Kathryn Ritsema Roelofs

The following originally appeared as part of "Rooted and Established in Love—Week 1: The Living Tree."Prayer of ConfessionCreator God, we thank you for the beauty of your creation and for giving us the privilege of caring for it. We turn to you in prayer as the Maker, Creator, Author of all, acknowledging not only your sovereignty and lordship over all, but also praising you for your creativity, your providence, and your ongoing sustaining work in the creation.God, you saw the mountain ranges, outlining the peaks and the valleys and dusting them with snow, before they came into existence. You imagined the bright colors of the fish in the ocean before the waters teemed with life. You knew the composition of a single human cell, the intricacies and delicate balance of our bodies before they were formed from the dust.You knew each and every one of us long before we were conceived. You knew our thoughts and our actions, and you had a vision for how our lives would flourish and grow. We praise you as the one who is Lord over the big and the small, the vast expanses and the miniscule particles, the big picture and the daily details.We confess that so often we lose sight of the myriad ways you created and continue to create: through scientific advancement, through minds enabled to think and reason, through ways to cultivate farmland to feed both human and animal, through the gifted minds and hands of those who have the ability to teach young and old alike. For the times we forget that your hand is at work in all these things, continuing your good work of creating, forgive us, Lord.For the times we waste, destroy, or apathetically let go, we ask for forgiveness. You created all things and then pronounced them good. You created us from the dust, yet in your own image—your image that is beautiful and perfect and good. You desire flourishing for creation and for all humankind—but how often we fail, underestimating your plans. Instead of flourishing, we hide, we feel unworthy, we do not feel equipped enough or loved enough to do what you are calling us to do. Forgive us, Creator God.We pray that in your creation and in our lives as those made in your image we would flourish and grow in the grace and knowledge of you, our Lord and Savior. May your Holy Spirit fill us so that we might serve you with our whole heart, mind and strength. May we with all creation submit to you as Lord of all.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Song“Have Thine Own Way, Lord!” Pollard

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Twelve: The Healing Tree (Christ the King Sunday)Scripture: Revelation 22:1–6Faith Practice: HopeReflection: When we know our roots, find ourselves firmly established in God’s story of redemption, and declare Christ as King and Lord of all, then we also know the rest of the story. Wherever we find ourselves, even in the midst of the darkest valley, we can take the long view, knowing that there will be a day when all will be well. We have hope because one day there will be a tree of life once again, “and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2).GatheringCall to ConfessionWe come before God to confess our lack of trust. We sing “Jesus is Lord” and declare him King of kings over all creation, but too often we act as though he is powerless in the face of the events in our world today. Our broken world and our broken lives are in need of Christ our King. The war-torn countries and poverty-stricken cities are in need of Christ our King. Our groaning planets and our aching hearts are in need of Christ our King. In this silent time of confession, let us acknowledge this need.Prayer of ConfessionMighty and tender God, voice of the voiceless, power of the powerless, we praise you for your vision of a community of wholeness, a realm of peace in which all hunger and thirst are nourished, in which the stranger is welcomed, the hurting are healed, and the captive is set free. Guide us by your truth and love until we and all your people make manifest your reign of justice and compassion. Open our minds and our imaginations to see and participate in your kingdom already at work in this world, and help us to dream and continue to long for a kingdom yet to come. We pray in the name of your anointed one, our King and our Savior, to whom, with you and the Spirit, be honor, glory, and blessing, this day and forever. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Assurance[Consider creating a responsive reading from Our World Belongs to God, paragraphs 1, 2, 27, and 55.]Song“Rejoice, the Lord Is King” (st. 1–2, 4) WesleyWordScriptureRevelation 22:1–6MessageThe Healing TreeResponseSermon Response[After the sermon we prayed for the “healing of the nations.” People came forward to put leaves on the countries of the world where prayer was needed (see picture below).]Songs During Prayer“Pelas dores deste mundo / For the Troubles” Neto “Salaam/Peace.” Samir SendingRevised Common LectionaryYear C: Easter—Seventh Sunday of Easter

