Worship - September 27, 2009

O God,
    we confess the blindness that is not even aware of sinning;
    the pride that dares not admit that it is wrong;
    the selfishness that can see nothing but its own will;
    the righteousness that knows no fault;
    the callousness that has ceased to care;
    the defiance that does not regret its own sins;
    the evasion that always tries to make excuses;
    the coldness of heart that is too hardened to repent.
God, we are sinners; be merciful to us.

(pause for a moment)

“God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Hear then Christ's word of grace: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God

from Worship and Liturgy Resources
by Rev David Beswick, Uniting Church in Australia

Responsive Scripture Reading
Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
    and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

Hymnal #813
New Revised Standard Version

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

            Souls revived, simple minds made wise, hearts full of joy, eyes enlightened, able to endure amid our fears, being true to who and whose we are, and in a right relationship to God and others – this is a huge undertaking. We can’t get there alone, though many try. We can spend hours at work, making our daily bread, living a rat-race. However, “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3).
            Allow those words to run through your head as you return your offering just now. Jesus spoke them to the one who tried to get him off course. May these words help us not be distracted as we reach into our purses and wallets for our offering. Remember, we do “not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” … Ushers?

Dedication

Gracious Lord, we join together in prayer. We recognize that daily prayer impacts our spiritual health. Likewise, offering our tithes to you influences our spiritual health. The acts of praying and giving unify our church community and place our collective attention on you. As we practice these spiritual disciplines, we hope to draw even closer to you. We pray in the name of the Jesus Christ who offers salvation to all throughout our world. Amen.

Scripture
Mark 9:38-50
(NRSV)

1 - John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

2 - But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.

1 - For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

2 - “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.

1 - If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

2 - And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.

1 - And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

2 - “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

(pause for a moment)

1 - Receive a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ. Give a cup for the same reason.

2 - Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

The New Revised Standard Version,
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Pastoral Prayer

to be written and delivered by the guest preacher

Scripture
James 4:13-5:11
(NRSV)

1 - Come now, you who say,

2 - “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.”

1 - Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?

2 - For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

1 - Instead you ought to say,

2 - “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.”

1 - As it is, you boast in your arrogance;

2 - all such boasting is evil.

1 - Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

2 - Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you.

1 - Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.

2 - Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire.

1 - You have laid up treasure for the last days.

2 - Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

1 - You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

2 - You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

(pause)

2 - Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

The New Revised Standard Version
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Benediction

to be written and delivered by the guest preacher