You’ve invited us to live in loving relationship with everyone we encounter, but there are folks who are downright hard to love. We confess our inability to love as we should. We need your forgiveness and help living out this love thing. Free us to love as you do.

Time of Silent Confession

Words of Assurance Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Thanks be to God. Amen

Gloria: Hymn 442 Just as I Am, without One Plea Stanza 1

The Peace

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

You may comment a message of peace in the comment section below the live stream if you wish.

Prayer for Illumination Loving God, fountain of every blessing, open us to your life-giving word, and fill us with your Holy Spirit so that living water may flow through our hearts— a spring of hope for a thirsty world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The First Lesson Romans 13:8-14

Response Holy wisdom, holy Word. Thanks be to God.

Response Anthem Variation on “Ein Feste Burg” Michael Helman

The Gospel Lesson Matthew 18:15-20

Response The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon “For Love Or Money” Sam Massey

We seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ and his call to the realm of God: the practice of justice, mercy and faith. Our mission is represented by the

Celtic cross, a shepherd’s crook, the extension of the right arm of fellowship into the world and the

church’s hospitality toward the world.

September 6, 2020 14th Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love Nancy M. Raabe

Greeting The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Focus on Ministry

Call to Worship Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Christ is here. Calling us to the water, beckoning us to the feast, Christ is here. Speaking to our souls, listening to our prayers, Christ is here. Binding us as one body, sending us out in service, Christ is here. Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Christ is here. Let us worship God.

Gathering Hymn 306 Blest Be the Tie That Binds Stanzas 1, 3, and 5

Prayer of Confession The grace of God overflows for us through Christ Jesus who came into the world to save sinners. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.

God, you have told us what to do. But this love thing is hard. You’ve invited us to love you with everything we have; instead, we have fallen in love with our jobs, houses, and electronic toys. Loving you intimately is scary and we often opt for another way.

Affirmation of Faith Let us confess the faith of our Baptism. I believe in God, the Father almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

Self Offering We are invited in silent prayer, to offer our lives and our world to God.

Silent Prayer

Prayer of Dedication

Beloved One, these are difficult days. In the midst of all that overwhelms, keep us from doing harm where we intend to do good. You have shown us how to prioritize what is true, what is just, and what is compassionate. Bless our offerings and our intentions, that we might faithfully apply your teachings in every aspect of our lives. Amen

Sending Hymn 203 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love

Charge and Blessing

Postlude O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing arr. Douglas Smith

Sermon Notes:

1. What is your financial status? Are you getting ahead or falling behind? Have you ever calculated your net worth? How do you feel about your level of indebtedness? These are troubled times with inadequate leadership.

2. Biblically speaking, debt represents a sort of slavery. The one holding the debt owns the debtor’s time, energy, and gifts. In Jesus’ day, the entire economy was frozen by indebtedness caused by Roman occupation. There was a terrible farm crisis and landowners became homeless paupers. Jesus’ believed that indebtedness destroyed relationships and that love/justice meant debt forgiveness. As did his ancestors, Jesus’ believed that the covetousness that created debt was the summary commandment for the other nine commandments.

3. Our economy runs heavily on encouraging debt, mortgaging the future for the sake of the present. Young people in particular are hurting. Our goal financially should be to avoid, and try to escape, debt and also to work to liberate others from it. Keep in mind that indebtedness takes many forms. When we have sinned against someone, we have created a debt for ourselves that God expects us to repay. Jesus and Paul both saw the larger issue as Christian freedom to love. Jesus taught that the faith community should exemplify debt forgiveness and grace-filled liberty.

“Making Sacred Space” Zoom Evening Prayer Service

Wednesdays in September 7:00 p.m.

Wednesdays in September, Leah Bergman will be offering a brief evening prayer service via Zoom from 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. with some time to visit after the service if desired.

The service consists of prayer, scripture, and simple a capella sung responses.

Join us as we explore together what it means to make sacred space for God and ourselves.

To join: https://zoom.us/j/97201926060?pwd=UHdWbTBqclkrejBycmoveTVuL1JaUT09 Passcode: 174501