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Eleven: The Abiding TreeScripture: John 15Faith Practice: Rootedness[In the original series, this service fell on American Thanksgiving Day and the elements of the service followed standard Thanksgiving Day practices. Below are links to other RW resources that may prove useful in planning this service.]Services/Series that Share Thematic Similarities with this one:Grounded and Growing—Bearing FruitPlaying in the Garden KingdomMetamorphosisThanksgiving ServicesSing of God's CareSo Many LeavesQuote for the Bulletin or Projection“Now how does a branch bear fruit? Not by incessant effort for sunshine and air; not by vain struggles for those vivifying influences which give beauty to the blossom, and verdure to the leaf;—it simply abides in the vine, in silent and undisturbed union; and the fruit and blossoms appear as of spontaneous growth.“How, then, shall a Christian bear fruit? By efforts and struggles to obtain that which is freely given; by meditations on watchfulness, on prayer, on action, on temptation, and on dangers? No, there must be a full concentration of the thoughts and affections on Christ; a complete surrender of the whole being to him; a constant looking to him for grace.”—Harriet Beecher Stowe, introduction to Religion As It Should Be, or, The Remarkable Experience and Triumphant Death of Ann Thane Peck, by Christopher C. Dean, 2nd ed. (Boston: Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, 1851), xi.

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Ten: The Fruitful TreeScripture: Galatians 5:16–26Faith Practice: Rule of LifeReflection: What is your “rule of life”—the particular habits, rhythms, and commitments that God has put on your heart? Just 300 years after Christ’s death there were communities that were intentional about how they wanted to live, what their values were, and what habits they needed to put into practice in order to be true to those values. If you haven’t already written a rule of life, the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is a great place to begin your discernment process.GatheringChoral Call to Worship“I Shall Not Be Moved” arr. ParkerResponsive ReadingGod calls us to be like trees, planted by the streams of living waters,a river that flows eternally with cool, sweet water.Drink in the Word of God and live joyfully in the light of the Holy One.We let go of the evil that corrupts, and cling to the good that nourishes us.Then, when the time is right, the fruit of the Spirit will be with us,and we praise God for the ripeness of life. Amen!Call to ConfessionGalatians 5 calls us to confess our sins: So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.—Galatians 5:16–17 NLTPrayer of Confession “Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading”(st. 1–3) Niwaglia Gracious Spirit, you desire good: good in the world and good in our lives. You have given us ways to know you and ways to know what your will is for us. But we confess that our wants and our desires cause us to turn away, to choose our own will and our own way. We think it will lead us to where we want to be, but God, we know that your way is the way of life eternal. So we pray for your Holy Spirit to work within us, to guide and lead us, to help us bear fruit, to grow and cultivate in us the way of life. Come, Holy Spirit, come. —Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Peace of ChristAssurance of PardonWordScriptureGalatians 5:16–26MessageThe Fruitful TreeResponseDedication / Guide to Grateful LivingWe believe that true faith,produced in us by the hearing of God’s Wordand by the work of the Holy Spirit,regenerates us and makes us new creatures,causing us to live a new lifeand freeing us from the slavery of sin.It is impossiblefor this true faith to be unfruitful in a human being,seeing that we do not speak of an empty faithbut of what Scripture calls“faith working through love,”which moves people to do themselvesthe works that God has commandedin the Word.These works,proceeding from the good root of faith,are good and acceptable to God,since they are all sanctified by God’s grace.But they do not count toward our justification—for by faith in Christ we are justified,even before we do good works.Otherwise they could not be good,any more than the fruit of a tree could be goodif the tree is not good in the first place.So we do good works,but not for merit—for what would we merit?Rather, we are indebted to God for the good works we do,and not God to us,since God “is at work in [us], enabling [us] bothto will and to work for his good pleasure.”—Adapted from Belgic Confession 24Song “For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free” Dunstan, LUYH 679SendingRevised Common LectionaryYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 8 (13)

