WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The God we know in Jesus Christ walks the way of ordinary people.
People: The God we know in Jesus Christ speaks to us in a language of grace and love.
Leader: From all walks of life, God gathers us.
People: From every place on earth, God invites us into a community of hope.
Leader: People of every culture and country, of every time and territory, are called to follow the Lord.
People: Let us embrace all that can be learned and all that can be done through Jesus Christ our Lord.
HYMN Called as Partners in Christ’s Service Ken Heischmann
Called as partners in Christ’s service, Called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing, Side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring To fulfil God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering, Reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer, All God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together Gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission In a small or global sense,
Help us bear each other’s burdens, Breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, Words of challenge, said with care,
Bring new power and strength for action, Make us colleagues, free and fair.
So God grant us for tomorrow Ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow With a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living, Our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, thus giving Hope and confidence and peace.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (Unison)
God of grace and mercy,
although You summon us to follow a new course of life,
we confess that we have frequently ignored Your call.
Through Jesus Christ, You have inaugurated a new order,
but we remain enslaved to the world’s ways.
You have called us to pursue the vision of Your kingdom,
but the lure of earthly treasures has weakened our commitment.
Forgive us, Lord, and set us again on the right path,
so that we may participate in Your work of transformation,
and invest our lives in establishing Your reign in all countries and continents,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from Titus 3:4-5)
Leader: When the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, God saved us, but not because of any works of righteousness which we had done.
People: God saved us according to the mercy of our Lord, through the water of rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
ANTHEM Down in the River Fiona Coughlin
SCRIPTURE Mark 1:14-20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent,and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James
son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
MEDITATION “Practicing What Jesus Preached”
HYMN Lord, When I Came Into This Life Ken Heischman
Lord, when I came into this life You called me by my name;
Today I come commit myself Responding to Your claim.
Within the circle of the faith As member of Your cast,
I take my place with all the saints Of future, present, past.
In all the tensions of my life Between my faith and doubt,
Let Your great Spirit give me hope, Sustain me lead me out.
So help me in my unbelief And let my life be true
Feet firmly planted on the earth, My sights set high on You
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION TO GIVE
God blesses us with gifts,
not so that we would hoard God’s grace,
but so that we would share these gifts with our fellow human beings . . .
for, by sharing our gifts, we can become a blessing to the world around us.
Even now, your generous donations are making a difference in the world
for your gifts serve the Central American Medical Outreach which provides more than 160,000
life-saving services each year to impoverished people who would otherwise not have access to
aid.
Your gifts support the work of Project: Hope which provides direct health care services,
equips clinics and hospitals, and trains local health care workers in vulnerable areas when
disasters strike.
Truly, human lives are touched and transformed by the offerings you share . . .
and may these gifts indeed give light to those in darkness,
hope to those in despair,
and justice to the oppressed,
as we bring them before God as an act of sharing God’s love with the world.
On this day, let us give our gifts in order to contribute to the kingdom of God and in
gratitude for what has been . . .
and may God bless you as you give.
BENEDICTION