​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
 
*Call to Worship
Gracious God,
give us pure hearts that we may see you,
humble hearts that we may hear you,
hearts of love that we may serve you,
hearts of faith that we may live in you,
reverent hearts that we may worship you,
here and in the world beyond our doors,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.
 
*Hymn 32             I Sing the Mighty Power of God
Prayer of the Day
Direct and help us, O Lord, in all our deeds,
that by what is begun, continued, and ended in you,
we may glorify your holy name,
and finally. by your mercy, come to know the joy everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.
 
First Reading               Esther 7:1-6; 9-10; 9:20-22
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Gospel Reading           Mark 9:38-50
Morning Message
 
Nah nah nah nah nah!
That’s universal for:
“Shame on you!”
“Serves you right!”
“I’m telling Mom…or Dad…or the teacher.”
“I’m better than you are!”
 
The first few verses of today’s text remind me of some over-eager kids running up to the teacher on the playground to tattle on a classmate. I’ve been on both sides of that, I confess.
 
The disciples, eager to follow the rules of this new movement, have encountered someone performing a healing rite, in this case, casting out demons, doing so in Jesus’ name. It’s the use of Jesus’ name that catches their attention. The healer wasn’t one of the twelve, so the act wasn’t
legitimate, at least they way they saw it. So, they try to stop him.
 
Apparently they were unsuccessful and they run to Jesus. “Master, someone is practicing healing without a license!”
Surely, Jesus would drop what he was doing and follow them to the scene of the crime so he could rebuke the wrong-doer. He would set the healer straight. Only the qualified were eligible to do deeds of power in Jesus’ name. All others were cheap imitations.
 
But, that’s not what happened. Once again, Jesus does the unexpected. The shame and blame aspect of this report doesn’t grab his attention. What grabs him is that a believer has tapped into the source of power and changes the life of one who suffered. He doesn’t need to itinerate with Jesus and the twelve to be legit.
 
He goes on to lay a pretty heavy message on the disciples. He tells them they are in the wrong in confronting the believer. Jesus calls them “little ones,” indicating they are young in the faith. The greater sin would be for the disciples to break that new believer’s spirit.
 
Jesus says even the smallest kindness done in his name comes from a holy place.
To underscore his message, Jesus tells them that if they think it’s their duty to inspect the activity of new believers, they are way off the mark. It would be better if they drowned in the sea. That’s pretty serious.
 
He carries that further and tells them to be aware of their own sins and stop committing them, even if they have to amputate the body part involved in the sin.
Reading between the lines, we can almost hear Jesus saying that there are greater challenges ahead of them and getting hung up in the trivial would only sap their strength. There’s a lesson there for all of us.
 
In a few years, the fledgling church will be under persecution. They would have to identify and reject false religions. And they did at great peril. They refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods. The penalty for that was high. You might be forced into slavery or used for sport in the Coliseum. Or, even worse, failing to pay homage to the Roman gods might earn you the mutilation of your body in order to serve as warning to the rest of the community.
 
Threats have always been a strong source for control. Who wants to sign up for slavery or mutilation? Not many. But, thanks be to God, some came to faith, or found their faith strengthened by those whose courageous allegiance was to Christ.
 
I have never been persecuted for my faith. Our community is full of Christian churches. There are Jewish and Muslim houses of worship as well. As the people of God, they all do Godly work. They provide places of welcome and inclusion, free from threats.
 
I do know someone who was persecuted for her faith, my friend, Mary. Originally from Malawi, she had come to the US for her education. She earned three degrees and became a sought-after college professor. But it was her faith that motivated her and she lived it out in joy.
 
Church membership in Malawi came with a price. Mary and her family were Presbyterians. Her brother and father were elders, which meant that they performed all the tasks a pastor would perform  here. They were responsible for the spiritual needs of a whole community. An ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament itinerated among several communities. They might see him a couple of times a year.
 
Malawi is a poor country. Mary and her family belonged to a movement of citizens who were trying to improve the lives of the people through self-development, to get people off the streets and into respectable occupations, and to have agency in that society, to have a voice.
 
Mary helped women start cottage industries and retail shops. Others in the family entered politics so that they might turn around a government that had oppressed the people for far too long. While she was in Huntington, Mary’s was elected Vice President of the country.
 