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Nine: The Giving TreeScripture: Psalm 1Faith Practice: GenerosityGatheringPrayerRefrain: “Take, O Take Me As I Am” BellCreator God, loving Father, Redeemer Son, Holy Spirit, living breath of God:In the waters of baptism you claimed us and marked us as your own. From before time began you hovered over the waters, you called us by name, and you made known your promises of faithfulness and love. It is in these waters that we find our roots. It is water that is life-giving and nourishing, helping us to grow wide our faith and grow out with our love for the good creation you have put around us. In these waters, we see life. In these waters, we dwell with you just as we are meant to be.RefrainBut Lord, how often and how quickly the chaos disrupts us, uproots us, holds back nourishment from the fruit we are called to bear. The way of the wicked seems to flourish and we are unable to find ways to resist it. We know from your Word and we know in our heads that the wicked will not prosper, but how hard it is to remember that when our hearts ache, our eyes see the unimaginable, our minds cannot comprehend. We see wicked prospering all over your world, the world you love so dearly. We see it in the marring and destruction of creation, lives lost in natural disasters and epidemics. We see it in the unfair distribution of goods and wealth leading to poverty, hunger, and a lack of dignity for some and wealth for others. We see it in the seemingly never-ending conflicts between nations. We see it in abuse—of power, of substances, of other human beings. We see it in our cities,  our classrooms, the conference rooms we sit in, and, when we are honest, our own selves. Everywhere around us we see it. And everything inside of us cannot comprehend it. So we sit baffled, stunned, apathetic, and helpless to change the course. So take us as we are, O God. Summon out what we will be.RefrainGod, where we lack wisdom, where we sit baffled and stunned, apathetic and helpless to change course, you remind us that you entered into this mess we have made of your good world and you whisper reminders from the waters that you will be with us. For you are always at work in us, prompting us and leading us by your Holy Spirit, opening opportunities for us to be righteous in our lives because you were already righteous on our behalf. In your uncommon wisdom, you chose us. You work through us. You love us. You use us to do your work here on earth. Open wide our eyes to see you. Open wide our hands to share and serve. Open wide our mouths to declare your praise. Open wide our imaginations to dream, create, and catch a glimpse of your uncommon wisdom. Open wide our hearts to be used by you. Take us just as we are, O God, and live in us.RefrainCall us back to the waters of baptism to again hear your promises—promises that are sure and eternal—and a wisdom that is far beyond our comprehension. Then send us forth, renewed and planted deeply in your streams of water to bear fruit and grow in your grace.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’ For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen —Romans 11:33–36 NIVWordScripturePsalm 1MessageThe Giving TreeResponseResponse Time—Remembering Your BaptismFriends, we are baptized people. God has chosen and named us, and we respond with the faith he alone gives. But we respond. We have to do something. We have to get out of the boat if we want to walk on water. We have to live lives worthy of the grace we’ve been given. So let’s together affirm what God makes possible. I’ll ask a series of questions, and you’ll answer all together with a collective “I do!”[Leader asks a series of questions that resonate with themes that may be present in the sermon. Supplement this list with your own questions.]Do you trust in God’s gracious promises, signed and sealed to you in your baptism?Do you believe that God, who always makes the first step toward us in love, has planted you by streams of water and calls you to bear fruit?Do you turn your back on evil and turn toward God and God’s law as a gracious guide for your life?Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, as the one who watches over us and continually calls us back to the living waters?Finally, have you decided, by God’s grace, to choose the path of righteousness, turning away from all the wicked things that lead to destruction?Song of Response“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” AnonymousSendingParting BlessingSong“We Will Extol You, God and King” (st. 1, 4) ScheerRevised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 25 (30)Year B: Easter—Seventh Sunday of EasterYear B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 20 (25)Year C: Epiphany—Sixth Sunday after the EpiphanyYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 18 (23)

