WELCOME
PRELUDE Come, Christians, Join to Sing – Hayes
*CALL TO WORSHIP (The 21 candles represent the 21 years after September 11, 2001)
Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers who share God’s word that provides a lamp for our feet and
a light for our way.
People: Blessed are the peacemakers who live in the light of God’s plan for us, a plan for a
future with hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers who brighten the earth by living according to Christ’s
commandment to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34).
People: Blessed are the peacemakers who walk in the light of the Lord through beating
swords into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4-5).
Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers who brighten the world with hope by doing justice, loving
kindness, and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8).
People: Blessed are the peacemakers who shine Christ’s light so brightly that there are no
longer strangers and aliens, but all people are embraced and welcomed in the
household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
*HYMN OF PRAISE I’ve Got Peace Like a River #368
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in-a my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in-a my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in-a my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in-a my soul.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (Unison)
God of mercy and grace, as we lift our voices to You,
we know that when we turn away from You,
we have no peace.
With repentant hearts we ask that You would have mercy upon us for the times when our
self-centeredness has distorted our perspective.
For those occasions when we have opposed Your work of reconciliation,
for those instances when bigotry or racism has warped our faith,
and for our self-righteousness that denies guilt and our self-interest that strangles
compassion, forgive us, Lord.
Redeem us from our past, O Lord,
and inspire us to cherish all life and honor all people,
so that our work and witness will make You present in every corner of the globe
and transform our deserts of death into Your oasis of life, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. (Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from Psalm 130:3-7)
Leader: If the LORD would mark our iniquities, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with
God.
People: Let us hope in the LORD, for with the LORD there is steadfast love and plenteous
redemption.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 45:20-21
20 Assemble yourselves and come together, draw near, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge — those who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. 21 Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is no one besides me. 22 Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
SCRIPTURE Luke 9:51-56
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them [(and other ancient authorities add) and said, “You do not know what spirit you are of, for the Son
of Man has not come to destroy the lives of human beings but to save them.”] 56 Then they went on to another village.
MEDITATION For Such a Time as This
ANTHEM O God, Our Help in Ages Past – Watts/Croft
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from A Declaration of Faith, 6.5
In his history with his people in the world, God has often made material things
channels through which his grace is understood and powerfully experienced.
Out of the life and ministry of Jesus, the Church received baptism and the Lord’s Supper
as special sacraments of God’s saving action.
We believe that, at the Lord’s Supper, the community of believers is renewed
by the memory of Christ’s life and death,
by his real presence in the power of the Holy Spirit,
and by the promise of his coming again.
Christ makes himself known to us in the breaking of bread.
He offers us his body broken for our sake
and his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
We accept his promises and gifts and depend on his life to sustain ours.
In turn we offer ourselves in thanksgiving to the risen Lord who has conquered death.
So we celebrate his victory here and now
and anticipate the joyous feast in his coming kingdom.
Reunited around one loaf and cup,
we receive strength and courage
to continue our pilgrimage with God in the world.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
. . . Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven,
may the hallowing of Your name echo through the universe!
May the way of Your justice be followed by all people of the earth!
May Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Grant that Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
would come on earth and sustain our hope.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us,
for You reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever.
– adapted from the New Zealand Prayer Book
INVITATION TO GIVE
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
We have “open” communion, and therefore all who desire a closer relationship with God and
want to share in the love of Jesus Christ are invited to participate fully in the sacrament.
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Words of Institution and Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion
*HYMN O for a World #386
O for a world where everyone Respects each other’s ways,
Where love is lived and all is done With justice and with praise.
O for a world where goods are shared And misery relieved,
Where truth is spoken, children spared, Equality achieved.
We welcome one world family And struggle with each choice
That opens us to unity and gives our vision voice.
The poor are rich, the weak are strong, The foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn, outcasts belong, Who perishes will rise.
O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,
Where time and tears will be no more, And all but love will cease.
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE They’ll Know We Are Christians – Hayes