Sunday, October 01, 2023

From November 20, 2022: Rejoice, the Lord is King (VU 213) Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your risen Lord adore! Rejoice, give thanks and sing, And triumph evermore. Lift up your heart, Lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Jesus, the Savior, reigns, The God of truth and love; When He had purged our sins, He took his seat above; Lift up your heart, Lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

God's kingdom cannot fail, Christ rules o'er earth and heav'n; The keys of death and hell Are to our Jesus giv'n: Lift up your heart, Lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Rejoice in glorious hope! For Christ, the judge shall come To glorify the saints For their eternal home. We soon shall hear The archangel's voice; The trump of God shall sound, Rejoice!

Words of Assurance

The Church of Christ In Every Age (VU 601) The Church of Christ in every age Beset by change but Spirit led, Must claim and test its heritage And keep on rising from the dead. Across the world, across the street, The victims of injustice cry For shelter and for bread to eat, And never live until they die.

Then let the servant Church arise, A caring Church that longs to be A partner in Christ's sacrifice, And clothed in Christ's humanity.

For Christ alone, whose blood was shed, Can cure the fever in our blood, And teach us how to share our bread And feed the starving multitude. We have no mission but to serve In full obedience to our Lord: To care for all, without reserve, And spread Christ's liberating Word.

Scripture read by Undeg Edwards Prayer of Illumination .	Psalm 78 (VU 792) R: Refrain: We will tell new generations of the wonders God has done. The Voices United text is HERE.
Numbers 21:4-9 The written text is HERE.	John 12:28-32 Follow the text HERE. Prayer of Thanksgiving.

Art by Alek.

Christine's Sunday Message

Art by Eva.

-Anthem -

We Gather Here (VU 469) We gather here in Jesus' name, His love is burning in our hearts Like living flame; For through the loving son God Fashions us as one: Come take the bread, Come drink the wine, Come, share the Lord. No one is a stranger here, Everyone belongs; Finding our forgiveness here, We in turn forgive all wrongs. He joins us here, he breaks the bread, The One who pours the cup Is risen from the dead; The One we love the most is now Our gracious host: Come take the bread, Come drink the wine, Come, share the Lord.

Prayer for the Offering God, on this World Communion Sunday, give us eyes to recognize your reflection in the eyes of Christians everywhere. Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences. Give us a heart big enough to love your children everywhere. We thank you for setting a table with space enough for us all! Amen.

Offertory Hymn VU 602, Vv. 1 & 3 Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The unity of heart and mind Is like to that above. We share each other's woes, Each other's burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

Liturgy The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift us you hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Liturgy	Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hasanna in the highest.	Liturgy
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, God most holy, now and forever	The Lord's Prayer

We Are One (VU 402) We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here, in the praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near. We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found; and we come needful of God's grace as we meet, together in this place.

We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear, in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here. We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed; and we share warmth in God's embrace as we pray together in this place. We are one as we feast, as we feast, peace becomes the sign; in the bread and the wine there's a sense of love divine. We are one as we come, as we feed, we are fed; and we feel God's refreshing grace as we meet at table in this place.

We are one as we hear, as we hear, heart and hand unite; in the word we receive there's a sense that God is light. We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved; and we seek justice in God's ways as we move together from this place.

Commisionning

Go from this place, you are blessed, renewed, and refreshed! We go, looking forward to a good week and a beautiful Autumn. Go now into the world, although you are not of this world. We go, filled with the Spirit's joy and energy, ready to share God's love and Christ's Message. Go then, and our God bless you again and again!

Blessing Amen

- Postlude -

Aretta's Rhumba by Eric Baumgartner

And while the service was unfolding there were
Kevin and George (not pictured - sorry George, won't happen again)
busily cooking up hamburgers & hotdogs
for our Welcome Back BBQ.

MANY THANKS K and G.