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Eight: The Family Tree (All Saints Sunday)Scripture: Hebrews 11Faith Practice: Spiritual Friendship, Mentoring, and Faith StoriesReflection: Can you name the people who have impacted you spiritually? Whom do you have in your life who is helping you grow in the faith? Are there individuals whom you mentor, either formally or informally? Each of us needs people to accompany us on the journey of life, and we need to do the same for others. We are all members of the same tree.[Since this service fell on All Saints Sunday, instead of a traditional service we invited several members of the congregation to share their faith stories around particular themes. You can find those themes interspersed throughout the service. Feel free to adapt the service to fit the stories from your community. Each story was three to five minutes.]The Family TreeIntroduction[This service began with a short personal story about a tree. You are encouraged to begin by telling your own story in just a few sentences before moving on to the following text.]...Every tree can tell a similar kind of tale if you look at the etchings in its bark or listen to the whisperings of its leaves. It belongs to generations of people, telling stories from decades of living, climbing, and tending. It might be yours for only a short period of time, but it doesn’t make it any less a part of your story, and you are not any less a part of its story.This morning we turn our attention to our family tree—not your personal, great-grandparent/parent/sibling kind of family tree, but the broader family tree that is our community of branches rooted in Jesus Christ, ingrafted by our shared unity and faith in him, and called to spread wide our branches to grow God’s kingdom. In our worship this morning we will go back to our roots, remembering and celebrating where we began. We will take time to pray for and tend to the weaker branches of the tree. We will commit ourselves once again to being part of a community of believers, and finally we will gather together to share a meal where life-giving words are spoken, where we are fed, sustained, and nourished by the grace of God and called once again to go and live into the stories of our faith.On this All Saints Sunday, it is so right and fitting that we celebrate our family tree, one made up of those on earth and in heaven who call this tree their own. These are the ones who cared for this tree, who handed it down to us in faith. And here’s the thing about this family tree: it is not so much a part of our individual story; rather, we have the unique and wonderful privilege for a short time to be a part of its story. Along with all of God’s people on earth, in heaven, and yet to come, we find ourselves in the branches of this tree, lifting our voices in praise to the heavenly realms. It is a tree that holds the whole of God’s beloved ones, from the fruit in Eden to the final springs of eternity in the New Jerusalem. It is the tree that holds the cloud of witnesses described for us in Hebrews 12:1–2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”So together, we join our voices with saints of all times and all places to sing “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.”—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Song “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” HeberGreeting from GodSong “O Christ, the Great Foundation” LewWe Return to Our RootsChoral Anthem “Psalm 28” IvoryScripture Reading God is our refuge and strength,   a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,   though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam,   though the mountains tremble with its tumult. SelahThere is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,   the holy habitation of the Most High.God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;   God will help it when the morning dawns.The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;   he utters his voice; the earth melts.The Lord of hosts is with us;   the God of Jacob is our refuge. SelahCome, behold the works of the Lord;   see what desolations he has brought on the earth.He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;   he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;   he burns the shields with fire.“Be still, and know that I am God!   I am exalted among the nations;   I am exalted in the earth.”The Lord of hosts is with us;   the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah—Psalm 46 NRSVUESong “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” LutherDeclaration of FaithHere, we worship God as one Church:The Church Reformed and always Reforming.Here, the Holy Spirit pours over us:Reforming us into the Body of Christ.Here, we return to our roots:Seeking the beginnings, middles, and ends of our faith.—Rev. Lucus Levy Keppel 2013 © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Rev. Keppel is currently serving Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, OK. (From LiturgyLink.net). Used by permission.Faith Story “Rooted”Caring for All Parts of the TreeOffering and Offertory Prayer[We adapted a prayer from a previous issue of Reformed Worship (“I Was Hungry: A Litany of Remembrance and Confession”). During the prayer we paused for several seconds of silence as facts about poverty in our community, state, nation, and world were projected.]Faith Story “Nourished”Morning Prayer[The following prayer could be interspersed with the singing of Tommy Walker’s “Beatitudes Song” (charts available at tommywalkerministries.org), another song on the Beatitudes, or a simple prayer refrain. You could also choose to use two voices, one to read the Scripture texts included throughout and the other to offer the prayer.]Using Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, we turn to our God in prayer. This morning we are praying through the Beatitudes, remembering the weaker parts of our family tree—the branches who lack nutrients, who are suffering from illness, who are tossed about in the winds, who feel alienated from the whole. Let’s bow our heads in prayer.