Laura de Jong

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterOpeningLeader:The Lord be with you. All:And also with you. Leader:Lift up your hearts. All:We lift them up to the Lord. Leader:Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All:It is right for us to give thanks and praise. Thanksgiving Giver of Life,it is indeed right for us to give you thanks and praise.You created the world out of nothing,calling forth flowers that blossom,rain waters that nourish,and bumble bees that pollinate.In great joy and love you created humans to tend the garden; you made us co-creators of beauty and flourishing.When we abandoned this calling,you did not abandon us.When we sought to grow wild and to bear poisoned fruit,you did not cut us down, but tended to us faithfully,cutting away that which leads to death and decay.We give you thanks for Jesus Christ,who dwelt among us, died for us,and who, having been raised from the dead,appeared to his followers as a gardener,bringing new life to all those who place their trust in him.Therefore, we join our voices with all the saints and angelsand all creation to proclaim the glory of your name:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.InstitutionWe give thanks to God our Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before he was betrayed, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, until he comes again.At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”In the same way, he took the cup after the supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me.”For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.—1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIVMemorial AcclamationTherefore we proclaim our faith as signed and sealed in this sacrament:Christ has died;Christ is risen;Christ will come again. Prayer for the Work of the SpiritLord our God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we be united with Christ, as branches to a vine, bearing the fruit of the Spirit as we live together with all God’s people in faithfulness and love. InvitationPeople of God, come to this table.Be nourished by the bread of lifeand filled with the water of life.Here let your faith be strengthenedand your soul renewed.Here let the Spirit assure you of God’s graceand empower you to bear good fruit.Distribution

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Self-Control is the discipline to manage impulses and desires in order to live wisely and responsibly. After the more flowery, uplifting fruit of joy, peace, and gentleness, self-control feels like a somewhat grim way to end this series. Indeed, the scripture passages in this service aren’t ones we gravitate towards in our personal study or in preaching. But I don’t think it’s an accident that self-control is at the end of this list. If love is the primary characteristic of a follower of Jesus, providing the meaning for everything we do, then self-control acts as a closing bracket to this list, the framework that allows every other fruit to grow. In Titus 2, the Greek word for self-control is sophorono, which literally means “to be in one’s right mind.” The right mind is the mind which is set on God’s good design for the world, acknowledging its limits and boundaries. This stands in contrast to the attitude taken by many on the island of Crete, where Titus ministered, who gave themselves over to their passions and desires, indulging in drink, food, and sex. If we are driven by our desires alone, we become self-indulgent and selfish, impatient and demanding, and quick to become angry—the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. So Paul tells Titus to urge followers of Jesus to control their words and actions. By doing so, this community would be a witness to their neighbors, demonstrating that the gospel they proclaim has made a true difference in their lives. Jesus expresses this even more stridently in Mark 9, when he uses hyperbole to caution people against letting their actions turn people away from the gospel. We’re to be in such control over our lives that we can cut off anything that causes us to sin and by sinning to misrepresent the gospel. It sounds harsh, but the invitation to self-control and limitation is the invitation to experience life as God intended. The psalmist declares that the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. Life in God’s creation is not one of wanton freedom but the freedom that comes from knowing we are safe within God’s care. In this garden, hemmed in on all sides, we can flourish and grow and bear good fruit. Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,The world, and those who live in it; All:For he has founded it on the seas,And established it on the rivers. Leader:Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?And who shall stand in his holy place? All:Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,Who do not lift up their souls to what is false,And do not swear deceitfully.—Psalm 24:1–4 NRSVUE Leader:Let us worship our holy God with reverence and awe!Opening Song“Only a Holy God” Farren et al.GreetingGrace to you and peace from God our Father andthe Lord Jesus Christ,who gave himself for our sins to set us freefrom the present evil age,according to the will of our God and Father,to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. —Galatians 1:3–5 NRSVUESongs of Praise“Build My Life” Younker et al.Call to ConfessionMany plants require some kind of trellis or frame to keep them stabilized and upright, to help them grow tall, towards the sun, where they can bear fruit in abundance. Followers of God, called to bear good fruit, are no different. We need a trellis to support us—practices that support our faith, that give structure to our lives so we stay oriented towards the Son. Prayer, scripture study, fellowship with fellow believers, silence, worship—all these practices and more provide us with this support.Confession is one such practice—a way in which we re-orient ourselves towards God and ask that God might prune that which is dead or diseased in our lives and