Their reward was to be repeatedly attacked. Their home was burned down. Her husband died a suspicious death. She came to the states, along with some of her children and her niece. They worked hard and they came to know the peace and safety we enjoy as American citizens. And yet, they always carried a sense of duty for the people of their homeland, whose faith comes with a price.
 
We do not face that kind of oppression. No abusive regime stands between us and our faith. We do have challenges to our faith. COVID has changed our lives, our communities, and our churches. I did a hospital visit Thursday and the sign was up once more at the entrance: all visitors must wear a mask. So, I donned a mask and carried on.
 
I do a lot of work in the presbytery. What I hear around the presbytery is that all of our churches have lost members at a rapid rate. Naturally, that means funds take a dive, too. The presbytery has had to take steps to address these realities. The staff may be downsized. The office property has been sold. We have far fewer in-person committee meetings, thanks to the Zoom era. We will have to be intentional in our efforts to be a connectional church. That’s change and it can be  hard. But it’s a far cry from oppression and suffering.
 
The Church may change, but she will not die. The church is the body of Christ and he is very much alive. And he has a message for such a time as this.
 
Jesus turns the conversation to the subject of salt. In the English language there are a number of expressions, idioms, referring to salt. “He is not worth his salt.” “Taken with a grain of salt.” “ Salt of the earth.”
 
Salt is an important element. The human body needs salt. The word “salary” derives from the Latin word “salarium,” and literally means “salt money.” Salarium was the money paid to Roman soldiers. Some historians have concluded that the soldiers may have actually been paid in salt. In days gone by, newborn babies were washed with salt. Salt has an element of healing. It has been used as a disinfectant. And, of course, salt adds flavor to food and can be used in preserving it.
 
Jesus tells his friends that everyone will be salted with fire. What did he mean? Fire is a method of purification. Precious metals come from the ground admixed with iron and other minerals.  Subjecting them to fire purifies the gold or silver, separating them from the other metals. So, too, a Christian’s life will be tested and challenged but in this way, we, too, are purified. We grow in grace. The churchy word for this process is sanctification. With age and experience we draw ever closer to God in Christ.
 
Jan Richardson is a pastor, artist, and author. She offers these words about our text today:
And, so, in this season,
may we give ourselves
to the fire that shows us
what is elemental.
and sacramental.
that reveals what remains
after all that does not have
substance or savor
falls away.
May we turn
our eyes
our ears
our hands
to the beauty
for which we are formed
and bear with grace
the patterns
that blossom upon us
who live salted
and singed.
 
May the fire of purification reveal the Holy One in your heart.  Amen.
 
 
 
*Hymn  838   Standing On the Promises, verses 1 and 2
*Affirmation of Faith                The Apostles’ Creed
* Hymn 581                               Gloria Patri
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings including contributions for ECCHO and Centsability
 
 
 
Prayer of Dedication
Lord God, as we offer our hearts and our treasure, may they be used to pass on the promises of your kingdom- of hope, of peace, and of life, to all in need of your presence in their, and our, lives.  Amen.
 
*Hymn 838    Standing On the Promises, verses 3 and 4          
*Blessing
Go now in the power of the Spirit,
that you may proclaim Christ’s redeeming love to the world,
and continue forever in the risen life.  Amen.
 
*Postlude

​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship
To your name, O Lord,
help us to bow the knee and all its worshiping,
bow the head in all its thinking,
bow the will and all its choosing,
bow the heart and all its loving.  Amen.
 
*Hymn  619     Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, verses 1 and 2
 
Prayer
God of love,
you have willed that the last be first and you have made a little child the measure of your kingdom.
We may be reluctant to embrace humility and service, for to do so may imply work and will require a spirit of cooperation and compromise.
Forgive us for our complacency, hesitation, or indifference and
give us the wisdom which is from above,
so we may understand, that, in your sight, the one who serves is the greatest of all.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
whose service gives us life and hope.  Amen.
 
Hymn   698                  Take, O Take Me As I Am
 
Assurance of Forgiveness
God’s Word is truth: That Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem and re-form our lives.
The old life is gone and a new life has begun.
Your sins are forgiven.
Be at peace with God, one another, and yourselves.  Amen.
 