“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).We pray for the poor: for those globally and within our borders who lack basic necessities like healthy and nutrient-rich food, clean water, shelter, and clothing. We pray also for the poor in spirit. We pray that all might have a spiritual humility that turns us towards our saving Lord.“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).We pray for those who mourn the loss of loved ones, good health, regular employment, mental faculties, and more. There are many among us who grieve, some more publicly and some in the quiet ache in their own hearts. Be close to those who mourn.“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).We pray for those who willingly serve God in whatever place or task to which they are called. We pray for their efforts to be obedient in building Christ’s kingdom. We pray for our missionaries: for [name missionaries and their fields]. We pray for the many members of our church family who are currently serving abroad in their own vocations, bringing forth your kingdom all over the world: for [name the families]. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).We pray for those who ardently desire and pursue righteousness and goodness in the world. We pray for those who give their lives and service in pursuit of justice.“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).We remember those who are daily in the trenches of dealing with human misery and suffering. We pray for health care professionals globally and domestically. We pray for those who work for disaster aid agencies.“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).We pray that you will help us all to be pure in heart, to see God and do everything for God’s glory. We pray that our love for you will be unadulterated and unswayed. Give us pure hearts to seek after you, to serve you, and to love you with all our heart, mind, and strength.“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).We pray for those who strive for shalom in their own lives and in the lives of others—to be right with God, to trust him wholeheartedly and obey him. In a world where there seems to be little peace between countries, between people and their governments, between brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends, we pray for peace. We pray for mutual respect, for a recognition of each other’s worth, for a willingness to seek peace.“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).We pray for the millions of Christians in the world who are persecuted for their belief in you. Give them strength in the face of trial and courage in the face of danger. On this day, when many around the world are praying for the persecuted church, we join our voices and cry to you. We pray for the persecuted church and the people you love so dearly.“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11–12).We pray for those building the kingdom of God by living with countercultural values—for those who choose your way instead of the easy way. For those who choose to stand up for their beliefs when conforming to popular opinion is the more attractive option.We rejoice and we are glad, for you are blessed, you are holy, you are worthy of all our praise. Hear our prayers and hear our praises. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.The Tree Thrives in CommunityResponsive ReadingWhat do you believe concerning “the holy catholic church”?I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member.—Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 54, Translation © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Used by permission.Faith Story “Communal”Song“Beneath the Cross”(st. 1–2) GettyPrayer of ConfessionWe stand beneath the cross, confident that God hears our prayers and has already accomplished the great work of redemption for us. But as we look up at the cross and remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we acknowledge the sin and brokenness in our world and in our own lives. Please pray with me.Life-giving God, Creator of all things good, Redeemer of the cosmos, breath of life for all living things, we praise you for the many ways you are at work in this world. At your word, creation came to life—vast oceans with unfathomable depths, mountain peaks reaching up to the heavens, golden prairies that reach as far as the eye can see, trees of every variety and size providing us with shade, air to breathe, colors to stand in awe of. You, O Lord, have also created us in your image and called us to be good stewards of your creation. You call us to tend the earth, to bring forth your kingdom through our vocations, to be your body here on earth, united with your church in doing your will. We confess that in so many ways we fall short of these mandates. Instead of seeking unity, we seek conflict. Instead of seeking community, we choose to isolate. Instead of seeking peace, we tolerate dysfunction. You do not call us to a life of relying on our own selfish pride and independence; you call us to be your body: joined together, working together, seeking you together. Forgive us when our own actions have a negative impact on your world—creation and people alike. May we and all your children strive to bring you all the honor and glory and praise you deserve, until we as your people are united with each other and all the world in singing an unending hymn of praise to you, our Creator, Redeemer, and Lord. