Call to Worship Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Transcript Of Call to Worship Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Knox Presbyterian Church Service for September 20, 2020
Rev. Emma Duncan
Call to Worship
This is the day that we remember when Christ gathered with his disciples in an upper room. This is the day that we remember that Christ shared a meal as a sign of his great love. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Holy and loving God, it’s the middle of September and it seems strange to be remembering the last supper that our Lord had before he went to the cross. But the truth is, there is never a bad time to remember this perfect gift! The forgiveness and grace that we have received through the death and resurrection of Christ is a gift to celebrate each and every day. And so, we are thankful, O Lord. Thank you for your love, your saving grace, and your ongoing presence in our lives and our world. We praise your most holy name and celebrate that we are your beloved children.
As we gather today to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross, we freely admit that we are more like the disciples that we care to admit. Although they loved Jesus, they disappointed and failed him. They abandoned him at the first sign of trouble. Forgive us, Father, for our failure as your followers. When you ask us to do challenging things – like forgiving our enemies – like loving someone who is different from us – like making personal sacrifices in your name – like letting your divine Spirit into our daily living – we are so weak and fickle in our faith. We don’t mean to disappoint you, but we do. Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us.
Thank you for your great forgiveness, O Lord. By your Spirit, open our eyes to see the world as you see it. Open our hearts to love as you love. Guide our hands and our feet to work for justice and peace in the kingdom of God.
We pray in the blessed name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, saying…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
1
Announcements 1. Thank you to Mary Ann Park for doing the reading. 2. Philippians Bible study – on web site 3. Re-opening September 27th! 😊 😊 😊 Hymn – The Son of God proclaim Children’s Time – Lest we forget
2
Reading – Luke 22:1-23
1 Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5 They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” 9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” 13 So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.
3
Reflection
Hear the words of the Apostle Paul from his letter to the Galatians:
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. (Galatians 4:4-7)
When the fullness of time had come.
We have been talking about time for the past two weeks – first, we talked about Kairos (God’s time) and then we talked about Khronos (ordinary time) and how these two can intersect in our daily living.
The greatest intersection of God’s time and ordinary time took place in far away land over 2,000 years ago. A baby boy was born to an ordinary couple who lived under the law of an empire. But this was not just any baby. It was the divine Son of God. In the fullness of time, God gave part of himself in order to redeem the world through that baby. And that baby grew into a man who was a great teacher and healer. This man shared a meal with his friends and then gave up his life so that we can be called beloved sons and daughters of God.
The story of the last week of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion is one that we all know well. We know the story from Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem where palm branches were waved, to the last supper, to his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.
But Emma, this is the Easter story! Why are we talking about this in the middle of September?!? When I recorded my sermon for Easter Sunday morning in an empty sanctuary (right about where I am standing now right now), I had no clue that we would be closed this long. I was hoping that we would be open by June to celebrate our 175th anniversary. I certainly didn’t think it would be the end of September before we would re-open and even as I record this reflection on Friday September 18th, I am fully aware that we may not be open for in-person worship for long.
No one could have foreseen the time that we have been living through. No one could have imagined this season of anxiety, fear, isolation, and hardship. No one could have predicted the grief that we are all feeling.
4
You heard me correctly – grief. Some of have lost loved ones during this time – we have lost several members of our church family during the pandemic. Chris Nixon. Gery Puley. Allan Stewart. Loree Fergusson. But the reality is that we have all experienced grief in different ways during this season. The loss of freedom. The loss of independence. The loss of mobility. The loss of relationships. The loss of opportunities. The loss of time with the people we love. The loss of any sense of control. I have heard of all of these losses within our church family and our collective grief is, at times, overwhelming. That’s why we are talking about the Easter story in the middle of September. Because we all need to be reminded of the great cost of our salvation. We need to be reminded that our Lord, Jesus, freely and willingly offered his body and blood as a sacrifice for us all. You and me. This is our inheritance – that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God. And because of this inheritance, we have hope. And that hope is abundant no matter what tomorrow brings. No matter how long this pandemic lasts. Never forget that you are loved by our awesome God. Never forget that you are forgiven and redeemed. Never forget that you are have a shelter from the storms of life. The story of the Last Supper truly does show us how God’s time intersects with ordinary time. These tiny elements of bread and wine remind us – that no matter what time it is – that we are not alone. To God be the glory. Amen.