First Reading        Exodus 16:2-15
Time With Our Young Disciples
Gospel Reading         Matthew 20:1-16
Morning Message
 
According to the source of all wisdom, Google, we find these statistics:
 
The median salary for garbage collectors in 2021, according to US News and World Reports, is around $38, 000.
According to Ziprecruiter,the average salary for a cardiologist in West Virginia in 2023 is $272, 468.
The average pay for a child care worker varies greatly between $5.00 per hour to $13,000 per hour.
The median salary for an NFL player is around $860,000 per year.
 
These figures probably don’t surprise any of us. So, to bring things a little closer to home, chew on this one:
The average pay for a teacher in New York is $86, 000 a year. The average salary for a teacher in West Virginia is $45, 000 a year, but varies by county.
 
What constitutes fair and unfair when it comes to setting a salary? Pay discrepancy is a hot topic in many corners. Does a teacher in West Virginia work any less, prepare any less, face fewer challenges than a teacher in New York? I know we have to allow for cost of living, but, at first glance, this doesn’t seem right or maybe we could say it’s not “fair.”
 
What constitutes fair and unfair in our text today?
 
Anyone who has worked an hourly wage at some time in their life can appreciate the inequity in this story. Should someone who has only worked one hour receive the same compensation as the one who has put in a full day’s work? I don’t even have to think about this. The answer is no. It’s just not right.
 
Rev. Dr. Greg De Loach says that just a block away from where he once served as pastor, was a meeting place for day laborers to gather. Mostly men, young and old, who would do nearly any kind of work- yard work, painting, carpentry, hauling away trash-in order to earn enough to put food on their table that day.
 
They were not lazy or loitering, they were willing to stand in a place of humility, and present themselves for work. They only wanted what all of us want- a way to provide for themselves and their loved ones. The circumstances we can debate, but the need and the desire are universal.
 
I’ve mentioned before what my friend, Joan, calls “Jesus math.”  Joan was the Executive Director of West Virginia Advocacy and Workcamps. The main mission of WVMAW is to improve housing conditions for the most needy residents of West Virginia. When I say “most needy,” I mean those people who live without electricity or adequate water and sewer service, those who live in trailers with rotting floors.  They address needs with help from many sources.
 
Building costs increase every year and weather-related disasters come way too often. This creates a strain on the organization’s resources, but, somehow, they manage to reach their goals and sometimes exceed all expectations. Somehow, the funds and volunteers appear. Jesus math.
 
Well, here’s another example of it. Jesus math and our math are calculated differently.
 
Many biblical scholars believe this parable describes justice in God’s economy. What was the concern? There was considerable controversy between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. Jewish Christians, like Saul, who became Paul at his conversion, wrote about this in his letters to the early churches. He tried to settle the debate when he said “there is no longer Jew or Gentile,” and so forth. Gentile Christians were often considered “Johnny-come-lately” believers. They were considered “lesser thans,” with little agency in the emerging church. Paul believed this was wrong-headed.
 
In the parable, when the workers begin to grumble, the owner asks, “Are you envious because I’m generous?” In Greek, this is translated as “Is your eye evil because I am good?”
 
Many of us have an eye for evil. That is, we see evil where God sees good. Jesus said so. But, in our defense, is it evil to believe that someone working one hour should be paid less than one who worked all day long?
 
Jesus calls us out on this. The landowner in the story says, “Oh, but it’s my vineyard, my money. We agreed to a wage and I’m not paying you one cent less. I keep my word. Your beef is that I see a way to do good here. I am seeing good.”
 
How can we see good when there is so much evil in the world? You name it: there are so many cruel injustices in life: racism and sexism, crime, religious persecution, ethnic cleansing. There are disasters that bring destruction and death. We can be reminded of evil 24 hours a day.
 
And we care deeply about overcoming injustice. The General Assembly designates one Sunday in September as Christian and Citizen Sunday, which is why I’m focused in that direction today. We are called on to take our citizenship seriously. The Church calls on all people of faith to work toward a world of peace and equality.
We haven’t lost all, but we did lose a champion in that mission with the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg a few years ago. She understood fully the obstacles of injustice: she was a woman, a Jew, and a working mother. And my heroine. Ruth believed in the goodness of God and the potential for doing good and creating a more just nation.
 