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Song“Beneath the Cross”(st. 3) GettyAssurance of PardonHear these words of assurance from Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.We Greet Each OtherThanks be to God that God forgives our sins and calls us to unity with Christ and all God’s people. In response and in gratitude we greet one another in peace and love.Song“Koinonia” McKayOur Family Tree Has Many Members Faith Story “Whole”[Annie Kotowicz, the creator of the image to the right, shared the story of the painting.]Song “One Bread, One Body”(st. 2–3) Foley The Tree Is a Foretaste of the Creation to ComeCommunion Celebration Revised Common LectionaryYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 14 (19)Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 15 (20)

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Seven: The Saving TreeScripture: Luke 23:26–49It may seem odd to preach the crucifixion in the fall, but every sermon is a proclamation of the gospel, and the crucifixion is central to that story. Indeed, this service was all about telling that story, and it was the turning point in our series.Faith Practice: Sacrifice, Storytelling, and TestimoniesReflection: Do you know your spiritual story? We all have one. We sometimes think that the pinnacle of our testimony is the moment we declared we believed. The reality is that the climax of the story happened about 2,000 years ago, when our God sacrificed himself on a tree. It was that moment that made all salvation moments that followed possible.EXPOSITIONCall to Worship“The Story and the Song”[We bookended the service with excerpts from The Jesus Storybook Bible read by our oldest member from a rocking chair up front.]Scripture ReadingIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it...And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.—John 1:1–5, 14 NRSVUESong“The First Place” WesterholmGreeting from GodHe is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.  He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.—Colossians 1:15–19 NRSUVEWe Greet Each OtherSong “Jesus Messiah” TomlinScripture ReadingWho has believed what we have heard?   And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?For he grew up before him like a young plant   and like a root out of dry ground;he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.He was despised and rejected by others;   a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity,and as one from whom others hide their faces   he was despised, and we held him of no account.Surely he has borne our infirmities   and carried our diseases,yet we accounted him stricken,   struck down by God, and afflicted.But he was wounded for our transgressions,   crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the punishment that made us whole,   and by his bruises we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray;   we have all turned to our own way,and the Lord has laid on him   the iniquity of us all.—Isaiah 53:1–6 NRSVUESong“What Wondrous Love” MeadChildren’s MessageOfferingCRISISPrayer of ConfessionRefrain: “Jesus, Remember Me” Taizé Father of all creation, before the world began, you were there. Before there was time and before there was space, you—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—dwelled in perfect unity, in perfect harmony, in perfect knowledge of all that would be in this world and in the world to come. You called this world into being from nothing, filling the earth with the beautiful, the strange, and the unique, the cosmic and the particle. From the dust of the ground you formed us in your own image. Father of all creation, you knew us, you remembered us, you loved us from the very beginning.RefrainGod our redeemer, in the garden, through Adam and Eve, sin entered our world. Your desire for human flourishing and delight was marred and destroyed by sin, and that sin continues in us today. We prove each day that we are guilty sinners through our actions, our inaction, our words, our thoughts, our motivations, and our very lives. Forgive us. Have mercy on us. Remember us.RefrainEmmanuel, God with us, you did not turn away from a world bent on destruction, but instead you turned toward it in love. You are the long-awaited Messiah, the Word that became flesh and dwelled among us in our brokenness and sin. On that night in Bethlehem, you entered in, you chose the path of love, you remembered us.RefrainJesus, Emmanuel, you came into this world