a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
God of Love, we seek to serve you.
Whether our gift is given freely or whether we hold back;
whether we offer abundantly or scrape off a portion;
whether we give joyfully or resentfully—
bless these gifts, we pray.
Lead us in your way,
so that through our gifts,
we may continue to grow
in your freedom, your abundance, and your joy.
Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Jennifer Garrison Brownell, Hillsdale Community Church – UCC, Portland, OR
Jacob was on the run, and slept outdoors. He dreamed of a stairway to heaven, and angels were going up and down on it. And God spoke to him in the dream.
And so God tells us, “I’ll stay with you. I’ll protect you wherever you go. I’ll stick with you.”
Jacob woke up and said:
“God is in this place—truly. And I didn’t even know it!”
And he was afraid, and said,
“Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God’s house. This is the gate of heaven.”
This is God’s house, the gate of heaven this morning. Surely God is in this place. Let us worship God.
A Call to Worship for Ordinary 16A, based on The Message version of Genesis 28.10-19a, submitted by Rev. Dan Hayward, United Church of Canada, Ingleside and Newington United Churches, South Stormont, Ontario.
Generous God, you have provided for us in ways we cannot even imagine. As we return to you a portion of your many gifts, we give you thanks and praise. Bless these offerings, and multiply them into blessings for your people in this place and around the world. In the name of Jesus the Christ, who offered his very life, we pray. Amen.
As we come to your word this day, O God, make peace in our hearts so that we may truly hear you, and follow you, for it is in serving you that we find life abundant. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
Call to Confession
If we say we have no sin, we deceive only ourselves, and we leave no room for God’s truth to dwell in us. When we confess our sin, we are able to experience the abundant mercy of God’s everlasting grace, right here and right now. Before God, with the people of God, let us confess to our brokenness. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
All: God, your will is for all creation to have abundant life. We confess that sometimes we do not understand your way, and often we prefer to walk our own way. We confess that sometimes we have received your good gift, then allowed that gift to become our god. We confess that it is easier to ask you to bless what we want to do, rather than to ask for the courage to do what you are blessing. Forgive our hard hearts and closed minds, our selfish ambition and cultural bondage. Free us to follow your way of justice, peace, and love.
~silence~
Gracious God,
silence every voice in us but your own, that we may be your faithful people. We pray in the name of the One who lived every moment in obedience to you, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. From before the beginning until long beyond our imagination, God’s love endures. Know that you are forgiven, loved and free. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
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