GATHERING
Welcome & Announcements [Eileen]
Silent Preparation
Gathering Song: MV 187 “We Give Our Thanks”
We give our thanks to God . . . . (repeat)
Opening Prayer [Philip] by Walter Rauschenbusch
Hymn: 227 “For the Fruit of All Creation” [piano & organ?]
WORD
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 [in English, by Lelia Fry]
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy:
Your Sovereign God,the Holy One, is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Holy One for the good land that has been given to you. Take care that you do not forget your God, by failing to keep God’s commandments, ordinances, and statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the One who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid waste-land with poisonous snakes and scorpions. God made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.’ But remember your Sovereign God, for it is the Holy One who gives you power to get wealth, so that the covenant sworn to your ancestors may be confirmed today by God.
The Word of God. [Thanks be to God.]
Psalm 65: VU p. 782 [in English, by Graham Wilson]
Our Psalm is number 65 and is found on p. 782 of Voices United. We will read it responsively, beginning with the sung refrain. . . .
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 [in Japanese, by Ren Ito]
A reading from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth:
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, ‘God scatters abroad, God gives to thepoor; God’s righteousness endures for ever.’ God who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. [Thanks be to God.]
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 [in Korean, by Sun Ran Kim]
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
The Gospel of Christ. [Praise be to you, O Christ.]
Sermon: “Why Is It So Hard to Be Grateful?” [Natalie]
Silent Reflection
Prayers of the People: [Lelia Fry]
God, hear our prayers.
And in your love, answer.
TABLE
Invitation & Peace [Philip]
As the seed which was scattered to all corners of the field
comes together to make bread on our table,
So God’s people gather from all corners of the world
to share the great Banquet of thankfulness and hope.
At God’s table there are no divisions.
At God’s table all are welcome to share in the bounty of abundant life.
Here at God’s table we join with all who seek to follow The Way. Here we taste the grace eternal. Here we know that God is Good.
The Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us exchange signs of peace as we come to the table.
we exchange signs of peace
Presentation Hymn:VU 460 “All Who Hunger”
during which time the elements are brought forward, the table is set,
The Great Thanksgiving [Philip]Gordon Waldie, alt.
The Spirit of the Living God be with you all.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to God.
Let us give thanks to God Most High.
It is right to give God thanks and praise
God of growth, God of harvest, God of gifts,
here we pause to give thanks for the abundance of our lives.
For the fruit of the earth, for the food on our tables,
for the love of our sisters, brothers and siblings in faith
around the world.
For the promise of hope in a world given to despair,
for the possibility of peace in a world torn apart by violence,
for these, and many other things
we offer our thanks and praise.
We remember the stories of our forebears in the faith,
people like Sarah and Abraham, Miriam and Moses,
Mary and Peter,
prophets and leaders and all who have proclaimed your hope over the centuries.
We lift up the countless saints who have gone before us
to teach about the possibilities and responsibilities
of being your people.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with choirs of angels,
with prophets, apostles, and martyrs
and with the faithful of every time and place,
who forever sing to the glory of your name:
O holy, holy, holy God, [MV 203]
O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above
bear witness to your Grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n,
creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes
and bears your name always!
In the middle of our thankfulness we give special thanks for a person from Nazareth, Jesus, the one we call Christ.
Child of Mary, child of grace,
he came to teach about the wonders of your love.
He came to break down the walls of division among your people.
As he ate with the despised and the least of his world
he showed us what the Glorious Banquet of life could be like.
We give thanks for his witness and commitment to The Way.
We give thanks for his healing of broken spirits and broken bodies.
We give thanks for his life, his death, and his resurrection.
Here, now, as we gather at the table to which Jesus calls us,
we remember another table long ago and far away.
At that table Jesus gathered with friends
to tell again the ancient story of liberation from bondage.
And then at the end of the meal he took bread,
blessed it, broke it, and passed it among them saying:
This is my body, broken for all. Take, eat.
And whenever you eat it remember what I have taught.
Then he took a cup of good wine, blessed it and passed it to them saying:
This is the seal of the new covenant. Take and drink and remember.
And so, God of Cross, Empty Tomb, and Banquet,
we eat and drink and remember.
Giving thanks for the love Jesus poured out on all he met:
Jew and Gentile, sinner and saint, healthy and broken.
And in our remembering we sing the mystery of faith
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, [MV 204]
Christ will come again!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come again!
God, you call us to sing the songs of faith in places both familiar and strange.
You call us to share the Banquet of Faith
with long time friends and new acquaintances.
Pour out your Spirit on this table and these people.
As we eat and drink may we feel the wind of the Spirit in our hair,
the fire of the Spirit in our bellies,
and the love of the Spirit in our hearts.
May the presence of the Spirit
make this meal an occasion of transformation
for we who gather to eat it together.
Keep us faithful in your service until that time
when we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm. Creator, our Source of Love; Christ, Love Incarnate;
Spirit, Love’s flowing power
be praised, now and forever. And all the people sang:
Amen, amen, O Holy One! [MV 205]
Hosanna and amen!
Amen, amen, O Holy One!
Hosanna and amen!
And now, as beloved children of a loving Parent, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…
Breaking, Pouring, Serving
The Bread we break is the Bread of Life.
The Cup we Share is the Cup of Love.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Come and eat, the meal is ready.
MUSIC DURING COMMUNION
VU 466 “Eat this Bread”
MV 187 “We Give Our Thanks”
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION [Philip]
on screen
We have eaten, we have drunk,
we have tasted your goodness.
May this meal we have shared here today
fill our souls with love.
May the meal we share with all the world
fill that world with hope.
May we leave this table
refreshed and replenished,
ready not only to be recipients,
but also agents of grace. Amen.
GOING FORTH
HYMN: VU 236 “Now Thank We All Our God”
[piano and organ?]
BLESSING & SENDING FORTH [Natalie]
Postlude/Music for going forth
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