for us. You endured trials and temptations for us. You suffered and cried at the last, “It is finished!” for us. For us you rose to newness of life to prove that death no longer has the final word. For us you were victorious, you were obedient, and you are now crowned Lord of all, and now you stand before the Father interceding for us. In the midst of all these things, you remembered us—from death to life, you remembered us.RefrainHoly Spirit, Breath of God, given to us so that through true faith we may share in Christ and all his benefits: you are our comfort, and you promise your presence will be with us through our joys and our sorrows, our fears and our rejoicing. Forgive us for the times we doubt and lose sight of your presence working within us. Forgive us when we ignore your prompting, favoring our own competency and will. Like the wind, you blow through our hearts and our lives, unseen yet ever felt, ever moving, ever changing us, ever challenging us to trust and obey. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God, you remember us and continue your ongoing work in our lives as we bring forth your kingdom here on earth.RefrainWe praise you, God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—for the multitude of ways you remember us, from the beginning of time through your life, death, and resurrection. Thanks be to you, O God. Amen.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Turning PointResponsive ReadingIs it significant that he was “crucified”instead of dying some other way?Yes.By this I am convincedthat he shouldered the cursewhich lay on me,since death by crucifixion was cursed by God.What further benefit do we receivefrom Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross?By Christ’s powerour old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him,so that the evil desires of the fleshmay no longer rule us,but that instead we may offer ourselvesas a sacrifice of gratitude to him.—Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 39, 43, Translation © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Used by permission.Scripture ReadingLuke 23:26–49Message“The Saving Tree” ResolutionSong“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” WesleyReading“The Story and the Song” [see Call to Worship]Song“I Love to Tell the Story” Hankey Revised Common LectionaryYear C: Lent—Liturgy of the PassionYear C: Season after Pentecost—Reign of Christ—Proper 29 (34)

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Six: Patient TreesScripture: Luke 13:1–9, 18–21Faith Practice: PatienceQuote for Bulletin or Projection“Teach me thy patience; still with theein closer, dearer company,in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,in trust that triumphs over wrong.”—“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee,” Gladden, P.D.GatheringCall to WorshipQ. What do you believe when you say,“I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth”?A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who out of nothing created heaven and earthand everything in them,who still upholds and rules themby his eternal counsel and providence,is my God and Fatherbecause of Christ the Son.I trust God so much that I do not doubthe will providewhatever I needfor body and soul,and will turn to my goodwhatever adversity he sends upon mein this sad world.God is able to do this because he is almighty Godand desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.—Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 26, Translation © 2011, Faith Alive Christian Resources. Used by permission.WordScriptureLuke 13:1–9, 18–21MessagePatient TreesResponseSong of Response with Prayer of Confession“Kindness” TomlinAssurance of Pardon The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.—2 Peter 3:9 NIVSendingRevised Common LectionaryYear C: Lent—Second Sunday in LentYear C: Lent—Third Sunday in LentYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 16 (21) 

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek Five: The Witness TreeScripture: Isaiah 55Faith Practice: Witness/EvangelismGatheringCall to Worship “This Is My Father’s World” BabcockOur World Belongs to GodAs followers of Jesus Christ,living in this world—which some seek to control,and others view with despair—we declare with joy and trust:Our world belongs to God!From the beginning,through all the crises of our times,until the kingdom fully comes,God keeps covenant forever:Our world belongs to God!God is King: Let the earth be glad!Christ is victor: his rule has begun!The Spirit is at work: creation is renewed!Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!Jesus ascended in triumph,raising our humanity to the heavenly throne.All authority, glory, and sovereign powerare given to him.There he hears our prayersand pleads our cause before the Father.Blessed are allwho take refuge in him.Our hope for a new creation is not tiedto what humans can do,for we believe that one dayevery challenge to God’s rule will be crushed.His kingdom will fully come,and the Lord will rule.Come, Lord Jesus, come.—Our World Belongs to God, para. 1, 2, 27, 55 © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission. Song “Rejoice, the Lord Is King” WesleyChoral Anthem “The Trees of the Field / Come to Me” arr. LarsonWordScriptureIsaiah 55MessageThe Witness TreeResponseSendingRevised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15)Year C: Lent—Third Sunday in LentYear C: Epiphany—Eighth Sunday after the EpiphanyYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 3 (8)

