in our hearts?

It is no easy thing Lord.

And to hold in our hearts the abuser themselves, is perhaps even harder.

It seems much to ask from us Lord, especially from the victim, the oppressed, the bullied. It may be more than our spirits can bear.

So, we ask again Lord God, how should be pray for those who have misused their power over others? How should we pray?

When our words seem inadequate, hear the yearnings in our hearts. For you alone are the mediator between us and god.

And as you hear our complaints about those in power, loosen our hands around these stones we would throw. And as you hear us call for justice, prepare our hands to work for change.

Be present in all of the negotiations we pray. Where local people sit down to tell their story, where company owners and lawyers listen and respond, when mediators and advocates intervene, where the support of aid workers is present.

May the words shared among them be inspired by the Word that makes all things new.

Words of truth. Words of dignity. Words of peace. Words of life. Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “For the Fruit of All Creation” (VU #227)

For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping,
Future needs in earth’s safekeeping, thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labour, God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbour, God’s will is done.
In our world-wide take of caring for the hungry and despairing,
In the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done.

For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us,
Most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.

Benediction

Do not worry about anything in life—what you’ll eat, or what you’ll wear. Look at the birds of the air, or the flowers in the field. If God takes such good care of birds and flowers, how much more will He care for you? So don’t be afraid. Instead, let your lives be marked by compassion and generosity, sharing what you have been given with those in need, storing up your treasure in heaven instead of here on earth. And may the blessing of God—Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer—encourage and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

Response – “When You Walk from Here” (VU #298)

When you walk from here, when you walk from here,
Walk with justice, walk with mercy, and with God’s humble care.

(Resources taken from Gathering and reWorship)