When we say God is good, we have to be willing to admit that God’s goodness, God’s presence and power, is always held in tension with the cold hard facts: evil exists. Ruth encountered more than her share of that reality.
 
But, let’s return to an application of Jesus math. What good is God pointing us toward in this story?
 
The faithful, hard-working laborers believe they are more valuable than the late-coming workers. They deserve a larger expression of the landowner’s favor. In spiritual terms, Jesus says:
the newest convert has as much voice as the one who has been in the church since they were on the Cradle Roll. The newest members have agency same as the old-timers.
 
One of the things I’ve learned and love about Kuhn is that several people came to Kuhn when St. Andrews closed. And, you have embraced one another, included one another, value one another. The faith and lives of the full congregation are richer because we are together. I might even go so far as to say that what was a painful, traumatic event, the closing of a church, turned out to be a blessing. God used it for good. 
 
Rev. Suzanne Guthrie offers these remarks related to this passage:
A man named Peter died and his wife asked Suzanne to officiate his funeral service. The only problem was that Peter had no use for religion. He was vocal and profane about his lack of need for God or any of God’s associates.
 
Well, Peter became very sick. He was a drug addict, skilled at manipulation, mad at the world, and terminally ill with AIDS.
 
But, Suzanne says, Peter got to see heaven. One day, in Peter’s sight, the space above the television, beyond the wall and the ceiling, opened into a billowing heaven. He saw dead relatives. He saw angels. Peter described in detail to his family what he was seeing. In the next death crisis, Peter allowed the priest he’d previously thrown out of his room, to hear his confession. And Peter died in peace, having seen heaven in the eleventh hour.
 
Some of us, who have worked in the vineyard of God all our lives, have never seen heaven. Not once. Mother Teresa is remembered as saying she never had a personal theophany-a vision-of God. But, what wonders God did through her. Others have seen God through her ministry.
 
Who did God love more? Mother Teresa of Calcutta, or Peter, the addict?
 
God loved them both more than we can even imagine. Because in Jesus math, you just can’t put a price on grace.
 
 
*Hymn    619   Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, verses 3 and 4
*Affirmation of Faith   The Apostles’ Creed  p. 35
*Hymn    581       Gloria Patri
 
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
Offertory
*Hymn   607   Doxology
*Prayer of Dedication
We give with gratitude for all our God has given us. In the upside down world of the Gospel, we measure our wealth not by what we have but by what we can give away.
Lord, God, receive our offerings today to bless your church, your creation, and your children, wherever there is need.  Amen.
 
*Hymn  443   There Is a Redeemer
*Blessing
And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be upon you today and always.  Amen.
 
*Postlude

Click here to download printable PDF for September 10, 2023​

​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship                  Psalm 46:1-3, 7
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Therefore, we shall not fear, though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be hurled into the sea,
though the waters rage and foam,
though the mountains tremble at the tumult.
Lord God of hosts, be with us still.
 
*Hymn   318   In Christ There Is No East or West, verses 1 and 2
 
Prayer of Confession
God of strength,
your Son, Jesus, told us that in this world we will endure tribulation.
If we should suffer for righteousness sake,
save us from self-righteousness.
Give us grace to pray for our enemies,
and to forgive, even as you have forgiven us.
Through Jesus Christ, who was crucified, but is risen.  Amen.
 
Hymn 698               Take, O Take Me As I Am
Assurance of Forgiveness
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.”
In the name of our gracious Savior, our sins are forgiven.
Be at peace and pray for the peace of the world.
 
First Reading   Genesis 50: 15-21
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
Gospel Reading   Matthew 18:21-35
Morning Message
 
I’m no math wiz. I was so good at Algebra that I took it twice. But, even with my limitations, I can figure out that seventy times seven is a lot. “Jesus math” says that when a brother or sister sins against us, we are to forgive the offense. Not once. Not twice, but seventy-seven times. Whoa. Like I said, that’s a lot of times.
 