Hymn – All who hunger gather gladly
5
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation & Prayer Do you know what time it is? It is time to lend your table to Jesus. In thanksgiving for this feast of grace, we rejoice that - by the very method of our worship - we have embodied the truth that Christ’s love is not limited to buildings made with human hands, but lives in us and through us.
As we lend our tables to the Lord, let the elements of bread and wine before you remind you that… God the Father – in the fullness of time – sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to show us the way of love and forgiveness.
At your table, let the elements before you remind you that Jesus Christ died for your sins.
At your table, let the elements before you remind you that the Spirit of God is with you always.
All are welcome to partake in this feast of grace. Come and rejoice in this symbol of hope in a troubled age. Amen.
Let us pray. Holy Father, you created the heavens and the earth and all creatures both great and small. You created us in your own image. You love us so much that we are not your slaves, but your beloved children. Abba! Father! We praise you for the inheritance that we have received from you.
Holy Saviour, we remember that you are came to earth in the fullness of God’s time. You were born of a woman and born into a world where you would be despised and rejected. On that night in Jerusalem, you showed the world what true love looks like when you gave up your body and blood for the disciples and for all of humanity. We praise you for the inheritance that we have received from you.
Holy Spirit, we remember that you are with us, ever guiding and nurturing us as we wait and watch for Christ to come again. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we seek to share our inheritance with the world. Pour out your Spirit on all of our gifts of bread and wine so that we may receive your blessing in this meal.
As we remain apart from one another, remind us that we are united through the body of Christ. In this time of trial, be with your Church, O God. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour are yours, almighty Father, world without end. Amen.
6
Institution
Beloved in the Lord, attend to the words of the institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they are delivered to us by the apostle Paul:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again.
On their own, these natural elements of bread and wine are nothing. They are common everyday things that we all have in front of us as we sit in our own homes. They are too small to satisfy our physical hunger. But through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, these elements are transformed into a joyful mystery that will satisfy our souls.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I invite you to experience the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
Sharing of the Body and Blood The body of Christ broken for you. // The blood of Christ shed for you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, you have blessed our tables and our lives. Precious Saviour, you have nourished our souls. Guiding Spirit, give us the courage to speak out in faith and to love as you have loved. May this festival of grace renew our hope as we experience the fullness of your time. All these things we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Benediction (recorded at Crieff Hills retreat centre)
7
Rev. Emma Duncan
Call to Worship
This is the day that we remember when Christ gathered with his disciples in an upper room. This is the day that we remember that Christ shared a meal as a sign of his great love. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Holy and loving God, it’s the middle of September and it seems strange to be remembering the last supper that our Lord had before he went to the cross. But the truth is, there is never a bad time to remember this perfect gift! The forgiveness and grace that we have received through the death and resurrection of Christ is a gift to celebrate each and every day. And so, we are thankful, O Lord. Thank you for your love, your saving grace, and your ongoing presence in our lives and our world. We praise your most holy name and celebrate that we are your beloved children.
As we gather today to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross, we freely admit that we are more like the disciples that we care to admit. Although they loved Jesus, they disappointed and failed him. They abandoned him at the first sign of trouble. Forgive us, Father, for our failure as your followers. When you ask us to do challenging things – like forgiving our enemies – like loving someone who is different from us – like making personal sacrifices in your name – like letting your divine Spirit into our daily living – we are so weak and fickle in our faith. We don’t mean to disappoint you, but we do. Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us.
Thank you for your great forgiveness, O Lord. By your Spirit, open our eyes to see the world as you see it. Open our hearts to love as you love. Guide our hands and our feet to work for justice and peace in the kingdom of God.
We pray in the blessed name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, saying…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
1
Announcements 1. Thank you to Mary Ann Park for doing the reading. 2. Philippians Bible study – on web site 3. Re-opening September 27th! 😊 😊 😊 Hymn – The Son of God proclaim Children’s Time – Lest we forget
2
Reading – Luke 22:1-23
1 Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. 5 They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” 9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to make preparations for it?” 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.” 13 So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” 23 Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.
3
Reflection
Hear the words of the Apostle Paul from his letter to the Galatians:
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. (Galatians 4:4-7)
When the fullness of time had come.
We have been talking about time for the past two weeks – first, we talked about Kairos (God’s time) and then we talked about Khronos (ordinary time) and how these two can intersect in our daily living.