This is part of the worship series, "Rooted and Established in Love”Introduction  Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3  | Week 4—World Communion Sunday   Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8—All Saints /Reformation SundayWeek 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12—Christ the King SundayWeek 4: The Justice Tree (World Communion Sunday)Scripture: Judges 4Faith Practice: Community, Unity, and SolidarityReflection: What does it mean to be united in Christ with people around the world whom you’ve never met? What does it mean to be united in Christ with people in your own community, some of whom you might not agree with? What does it mean to be united in Christ with people of different socioeconomic categories, cultural backgrounds, races, or genders?GatheringWordScriptureJudges 4MessageThe Justice TreeResponseCall to ConfessionOn this World Communion Sunday, we are cognizant that there are many around the world—many of our brothers and sisters in Christ—who are on the margins. They gather around the table to celebrate, but some do so in fear of persecution. Some do so with true physical hunger plaguing their bodies so their “feast at the table of the Lord” is only something that is hoped for and longed for. In our broken world, God gathers us all: the marginalized, the powerful, the weak, the strong, the broken, and those seemingly put together. God gathers us together as God’s one church, as brothers and sisters, which means that when they suffer, we suffer with them. So we turn to the Lord in prayer—for them, for us, for all—asking for forgiveness where it is needed and for grace that can always be found.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.We grieve that the church,which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope,and spans all time, place, race, and language,has become a broken communion in a broken world.When we strugglefor the truth of the gospeland for the righteousness God demands,we pray for wisdom and courage.When our pride or blindnesshinders the unity of God’s household,we seek forgiveness.—Our World Belongs to God, para. 40, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org. Used by permission.Let us pray for the world that God so dearly loves.Let us pray for the troubles and the sufferings of the world.Prayer of ConfessionSung Prayer: “Pelas dores deste mundo / For the Troubles” NetoSpoken Prayer: Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come. While we see glimpses of that kingdom that is already before us, we long for the day when your kingdom and your reign will be complete and all will acknowledge your rule and praise your name.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come in areas of our world that so desperately need your grace. We pray for all who are on the margins: for those without adequate food and water; for those who have been affected by natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and flooding.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come and your peace to reign in areas of conflict: for the fear of nuclear development in North Korea; for the ever present tensions in the Middle East; for terrorist attacks and constant clashes of power. We pray for all the people who live in the shadow of these conflicts, people whose very lives are destroyed because of them.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to a world so rich in resources, yet so unfairly distributed; for a world so beautiful, yet cared for so poorly, with waste and little care for creation.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to our country: to our government, to our leaders and local officials, to our schools, to our cities and our farmlands.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to our city, a hub of political power where many important decisions are made daily that affect not only the city and the country, but the world; a city that struggles with inequality and poverty, a city that needs you.Lord, we pray for your kingdom to come to our own lives, with whatever we face: financial struggle, illness, depression, lack of enthusiasm for our work, boredom, major life transitions, parenting, “adulting,” grieving.For all these things and more, we pray for peace, the blessed peace that comes from seeking justice in your world for all the people you love so dearly.—Kathryn Roelofs © 2025 ReformedWorship.org, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.Sung Prayer: “Pelas dores deste mundo / For the Troubles” NetoAssurance of PardonPoem: “And the Table Will Be Wide,” Jan RichardsonCommunionSendingRevised Common LectionaryYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 28 (33)