PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
“It’s time to begin to live life fuller rather than faster.”
— Sister Joan Chittister, The Time is Now
CALL TO WORSHIP
This is a thin place. Where earth and heaven embrace, where past interweaves with future, where people gather expectantly.
This is a thin place. Where hopes are renewed, where faith is restored, where peace is revived. Where love is refreshed.
This is a thin place. Where fresh words are heard, deep wisdom revealed, daring promises proclaimed.
This is a thin place. Where the God who shaped us, the Christ who remakes us, the Spirit who inspires us. Walk among us. Full of grace and truth.
God above us, God beside us, God within us
May we be open to see and hear your grace revealed as we worship you this day.
OPENING HYMN | “It Is Well With My Soul”
SPECIAL VIDEO | “BE LOVE” Campaign
MINUTE FOR MISSION | Responsive Chorus
There are so many exciting ways that God is working through each of us and in this community. As we consider our receiving and our giving to the works of ministry in this place and in the world, may we remember that we belong to God.
Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
CHRISTIAN READING |Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right – the sheep, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left – the goats, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
THEME MUSIC VIDEO | “Most People Are Good”
by Luke Bryan
SERMON | “Statio: The Virtue of Presence?“ by Rev. Don Ludwig
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
- Craig Butler’s father passed away a week ago. We continue to hold him and the family in prayer.
- Karen Wittenburg has resumed another round of chemotherapy.
- Carol Howe continues to recover from knee replacement surgery and is recovering at home.
- Jary Parker, friend of Judith Foster, is now in hospice in an adult care facility.
- Bob Buell continues to be in hospice.
- Bert Schmidt continues treatment. Please keep him and Sue Chandler, daughter, in prayer.
- Please keep the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) in prayer as they discern the future of Southminster.
CORPORATE PRAYER | The New Zealand Lord’s Prayer
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be.
Father and Mother of us all. Loving God, in whom is heaven.
The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the earth!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever. Amen.
