Home Church 13th Sunday after Pentecost August 22, 2021 Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church 13th Sunday after Pentecost August 22, 2021 Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. We’re continuing this week with Jesus’ teaching in the gospel of John on the Bread of Life . . . this week we hear about the various responses to Jesus’ teaching and are invited to consider our own.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.                      

Lighting Christ Candle              

Lord Prepare Me MV #18 

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true; 

with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.

Greeting                                                         
One:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

          and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:    And also with you       

Opening Words  -  Psalm 84, Inclusive Bible, edited One:  

How we love your dwelling place, O God.

All:    How our souls yearn and pine for your sanctuary.

One:  Our hearts and flesh sing for joy to you, the living God.

All:    Happiness belongs to those who live in your house and can praise you all day long.

Opening Prayer    -  UCC Worship Ways

O God, we have no life apart from you. We do not come here to eat bread that fills us for a day. Rather we come to be nourished by you and that the love you have for us fills us for a lifetime. May this food strengthen our discipleship. Grant that it will renew in us our commitment to proclaiming the gospel of peace through our ministries of peace and justice in the name of Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Hymn: How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place  -  MV #29 

How lovely is your dwelling place

Oh, Lord Almighty

For my soul longs and even faints for You

For here my heart is satisfied

Within Your presence

I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house

Better is one day in Your courts

Than thousands elsewhere

One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place Your glory dwells

One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place Your glory dwells

My heart and flesh cry out

For You, the living God

Your Spirit's water to my soul

I've tasted and I've seen

Come once again to me

I will draw near to You

I will draw near to You

Prayer of Confession            

Loving God, the challenges of this world weigh on us more than we care to acknowledge; we fear for ourselves, for those who come after us. 

We avoid looking at the realities of this world and the ways we have participated in the systems.

We seek to numb or distract or busy ourselves, for we can’t bear the truth.

We look everywhere but the sanctuary of your presence . . . 

we are simply lost without you.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace  -  Enfleshed

Beloveds, God does not abandon us to the systems that destroy.

God does not bind us to our regrets.

Or forever hold us to what we once believed.

God says, come and follow!

Know forgiveness and turn from God no more.

Love abounds. And God’s kingdom shall be manifest!

Wherever new life is desired,

may the peace of Christ be welcomed among us.

Thanks be to God who leads us on paths of resurrection.

Peace of Christ 

Please unmute your microphones and make this peace known to one another! 

            One: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            All:   And also with you!

First Reading: 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10, 22-30, 41-43      (The Message) David Soy

King Solomon called in the leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the family patriarchs, to bring up the Chest of the Covenant of God from Zion, the City of David. Then the priests brought the Chest of the Covenant of God to its place in the Inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim. When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled The Temple of God. Before the entire congregation of Israel, Solomon took a position before the Altar, spread his hands out before heaven, and prayed, O God, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below who unswervingly keeps covenant with his servants and relentlessly loves them as they sincerely live in obedience to your way. You kept your word to David my father, your personal word. You did exactly what you promised—every detail. The proof is before us today!

Keep it up, God, O God of Israel! Continue to keep the promises you made to David my father when you said, “You’ll always have a descendant to represent my rule on Israel’s throne, on the condition that your sons are as careful to live obediently in my presence as you have. ”O God of Israel, let this all happen; confirm and establish it!        Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself isn’t large enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I’ve built. Even so, I’m bold to ask: Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I’m setting before you right now. Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, “My Name will be honored there,” and listen to the prayers that I pray at this place. Listen from your home in heaven and when you hear, forgive. When someone hurts a neighbor and promises to make things right, and then comes and repeats the promise before your Altar in this Temple, listen from heaven and act accordingly: Judge your servants, making the offender pay for his offense and setting the offended free of any charges. And don’t forget the foreigner who is not a member of your people Israel but has come from a far country because of your reputation. People are going to be attracted here by your great reputation, your wonder-working power, who come to pray at this Temple. Listen from your home in heaven. Honor the prayers of the foreigner so that people all over the world will know who you are and what you’re like and will live in reverent obedience before you, just as your own people Israel do; so they’ll know that you personally make this Temple that I’ve built what it is.

Psalm 84:1-7  -  (Voices United) Lisa Griffith

How lovely is your dwelling place, God of hosts!

My soul longs, even faints for the courts of God;

       my heart and my flesh cry for joy to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a house,

and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young,

       at your altars, God of hosts, my sovereign, my God.

Happy are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise

       Happy are those whose strength is in you,

       who have set their heart on pilgrimage.

Going through the valley of Baca

they find a spring from which also to drink;

       the early rain also covers it with pools of water.

They go from strength to strength,

       to appear before God in Zion.

Gospel Reading  -  Lisa Griffith

One:  God be with you.            

All:    And also with you.

One:  The Good News of Jesus Christ according to John;

All:    Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:56-69   -  Inclusive Bible

“Everyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in them. Just as the living Abba God sent me and I have life because of Abba God, so those who feed on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. It’s not the kind of bread your ancestors ate, for they died; whoever eats this kind of bread will live forever.” Jesus spoke these words while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Many of his disciples remarked, “We can’t put up with this kind of talk! How can anyone take it seriously?” Jesus was fully aware that the disciples were murmuring in protest at what he had said. “Is this a stumbling block for you?” he asked them. “What, then, if you were to see the Chosen One ascend to where the Chosen One came from? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh in itself is useless. The words I have spoken to you      are spirit and life. Yet among you there are some who don’t believe.” Jesus knew from the start, of course, those who would refuse to believe and the one who would betray him. He went on to say: “This is why I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by Abba God.” From this time on, many of the disciples broke away and wouldn’t remain in the company of Jesus. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Are you going to leave me, to?” Simon Peter answered, “Rabbi, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe; we’re convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection: (attached)          

Silent Reflection

A New Creed

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

    God is with us.

We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the People   -   Mona Smart (attached)

One: God of Grace and Mystery,

All:    Hear Our Prayer

Lord’s Prayer  -  Ecumenical Version

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, 

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering   -  Lisa Griffith - Treasurer

Offering Prayer 

Even in the numbers and within the spreadsheets, O God, you speak to us. Make it a creative space where we can wrestle with values and budgets, good stewardship and big dreams, long term planning and current opportunities, so that we can live well into your call for us. 

Hymn: Lord, the Light of Your Love is Shining   - CP #460 

Lord the light of Your love is shining

In the midst of the darkness, shining

Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us

Set us free by the truth You now bring us

Shine on me

Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze,

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your Word, Lord

And let there be light.

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence

From the shadows into Your radiance

By the blood I may enter Your brightness

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness

Shine on me

Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze,

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your Word, Lord

And let there be light.

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness.

So our faces display Your likeness.

Ever changing from glory to glory,

Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.

Shine on me

Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory

Blaze, Spirit, blaze,

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your Word, Lord

And let there be light.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing  -  Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:  The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey, guiding you, cherishing you.

Male: The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

Female: The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom,  comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living,  guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!