PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Can you perceive it? God's kingdom is all around us.
All: We live in the new creation shaped by God out of our brokenness.
One: Do you know it? God's reconciling love in Christ has shattered our ways of viewing people.
All: No longer do we label our sisters and brothers; we welcome them with open arms.
One: Do you believe it? God has made everything, including us, new,
All: and sends us forth to share this good news with everyone! Let us worship God!
* HYMN O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we have strayed from your ways. Like the Prodigal Son, we waste our inheritance. You gave us the earth for our home, but we squander its resources and hoard its bounty. You gave us neighbors to love, but we pursue selfish ambitions. You gave us the commandments that lead to human flourishing, but we break your law and forsake your love.…silent prayers of confession…Forgive our sin and bring us to repentance. Help us come to ourselves and return to you, that we may find freedom through obedience to your generous love. Amen.
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: God rolls away everything that stands in our way our past, our sin, our pain, our hesitation and reshapes us into new people living in the new creation. What wonderful grace! We are forgiven!
All: Thanks to God who has graced us with mercy. Amen.
* GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
* PASSING THE PEACE
SPECIAL MUSIC
THE SCRIPTURES
Old Testament: Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm Psalm 32
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
MESSAGE Rev. Melissa Upchurch
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Apostles’ Creed - Ecumenical)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
* HYMN Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
SHARING THE GIFTS OF GOD
*PRAYER
O God, all that we have comes from you. Receive this offering and with it the offering of our lives, for we return to you what you have so graciously given. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
THE EUCHARIST
One: May Abba our God be with you!
All: And also with you!
One: Lift your hearts to the One who welcomes us home.
All: We open them to our God, who runs to embrace us with grace.
One: Sing glad songs to the One who provides this feast.
All: We join in singing to God, who throws a party for us in this place.
The minister continues: On those days you called creation… with all the faithful, we praise you:
All: Holy, holy, holy, God who reconciles us to yourself.
All creation is glad and rejoices.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who finds the lost
and guides them home.
Hosanna in the highest!
The minister continues: Holy are you, God of prodigals… we reflect on that mystery we call faith:
All: Christ died, to be our salvation;
Christ was raised, to be our reconciliation; Christ will return, to lead us home.
The minister continues: On this day, God our Parent and Guardian…And now we gladly and boldly pray the prayer
Jesus taught us, saying,
All: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Sending Prayer
One: God sends us forth,
All: to be reconcilers of the broken and oppressed.
One: Jesus, our Brother, sends us to welcome everyone.
All: We will embrace the prodigals with joy,
we will make a feast for all of God’s people.
One: The Spirit sends us with arms full of healing.
All: We will go to bring hope to all we meet.
* HYMN My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
BENEDICTION