fill us instead with the lifegiving power of his mercy and grace. So let us turn towards God now in prayer.Prayer of ConfessionHoly God,You have shown us, in your Word, what is good.You have marked out the way we should go,set boundary lines for us in pleasant places,and commanded us to walk in the way that brings freedom and flourishing.But we think we know better. We think freedom means getting to do whatever feels right to us at the time.We chafe against boundariesand find structures and guidelines to be constricting. We don’t trust that you have given us these things for our good, O God.Forgive us our lack of trust.Forgive us when we are careless with our lives, when our actions and words are thoughtless and hurtful.Forgive us when our carelessness causes others to doubt the good news we preach. Help us to order our lives around your word and your truth, to structure our lives in such a way that the Spirit can bear much good fruit through us. Help us to build our lives on you.Through Christ, our Lord, we pray.Amen. Assurance of Pardon & Response of PraiseIn Jeremiah 33, God says of the people Israel: “I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me,and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.”—Jeremiah 33:8 NRSVUEBeloved of God, God forgives your rebellion, and cleanses you of all guilt. Return to him in gratitude, trusting in his goodness and mercy. Let us say together:All:Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;    you make my lot secure. Leader:The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;    surely I have a delightful inheritance. All:I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;    even at night my heart instructs me. Leader:I keep my eyes always on the Lord.    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. All:Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;    my body also will rest secure, Leader:because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,    nor will you let your faithful one see decay. All:You make known to me the path of life;    you will fill me with joy in your presence,    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.—Psalm 16:5–11 NIVSong of Thanksgiving“If You But Trust in God to Guide You” Neumark, trans. WinkworthPassing of the PeacePrayer for IlluminationO Lord,as we turn to your word,give us understanding, so we might keep your lawand obey it with all our hearts.Give us delight in the path of your commands,and turn our eyes and our ears to your word,that our lives might be kept in your righteousness.Through Christ, our Lord, Amen. —Psalm 119:33–34, adapt.Scripture ReadingFirst Reading: Mark 9:42–50Second Reading: Titus 2Sermon“The Trellis of Self-Control”Song of Response“May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” WilkinsonBreath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that our lives might bear good fruit.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“Take My Life and Let It Be” HavergalBenedictionAs God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, forgiving one another as the Lord has forgiven you. And over all these put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity. —Colossians 3:12–14, adapt.May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God,and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.Go forth and bear good fruit.Amen. Doxology“My Friends May You Grow in Grace” Diamond & Meaney

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Gentleness is a humble attitude that approaches others with care and respect.As we’ve seen, the fruit of the Spirit are wrapped up in each other. Bearing one fruit often leads to experiencing another fruit. In Philippians 4, Paul shows us that joy, peace, and gentleness are connected. He tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always. Joy, as we know, isn’t the same as happiness but is the deep and abiding contentment and comfort that God is present to us, even in the midst of harried circumstances. Because God is near to us, we can bring our worries and fears to him, experiencing God’s peace in place of our anxiety. And from this place of peace, free of anxiety, we can practice gentleness.I don’t know about you, but anxiety and stress tend to bring out the worst in me. I get snippy with people; I’m quick to become angry; I look for people to blame for all the things that are making me anxious. When I take on myself the burden of control, of solving the world’s problems, of immediately fixing everything that isn’t perfect…then everything (and everyone) that might get in my way becomes a problem that has to be dealt with. I become hardened, retreat into myself, and lash out in frustration. But Jesus invites us to come to him and find rest—to abide in the one who has overcome the world, who is ultimately in control. In Christ we experience peace—a peace that doesn’t make sense in a world filled with wrongs—and from this place of peace we can be gentle with ourselves and with one another. We can extend that same peace to our neighbor, offering a hand of friendship rather than raising a fist in enmity. Relieved of the burden of believing it’s all up to us, we can invite people into the work of God’s kingdom with winsomeness and curiosity, tending the garden with gentle—not anxious—hands.Service OutlineCall to WorshipAs we gather this morning, perhaps from a busy and harried week, Jesus extends us this invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28–30 NIVOpening Song“Come Away from Rush and Hurry” DawnGreetingGrace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.