Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19); Luke 11:1-13

CALLS TO WORSHIP

Call to Worship #1
L: Welcome to worship this day.
P: We have come seeking peace and hope.
L: This is the house of the Lord. In it you will find what you seek.
P: Help us to open our hearts to God's words and will for us.
L: Ask for God's help - it will be given to you.
P: Praise be to God who loves and cares for us. AMEN.

Call to Worship #2:
L: The goodness of God has called us here!
P: We are recipients of God's gracious love.
L: Though we have not always done what is right in God's sight;
P: Yet God is merciful and forgiving.
L: Open your hearts and spirits to the refreshing love of God.
P: Help us, O Lord, to live joyfully and peacefully in your sight. AMEN.

Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2013, "Bless the Lord", choice #1 Ostinato Chorale, use this as a response in the call to worship as directed]
L: God's goodness is poured over us!
P: God's blessings abound in our lives!
Choir: singing #1 "Bless the Lord"
L: In the darkness God abides with us.
P: In the light God dances and shouts with us!
Choir: singing #1 "Bless the Lord"
L: Holy is God who is present with us at all times.
P: How grateful we are for God's presence and compassion. AMEN.

Call to Worship #4:
L: Are you weary from the stresses of this week?
P: Weariness and stress have been our constant companions.
L: Let the love of God wash over you, relieving your stress and weariness.
P: We praise God for such abundant compassion to us.
L: Let the word of God enter your hearts and spirits, giving you hope.
P: May our lives reflect God's abundant love and peace. AMEN.

PRAYERS, LITANY/READING, BENEDICTION

Opening Prayer:
Lord of Hope and Peace, we have come this day asking for your mercy. Grant us your pardon. We have come this day seeking peace in our lives; grant us peace. Teach us how to be compassionate disciples for you. For we ask this in Christ's name.AMEN.

Prayer of Confession:
Lord, it has been a difficult week. Things have happened for which we were not prepared. We have not responded to difficulties with love, but rather with impatience. We have turned our backs on others in need, placing our creature comforts first. We have been stressed, pulled, pushed, tossed. Give us peace, Gracious Lord. Help us to slow down so that we can receive your healing word of love. Remind us that we stand in need of forgiveness, and then having received such love, we are to love and serve others. Teach us to pray for courage and strength; teach us how to be good disciples for you. In Christ's Name, we offer this prayer.AMEN.

Words of Assurance:
Even when things seem dark, God is with us. God's love is powerful enough to overcome any darkness that we encounter. Remember how much love has been given for you and rejoice!AMEN.

Pastoral Prayer
Lord, we are in the middle of the summer months. We looked forward to rest and recreation, but time is moving rapidly on and we still find ourselves stressed and weary. We need to slow down. We know this, but yet find this hard to do. We load ourselves up with activities, stresses, duties and then wonder how we will survive them. As you have found us before, Lord, find us again. Wrap your arms of compassion around us. Help us to savor the times that we have with each other. Make us keenly aware of the magnificence of this world. Draw us to the times of peace and rest. As we have brought names of loved ones to you for your healing mercies, remind us that we, too, stand in need of your healing love. Give us strength, courage and joy, that we might become disciples who are worthy of your kingdom, for we offer this prayer in Jesus' Name.AMEN.

Litany/Reading:Reader 1:
I know how to pray: you have to give all the names of God so that God will know you appreciate God and are aware of God's majesty and power. God is a jealous God. Don't cross God or you'll be in trouble.

Reader 2:
"When you pray, say: Father, holy is your name."

Reader 1:
Remember to ask for all the things you want; you know, like wealth, a nice big house, a boat, gadgets, cars, all the stuff to make you happy. You want it all right now when you can enjoy it - none of this "by and by" stuff.

Reader 2:
Seek God's kingdom in the here and now. Ask for what you need to become good disciples - daily sustenance so that you will be able to serve others. Forgiveness for all the times in which you have failed to do God's will, in which you have hurt someone.

Reader 1:
Forgiveness? For what? So I haven't always done right - well, people haven't always done right by me either! I have just returned the favor! They got what they deserved!

Reader 2:
Imprint your love in our hearts, O Lord, that we might be more loving to others. For all that is, is yours. We owe our lives to you and in gratitude we lift our voices in prayer:
ALL:
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HOLY IS 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 FOREVER. AMEN.

Benediction:
Beloved of God, you have been healed and forgiven. God has poured God's love upon you that you may be faithful disciples, offering healing love and forgiveness to all. Go in peace and may God's peace always be with you.AMEN.

ARTISTIC ELEMENTS

The traditional Color for this Sunday is Green.

Author's Note: As interesting as the scripture is for today, it is difficult to create a worship setting that lends itself to the scriptures. I have suggested the following to represent the blessings of God in our lives as we stand at the door of discipleship.

Surface:
Place two risers on the worship center, one, approximately 6" high, on the left toward the back, and the other, approximately 3" high, on the left but slightly toward the center.

Fabric:
Cover the worship center in the green cloth. Add a long strip of brown fabric, starting in the upper right of the worship center and trailing down the right side toward the center on the floor.

Candles:
On the 3" riser place one 6" pillar candle. In front of the riser, place five votive candles, but do not place them in a line, group them in a small cluster.

Flowers/Foliage:
Near the base of the worship center on the left, place a large green leafy plant. You may also place a plant near the 6" riser on the center (I recommend an ivy plant)

Rocks/Wood:
If you can borrow a full sized door, the more rustic the better, place it on the brown fabric, leaning on the worship center, to the right. If the door is in a frame, have it slightly open. Place some rocks and wood near the right side of the door, on the brown fabric, but do not block the door.

Other:
Using a willow basket, or some other wood basket, resting on its side, on the left side floor area have loaves of bread spilling out of it, into the brown cloth in front of the door. This basket should be angled from the left to the right. Place a brass cross on the 6" riser.