Worship
Notes
On World Communion Sunday, Christians from around the world
break the bread of life and bless the cup of salvation in remembrance
of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to bear witness
to the unity of Christians around the world in the bond of peace
under the divine rule of the Triune God. This celebration, born
out of a time of world war, is marked in the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) by a call to peacemaking. As we gather in memory of
the Prince of Peace, we are reminded what it means to be disciples
of the Sovereign of heaven and earth.
Three of our four lectionary texts bear witness to the majesty
of our Sovereign God. Psalm 19 reminds us to listen to the testimony
of the heavens above as they recount the glory and majesty of
God. Descending from the clouds of Mount Sinai, God proclaims
the message we know as the Ten Commandments. And in Philippians
3, our brother Paul outlines for us his impressive résumé,
only to dismiss all of it as rubbish if only he might obtain
Christ. Just as the disciples who broke the bread of new creation
at the Emmaus meal were overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy,
so also we are drawn through these texts into the presence and
power of the God of the heavens.
But they also call us to accountability here on earth, for,
as the psalmist asks, “Who can detect their errors?”
(Ps. 19:12). And indeed, even as we are commanded not to covet,
we should be mindful of the ways that our national hoarding
and covetousness have left hungry many of our international
siblings who sit with us at Christ’s Table. Even as we
are commanded to keep the Sabbath, we should remember our siblings,
both abroad and in our own nation, who do not have six days
of work in a week from which to rest. So we, like Paul, must
count our gains as loss at this Table, seeking only to know
the discipleship of the crucified and resurrected Christ. For
if we do not, we risk the error of the religious leaders of
Matthew’s day, who were charged with hoarding for themselves
the riches of God’s vineyard rather than distributing
them to those people known and sent by God to them. Let us,
then, with the psalmist pray that the words of our mouths and
the meditations of our hearts might be acceptable; and that
being justified by Christ Jesus, we may be found to bear the
fruits of the kingdom, so that in the end, God’s people
may be fed at this and every table.
Order of Service
Call to Worship
One: The
heavens are telling the glory of God! The great arch of heaven declares God’s
handiwork.
All: Day to day pours forth speech, and night
to night declares knowledge.
One: Their voice has gone out through all the
earth, and their words to the ends of the earth.
All: So also let the words of our mouths and
the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of our
Sovereign and Lord.
One: Sisters and brothers, praise the Lord!
All: The Lord’s name be praised!
Prayer of the Day
O God of majesty, as we gather today to worship you, disquiet
us and your whole creation with your peacemaking Holy Spirit
quietly insisting, “Know justice, know peace.” As
your Son broke bread and gave it to thousands, so call us anew to a peace marked
by a just distribution of your abundance, until that day when no one shall hunger
nor thirst any more; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.
Hymn of Praise
Prayer of Confession
Forgiving God, we confess that we are a fearful people. Too
often, we walk through the abundance of your world afraid that
there is not enough. We covet what little our neighbors have.
We hoard the goodness of your creation. We make of ourselves
earthly titles and names, as though human honor was itself a
finite commodity. And we make idols of scarcity and want, as
though they and not you were eternal. Have mercy on us. Gently
ease our grip, and open our hands and our eyes that we, trusting
in your righteousness, may truly live out the heart of all commandments:
to love our neighbors as ourselves. We pray in Jesus’
name. Amen.
Passing of the Peace of Christ
Old Testament Lesson
Psalm
New Testament Lesson or Gospel
Sermon
Offering and Receiving the Peacemaking Offering
Hymn
Prayers of the People
Collect to End the Prayers of the People
O great rejected stone, you who are the cornerstone
of our hope, be not to us a stumbling block, but build us up
into a household of justice and peace. Guide us by your law
and fill us with your grace, that in giving back to you the
gifts of your own creation and in sharing them with others we
may live out your way of peace in your world. Through the Prince
of Peace, we pray. Amen.
Celebration of Communion
Prayer of Thanksgiving*
One: Holy God, we praise you. Let the heavens
be joyful and let the earth be glad. We bless you for creating
the whole world for your promises to your people, for giving
to your people your law to guide us, your apostles to teach
us, and your psalmists to lead us in song. And when the time
was fulfilled, you sent us Jesus Christ, in whom your fullness
dwells, whose resurrection we celebrate this and every Lord’s
Day.
All: (Sing verse 1 of “Christ Is Risen!
Shout Hosanna!” The Presbyterian Hymnal, #104.)
One: We sing of love unknown, as we remember
our Savior Jesus Christ. Born of Mary, Jesus shares our life.
Teaching us about the abundance of God’s great creation,
Jesus breaks bread with us. Welcoming children, Jesus welcomes
us. Visiting the sick, Jesus heals us. Calling us to discipleship,
Jesus leads the way. Dying on the cross, Jesus saves us. Risen
from death, Jesus gives new life. Therefore, we join our voices
to the voices of the heavens in proclamation of the greatness
of our Lord and our God.
All: (Sing verse 2 of “Christ Is Risen!
Shout Hosanna!” The Presbyterian Hymnal, #104.)
One: Sisters and brothers, remember that
he who blessed peacemakers, on the night that he would be arrested
took bread.
And giving thanks, Jesus broke it and gave it to his disciples,
saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, broken for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.” Sisters and brothers, remember
that he who gave us his own peace took the cup after supper.
And when he had given thanks, Jesus gave it to his disciples,
saying, “Drink of this all of you. This is my blood of
the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness
of sins.” Following our Savior, we also take this bread
and this cup, give thanks for God’s abundance, and proclaim
the death and resurrection of our Sovereign.
Holy God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us that this bread
may be the bread of new creation; and this cup, the cup of salvation
freely given and dearly won. Make us one with Christ and with
all who share this feast all over the world. Draw us and all
of your people together in the bonds of peace, and strengthen
us to be your peacemakers in this world. Unite us with faith,
encourage us with hope, inspire us to love that we may serve
as your faithful disciples until we feast at your table in glory.
To you, O God, the first and the last, through the risen Christ,
in the power of the Holy Spirit, be eternal praise at this your
table and in your church, all around the world. Amen.
All: (Sing verse 3 of “Christ Is Risen!
Shout Hosanna!” The Presbyterian Hymnal, #104.)
Hymn
Closing Response
One: We have eaten the bread of new
creation.
All: We bear witness to God’s abundant
goodness.
One: We have heard the law proclaimed.
All: We bear witness to the gift of righteousness
given in Christ’s resurrection.
One: So let us go into the world to be makers
of God’s justice.
All: So let us go into the world to be makers
of Christ’s peace.
One: God, the First and Last is with us.
All: Shout Hosanna, everyone! |
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