In our text today, Jesus is asked how many times we should forgive and he launches into this parable about the ungrateful servant. Now, I confess to you that I had a hard time getting past the words “slave” and “servant.”  We have an enlightened understanding of how powerful those terms can be. Racial tension has risen in recent years. We find ourselves in a turbulent time, marked by school-involved violence, unending political conflict, economic concerns. In our own state, the two flagship universities are struggling to address and respond to the tremendous changes in the state and nation. The extreme weather conditions we are witnessing has wrought suffering, for some, over and over.  So much of our food comes from geographic areas that have been hard hit by either flood or drought or wildfire. Record heat has hit northern California. Have you ever been to San Fransisco? I think you can experience all four seasons in one day there, but they all end with sweaters or jackets, no matter the time of year. Until recently.
 
Sometimes it seems the whole world is filled with dis-equilibrium and angst and uncertainty.
 
The point Jesus made was that God has witnessed our lives- the good, the bad, and the ugly.  But life is not consumed by suffering and hardship.  God has lavished mercy upon us, so that we might experience true liberty-freedom from sin. But, he warns us, if we seek forgiveness, then turn around and exact revenge on the next person who wrongs us, we have evidently not turned from sin, and renounced its power over us, or turned toward God at all.
 
Have you ever thought about what the word “lavish” means? It comes from the verb, to lave, to wash. When I think of God lavishing love and grace on us, I imagine standing beneath a great waterfall with fresh, cool, sparkling water coursing over my head, my shoulders, flowing over me all the way down to my toes, sinking into the rich, fertile earth.
 
Picture yourself standing under that waterfall. After a run or after mowing the lawn. You’re hot and sweaty. Thirsty. You stand under the cascading water. How does that make you feel? Clean? Light?  Joyful? Refreshed? Free of all baggage? Baggage we can call “sin.”
 
Good. That’s how we should feel. Thanks be to God.
 
And then disaster occurs. Or we are reminded of something catastrophic. The anniversary of 9/11 rolls around as it does today. And all those heavy emotions return, most notably grief and anger.
What do we do with that? Those feelings are real. They are legitimate.
 
Let us acknowledge, there are consequences to sin. And the consequences from that fateful day have changed all our lives. Remember the color-coded threat levels? The first time I heard that announced in an airport, while awaiting a flight, I was so filled with fear I was sick.
 
Soon after these changes took place, we took a trip to California. Those announcements were made repeatedly, increasing my anxiety, and I’m sure other travelers’ too.. Passing thru security is always a hassle. And then when we did finally board, the passenger to my right was a dark-skinned man with a backpack. There we sat. Shoulder-to-shoulder from San Francisco to Columbus, Ohio. I could feel my heart rate increase. I had some shortness of breath. My body was reacting to a perceived or imagined threat.
 
I’ve come to believe fear and anger are fraternal twins. Different… but they are born from the same womb. Sometimes, you can get them confused.
 
Do you think my seat assignment was an accident? I don’t. There have been many times since that I’ve looked back on that long night in the air, when my fears and anger confronted me.
I tried to sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come. So, I prayed. I prayed that the man next to me wasn’t a terrorist planning to highjack the plane. I begged for God’s protection, for a sense of God’s presence and power and peace.
 
God did comfort me in those hours. We landed without incident and went our separate ways.
All was well. But, was it?
 
If we applied this parable to the situation, might Jesus have said to me, “You prayed for my protection, my presence, my love. And, you have those things always. What were your prayers for your brother sitting next to you? Is he not worthy of my love and mercy, too?”
 
When Jesus spoke to the crowd about forgiveness, he wasn’t necessarily talking about those little things that may get under our skin but won’t ruin our lives. Like, when the garbage collectors don’t show up on their scheduled day, or when your Happy Meal comes without the toy, or the newspaper arrives all soggy. We can let those things go.
 
But, what about those things we can’t let go? We are all subject to things about which we may have little or no agency. But, we can decide how we will respond.  How have we responded to the changes that Covid has brought our way? Remember back in 2020, we looked for the color-coded  maps that tracked the number of cases?  Remember the  daily announcements of Covid-related hospitalizations and deaths? Even now, are you hoping to receive the latest booster shot that addresses the latest Omicron variant soon? I am. Primarily because my brother and his wife are very seek right now with Covid. My brother texted me a few days ago saying, he had been run over by a truck, hit by a car, and thrown twice by the same horse. And he would rather suffer any of them again over Covid.
 