—Philippians 1:2 NRSVUESongs of Praise“Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King” Robinson and MillerCall to ConfessionWhen God extends to us these invitations—to rest, to come to him, to lay our burdens down—do we listen? All too often we run about, busy and frantic, unwilling to let go of control, certain that if we open our clenched fists, everything will fall apart. We are prone to wander indeed.But God’s invitation remains the same, steady, always there amidst our busyness: Come to me. I will give you rest.Let us turn to God and confess our lack of trust, but also our need for the steady presence of God. Prayer of ConfessionShepherding God,we hear your invitations to restand it's hard not to scoff.Slowing down seems so impossible.There are too many demands on our timeand too many problems for us to solve. If we put our feet up, this life we’ve built for ourselves will crumble.But we’re tired, God,and we know we can’t love our best when we’re so busy. We’ve yelled at our spouses and snapped at our kids.We’ve spoken poorly of our colleagues to deflect attentionfrom our own failing job performance. We haven’t been gentle, God, with ourselves and with each other. We confess our prideful need for controland the sharp edges we’ve developed as a result. Soften us, God. Help us trust that you are near, that you hold all things in your hands,that we can rest in you. Amen.Assurance of Pardon & Response of PraiseHear these comforting words:Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.By his love we are forgiven, and in his love we can rest.People of God, be at peace. God has made you holy and whole.His grace is enough for you.Song of Thanksgiving“Jesus Strong and Kind” Robinson et al.Passing of the PeaceSince God has forgiven us, let us also forgive one anotherand live in peace with our neighbor. In the gentleness of the good shepherd,let us extend Christ’s peace to one another.Prayer for IlluminationScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Psalm 23Second Reading: Philippians 4:4–9Sermon“Don’t Worry; Be Gentle”Song of Response“Christ Be All Around Me” Leonard et al.Breath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that our gentleness might be evident to all.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“Be Thou My Vision” Hull, trans. ByrneBenedictionThe peace of God,which passes all understanding,keep your hearts and mindsin the knowledge and love of God,and of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.And the blessing of God Almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,remain with you always.—Philippians 4:7, adapt.Doxology“We Receive Your Blessing” Moes & Moes

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Faithfulness is loyal reliability and trustworthiness grounded in God’s unwavering faith.Faithfulness can be defined as steadfastness, reliability and dependability. Throughout scripture, we find proclamations of God’s faithfulness to God’s people, as seen in Psalm 111. God has been faithful, time and time again, fulfilling promises, rescuing people, displaying might. Therefore, says the psalmist, we can trust God, and can trust that God’s precepts—God’s laws for right living—are designed for our good and flourishing. Rooted in this trust, we can then be faithful in our response to God. Jesus models this faithfulness in the very beginning of his ministry, when he’s led into the wilderness to be tempted. Three times Satan tempts Jesus to turn his back on God, to live as though he did not trust that his Father was faithful. Satan tries to get Jesus to take a short cut to alleviate his hunger, to test God’s love, and, finally, to take a path to glory and power that would bypass the cross. Each time, Jesus responds with a faithfulness rooted in trust and rooted in Scripture. Quoting Deuteronomy, Jesus stays true to God’s precepts, for he trusts that God’s precepts are good. Jesus is faithful even when he knows such faithfulness will lead him down a road of suffering. Indeed, even while he is faithful in the wilderness, he is hungry and alone during his temptations. So too, as we read the accounts of faithfulness told in Hebrews 11, we see in the background of each person’s story the suffering, uncertainty, and fear that would have made faithlessness all too understandable. Who would fault Moses for continuing a life of ease and comfort in Pharoah’s house? Who would blame Abraham for hiding Isaac instead of bringing him to the altar?Instead, Moses and Abraham and Joseph and Jacob and Rahab lived faithful lives in response to God’s faithfulness. Trusting in the faithfulness of God, they heeded God’s commands and obeyed God’s precepts, staying true when it would have been easier to turn away. They did so not of their own strength, but through the power of God. We, rooted in Christ and empowered by the same Spirit that was with Christ in the wilderness, are called to do the same.Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:Praise the Lord. All:I will extol the Lord with all my heart    in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Leader:Great are the works of the Lord;    they are pondered by all who delight in them. All:Glorious and majestic are his deeds,    and his righteousness endures forever. Leader:He has shown his people the power of his works,    giving them the lands of other nations. All:The works of his hands are faithful and just;    all his precepts are trustworthy. Leader:They are established for ever and ever,    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. All:He provided redemption for his people;    he ordained his covenant forever—    holy and awesome is his name. Leader:The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;    all who follow his precepts have good understanding. All:   To him belongs eternal praise.—Psalm 111:1–3, 6–10 NIVOpening Song“How Firm a Foundation” Keen & KeithGreetingWe gather in this place, trusting that Godknows what our hearts carryfrom the week before. And God knows what lies ahead, what worries are on our hearts, what anxieties we might carry as we think aboutthe coming week. To each of us, God’s promise is as sure as it was tohis people centuries ago, when he spoke through the prophet Isaiah:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned;The flames will not set you ablaze.for I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.—Isaiah 43:1–3 NIVGrace to you, and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ, our firm foundation. Amen. Songs of Praise“Cornerstone” Mote et al.