The greatest intersection of God’s time and ordinary time took place in far away land over 2,000 years ago. A baby boy was born to an ordinary couple who lived under the law of an empire. But this was not just any baby. It was the divine Son of God. In the fullness of time, God gave part of himself in order to redeem the world through that baby. And that baby grew into a man who was a great teacher and healer. This man shared a meal with his friends and then gave up his life so that we can be called beloved sons and daughters of God.
The story of the last week of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion is one that we all know well. We know the story from Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem where palm branches were waved, to the last supper, to his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.
But Emma, this is the Easter story! Why are we talking about this in the middle of September?!? When I recorded my sermon for Easter Sunday morning in an empty sanctuary (right about where I am standing now right now), I had no clue that we would be closed this long. I was hoping that we would be open by June to celebrate our 175th anniversary. I certainly didn’t think it would be the end of September before we would re-open and even as I record this reflection on Friday September 18th, I am fully aware that we may not be open for in-person worship for long.
No one could have foreseen the time that we have been living through. No one could have imagined this season of anxiety, fear, isolation, and hardship. No one could have predicted the grief that we are all feeling.
4
You heard me correctly – grief. Some of have lost loved ones during this time – we have lost several members of our church family during the pandemic. Chris Nixon. Gery Puley. Allan Stewart. Loree Fergusson. But the reality is that we have all experienced grief in different ways during this season. The loss of freedom. The loss of independence. The loss of mobility. The loss of relationships. The loss of opportunities. The loss of time with the people we love. The loss of any sense of control. I have heard of all of these losses within our church family and our collective grief is, at times, overwhelming. That’s why we are talking about the Easter story in the middle of September. Because we all need to be reminded of the great cost of our salvation. We need to be reminded that our Lord, Jesus, freely and willingly offered his body and blood as a sacrifice for us all. You and me. This is our inheritance – that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God. And because of this inheritance, we have hope. And that hope is abundant no matter what tomorrow brings. No matter how long this pandemic lasts. Never forget that you are loved by our awesome God. Never forget that you are forgiven and redeemed. Never forget that you are have a shelter from the storms of life. The story of the Last Supper truly does show us how God’s time intersects with ordinary time. These tiny elements of bread and wine remind us – that no matter what time it is – that we are not alone. To God be the glory. Amen.
Hymn – All who hunger gather gladly
5
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation & Prayer Do you know what time it is? It is time to lend your table to Jesus. In thanksgiving for this feast of grace, we rejoice that - by the very method of our worship - we have embodied the truth that Christ’s love is not limited to buildings made with human hands, but lives in us and through us.
As we lend our tables to the Lord, let the elements of bread and wine before you remind you that… God the Father – in the fullness of time – sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to show us the way of love and forgiveness.
At your table, let the elements before you remind you that Jesus Christ died for your sins.
At your table, let the elements before you remind you that the Spirit of God is with you always.
All are welcome to partake in this feast of grace. Come and rejoice in this symbol of hope in a troubled age. Amen.
Let us pray. Holy Father, you created the heavens and the earth and all creatures both great and small. You created us in your own image. You love us so much that we are not your slaves, but your beloved children. Abba! Father! We praise you for the inheritance that we have received from you.
Holy Saviour, we remember that you are came to earth in the fullness of God’s time. You were born of a woman and born into a world where you would be despised and rejected. On that night in Jerusalem, you showed the world what true love looks like when you gave up your body and blood for the disciples and for all of humanity. We praise you for the inheritance that we have received from you.
Holy Spirit, we remember that you are with us, ever guiding and nurturing us as we wait and watch for Christ to come again. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we seek to share our inheritance with the world. Pour out your Spirit on all of our gifts of bread and wine so that we may receive your blessing in this meal.
As we remain apart from one another, remind us that we are united through the body of Christ. In this time of trial, be with your Church, O God. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour are yours, almighty Father, world without end. Amen.
6
Institution
Beloved in the Lord, attend to the words of the institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they are delivered to us by the apostle Paul:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again.
On their own, these natural elements of bread and wine are nothing. They are common everyday things that we all have in front of us as we sit in our own homes. They are too small to satisfy our physical hunger. But through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, these elements are transformed into a joyful mystery that will satisfy our souls.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I invite you to experience the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
Sharing of the Body and Blood The body of Christ broken for you. // The blood of Christ shed for you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, you have blessed our tables and our lives. Precious Saviour, you have nourished our souls. Guiding Spirit, give us the courage to speak out in faith and to love as you have loved. May this festival of grace renew our hope as we experience the fullness of your time. All these things we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Benediction (recorded at Crieff Hills retreat centre)
7