We’ve faced national crises before. We’ve pulled together. Remember when the members of congress stood on the Capitol steps on September 11, 2001 and sang “God Bless America?”
Friends, I don’t want to witness another catastrophic event but it sure would be reassuring to see a display of our national leaders rallying around the country lifting up our common bond, our shared hopes and dreams.
 
Each year, when that fateful day rolls around, we pause and remember. We light candles, sing patriotic songs, set up art installations like The Healing Fields at Spring Hill Cemetery. We remember lives lost and heroic acts.
 
Speaking for myself, while I still grieve, the sharp anger and paralyzing fear have diminished over the years. And that is important because the country has to move forward, addressing opportunities and challenges as they come. And they will.
 
Lots of us like to travel. I can’t wait to take our grandchildren to some of our favorite places. But, I don’t want to panic every time I board a plane or go to a large crowded event. Our granddaughter goes to preschool at the Jewish Temple in Winston-Salem. You know the tragedies that have occurred in Jewish communities of faith in recent years, so you can imagine the concerns we have for her and her school.
 
So, it’s important to face my fears and prejudices, to make the effort to forgive those who have attacked innocent people.  I confess, I find it impossible some days to find forgiveness. God is still working on me. Maybe you’re ahead of me and God is helping you cultivate a spirit of forgiveness. Maybe I should follow your example.
 
Our nation and our neighborhoods are becoming more and more diverse. You may be tired of hearing it, but, so much of the violence we witness seems to be sparked by hatred. If we want peace, then it’s absolutely essential that we learn to respect and appreciate the differences in race, culture, religion, orientation and other human conditions.
 
One of my favorite quotes made by Queen Elizabeth is this: “Peace is the hardest form of leadership.”
 
The Washington National Cathedral is a beacon of peace for many. Since the pandemic began, the cathedral leadership has recorded and broadcast the brief services of Morning Prayer. I commend them. They were a source of solace and peace for me while the pandemic raged on.
 
At the end of one service, there were photos of the beautiful stained glass windows that adorn that awesome place.
 
One of the windows featured that morning was the Space Window, which is really named the Science and Technology Window. I’ve stood beneath it a few times and it is breathtaking. Created by Rodney Winslow, the technique used to design and make that window is much different from the other gothic-styled windows in the cathedral. Winslow worked on it for twelve years, tearing up one design plan after another until he was satisfied.
 
NASA and a number of astronauts consulted on the project. The colors used in the window are especially intense. It is said that every astronaut reports that the colors they see from space are indescribable, otherworldly, like nothing they have ever seen. Crayola doesn’t make a shade or hue that captures the beauty seen from high above the earth.
 
At the center of the window, the focal point, is a white circle. It is very thin and translucent. It is a piece of the moon, over three billion years old, picked up by Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 flight in 1969, at the first moon landing.  It represents humankind’s greatest achievement to date.
 
Artists like their works to speak for themselves, allowing the viewer to interact with the piece and drawing his or her own meanings from it. When I see that window, I think of all the men and women whose lives have been dedicated to the space program, and to the discipline and discovery of science, their sense of courage and adventure, how they inspired the next generation of exploration. It is set in this massive cathedral, the “house of prayer for all people,” and, to me, serves as a sign that God is eternally calling us into God’s creative plan as it unfolds from age to age.
 
And that is what I want to leave you with today. We are in difficult times. But we are not alone. God has not orphaned us and never will.
 
We have survived but we are cautious. I still carry masks and wear them. As the Brits would say, we “keep calm and carry on.” We are the people who, with God’s help, applied our intelligence, imagination, ingenuity, and grit to land a man on the moon and NASA says we will do it again. A woman may land the next spacecraft.
 
And with God’s help, we will land 2023.
 
* Hymn     378     We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom
*Affirmation of Faith    The Apostles’ Creed  p, 35
*Hymn      581       Gloria Patri
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Presenting our Tithes and Offerings including offerings for Sunflower Seeds
Offertory
*Hymn   607 Doxology
*Prayer of Dedication
Blessed are you, O God, maker and giver of all gifts.
Use us and what we bave gathered to bless the world with your love and grace,
through the One who gave his life for us.  Amen.
 
*Hymn  318   In Christ There Is No East or West, verses 3 and 4
*Blessing           Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen.
 
*Postlude