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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
Resource Index
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Praise God’s Generosity
Heritage Day
Ordinary Time (Proper 20)
Scriptures:
Exodus 16:2–15; Psalm 105:1–6, 37–45;
Philippians 1:21–30/1:20–30 IV; Matthew 20:1–16/20:1–15 IV; Jacob 2:22–24;
Doctrine and Covenants 43:3a–c
Sharing Christ’s Peace
Scripture is an indispensable witness to the Eternal Source
of light and truth, which cannot be fully contained in any finite vessel or
language. —Doctrine and
Covenants 163:7a
Prelude
Share in Song: Let the
congregation choose two favorite songs to sing.
Welcome
Share the good news.
The congregation shares any good news from the past few weeks.
Call to Worship
What do we bring to life’s tapestry?
We bring our priorities, our values, our principles,
our allegiances.
We bring who we are and who we hope to be.
We bring all that we claim and all that claims us.
We come as many—yet we come as one.
Each kindred, tribe, and people equally chosen,
equally graced by life’s blessings, hurts,
ambiguities, and sudden startling joys!
We weave our unique cultural, philosophical and theological
threads together in response to the One whose wave
offerings nurture and sustain all.
We celebrate that all are God’s chosen,
beautifully woven into the fabric of creation.
We bring each other.
You bring me and I bring you!
—Danny A. Belrose, “What Do We Bring?” Wave Offerings (Herald Publishing House, 2005),
54.
*Hymn
“Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord” HS
57
OR “My Soul, Praise the Lord” HS
61
*Invocation
*Response
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Offertory stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/offertory
to print a copy, or
contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship
coordinator for a copy.
Scripture: Psalm 105:1–6
Reflection
It is recorded in the book of Exodus that when it came time to build
a tabernacle for worship in the desert, the generosity of the Israelites
was so great Moses had to tell them not to give any more. Their needs
had not only been met, but had been surpassed. From its earliest roots,
the disciples in our own faith movement have given generously to build a
temple dedicated to world peace and have also built churches throughout
the world. We have established programs to give aid to impoverished
people in all countries and provided food, clothing, medicine, and
shelter in times of disaster. While raising funds for a single cause may
not be such a difficult goal, the call to humanitarian service requires
us to share our resources on a continuing basis with faith and
commitment. The Israelites
were more than
generous when asked to offer their gifts to God. What will you bring
today?
Blessing and Offering of Mission Tithes
Hymn
“God of Creation” HS
395
OR “O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea” HS 396
Sung during offering
Focus Moment: “Manna in the Wilderness…Enough for Everyone”
Have a piñata or a basket filled with candy or other treats. Ask children
to gather to the front of the sanctuary.
How many of you like presents or treats? Have you ever seen someone break
a piñata? What happened? (Candy
spills out and everyone runs to gather up the candy.)
If I tossed all of this candy into the air, would everyone get the same
amount? (No)
When Moses led the Israelites into the desert, God provided them with a
special food called manna. He warned everyone to take only what they could
use for that day, so they would all
have enough to eat.
If I let you take as much candy as you could gather, some of you would
get a lot, while others might not get any. God wants us to share all that he
gives us with those who have less. Give each child just one or
two pieces of candy. If a piñata is used,
the leader could open it for the children.
Sharing Our Stories
Share the story of the quail leaving manna for the Israelites from Exodus
16:2–15.
Talk about the meaning of this
scripture.
Testimonies should come from all ages. They can address how God has been
generous in each of the following situations. Sharing time should not last
longer than 25 minutes.
Testimony: Manna for Me
Hymn of Transformation: “God, Whose Grace Redeems Our Story”
God, whose grace redeems our story; God, whose love has held us fast,
In our times of joy or sorrow, your forgiveness frees our past.
Written in our history’s pages are those times we’ve spent with you,
When we’ve found your Spirit working to transform our lives anew.
God, the author of this instant; God, whose voice is present tense,
Help us love as you have loved us and forgive without defense.
For your mercy marks this moment, all abiding, boldly true,
Plant your Spirit deep within us to transform our lives anew.
God, who calls us to the future and invites us from this place,
May the language of our witness use an alphabet of grace.
Weave your healing peace and justice through the vision we pursue.
Let your Spirit work within us to transform our lives anew.
—Words by Barbara Howard; tune: Beach Spring (HS
287)
Testimony: Manna for the Church
Scripture: Jacob 2:22–24
Testimony: Manna for the Community
*Closing Hymn
“Take the Path of the Disciple” R-19
OR “You Shall Go Out with Joy SP
45
OR “God Has Spoken Through the Ages” HS
306
*Sending Forth
God has never promised us an easy journey.
But God is with us.
God does not give us everything we want.
But God provides manna.
Go into the world with God in service to Jesus Christ. Amen.
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Exodus 16:2–15; Psalm 105:1–6,
37–45; Philippians 1:21–30/1:20–30 IV;
Matthew 20:1–16/20:1–15 IV; Jacob 2:22–24; Doctrine and Covenants 43:3a–c
Exploring the Scriptures
The Exodus scripture story is an experience about the faithfulness of a
people trusting in an unseen God to direct them on a wandering journey. Faith is
the assurance of things hoped for wrought by the Spirit of God in the soul of
each person. However, when we are hungry like the people of Moses and Aaron and
when the path of the journey does not seem as clear or straight, faith can
waiver. When faith waivers, assurance falters, and we tend to look for those to
blame or find fault with. Have you ever blamed leadership when the path seemed
dark and you hungered for God’s Spirit?
Psalms 105 reminds us we have been chosen, and a chosen people respond
faithfully from a grateful heart. We do not blame, but, in fact, as the Psalmist
says, we praise God’s presence in our lives and respond to God’s invitation to
be part of the community of the sacred which call out God’s name as they follow
God’s leadings. God’s generosity is grace and love, and each are offered first
by God. Will we be faithful in responding to this grace and love? Doctrine and
Covenants 147 tells us that stewardship is the response of God’s people to the
ministry of Jesus Christ. People willing to respond to this grace and love don’t
count the cost of such a response, but instead respond out of hope. It is this
hope that should, in a community of believers, bring renewed faith, and the
journey which once was confusing will now be clear and better understood.
Praise God’s generosity!
Central Ideas
1. Throughout our Christian and Restoration heritage, God is generous.
2. Disciples express generosity as a spiritual discipline in response to
God’s grace and love.
3. Our generosity emerges from a spirit of thankfulness, not obligation.
Questions for the Speaker
1. How does your congregation experience God’s generosity?
2. What are you thankful for?
3. How does your congregation respond to God’s generosity?
4. How does your congregation grow and maintain vision and hope?
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