“Ancient of Days” Robinson et alCall to ConfessionJesus is our cornerstone; the king above all kings, the one on whom we can rely. Like us, he journeyed through the wilderness, tried and tempted. But Jesus, fully divine, did what we could not, and was perfectly faithful to God’s laws. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, we can live in the certainty of God’s presence to us in the wilderness, and the assurance of God’s forgiveness when we go astray. In hope and trust, let us confess our sins to God. Prayer of ConfessionJesus,when we read the story of your temptation in the wilderness,we read ourselves into the story all too easily.We know what it is to be tempted. But unlike you, we succumb to our temptations time and time again.So we confess that we have tried to take shortcuts to bypass suffering,rather than stay faithful to the road you lead us on.We confess that we want God to serve us, not the other way around.We confess that we want to rule, to have power and wealth,even at the expense of others.  Jesus, you endured suffering even to the point of the cross,not turning away, but staying true to your mission.By your faithfulness, we have been set free.Forgive our faithlessness, and help us to live in obedience and faith.Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, O God,by the power of the Spirit that was with Jesus in the wilderness.Help us to trust in you.Amen. Assurance of Pardon When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. —Colossians 2:13–14 NIVBe at peace, trusting in the forgiveness of your sins.Song of Thanksgiving“Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)” Newton, TomlinCall to Holy LivingHaving been assured of our forgiveness, let us dedicate our lives to holy living:Hear these words of God: “I am the Lord your God.You shall have no other gods before me.You shall not make for yourself an idol,     whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above,     or that is on the earth beneath,     or that is in the water under the earth.You shall not bow down to them or worship them.You shall not make wrongful use     of the name of the Lord your God.Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.Honor your father and your mother.You shall not murder.You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.You shall not covet your neighbor’s house;     you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,     or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”—from Exodus 20:1–17 NRSVIn gratitude for God’s grace,and by the power of the Holy Spirit,we will live according to God’s laws,seeking to be more like Christ in all we do and say.Passing of the PeacePrayer for Illumination“Ancient Words” DeShazoScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Matthew 4:1–11Second Reading: Hebrews 11:17–29Sermon“By Faith”Song of Response“By Faith” - GettyBreath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that we might respond to God in faithfulness.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“Ancient of Days” Robinson et alBenedictionMay our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,who loved us and by his gracegave us eternal encouragement and good hope,encourage your hearts and strengthen youin every good deed and word.—2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 NIVDoxology“To God Be the Glory” Crouch 

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Themes: Generosity is an outward, selfless sharing of time, resources, and heart. Reflects God’s bountiful nature. A way of honoring true life by being generous with our life.Kindness shows genuine care and compassion through thoughtful and generous actions.Generosity, sometimes translated as “goodness,” is a fruit that grows out of a right recognition that everything we have is a gift from God, and that this life, marked by anxiety and a desire for control, is not the end of things. In his letter to Timothy, Paul tells his young apprentice that the life that is truly life is that which is found in Christ, who gave himself fully and completely out of love for his people. God’s kingdom is coming and is here now, and what matters is that we lay for ourselves a good foundation for the coming age, not a fortress of possessions and security in this life. So we are called to be generous with what we have, which includes our money and possessions, but also through kindness—a genuine sharing of our empathy, our attention, and our willingness to believe the best of others. Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan, in which the Samaritan man is generous with his time and compassion. This story also calls Jesus’ listeners to think kindly of Samaritans, a people who were often thought of as less-than. This parable invites us to be generous with our compassion, our possessions, and our goodwill. It may seem counterintuitive, but there is great freedom in generosity. Those who hold things loosely and trust God completely will, says the psalmist, never be shaken. They will never fear bad news—not because bad news won’t come, but because their trust in God is bigger than their fear. The markets may plummet and the profit margins shrink, but their hearts are secure in God. Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:There is none like you, O Lord,Nor are there any works like yours. All:All the nations you have made shall comeAnd bow down before you, O Lord,And shall glorify your name.For you are great and do wondrous things,You alone are God.—Psalm 86:8–10 NRSVUEOpening Song“Behold our God” Baird et al.GreetingMay grace, mercy, and peace be yours in abundance,from God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,one God, ruler, redeemer, and sustainer of all creation. Amen.Song of Praise“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” Neander, WinkworthCall to ConfessionPrayer of ConfessionGood and gracious God,you made this world from a place of pure delight.From the outpouring of your love camedaffodils and walruses,mighty fir trees,and the whole breadth of humanity.Everything we have is a gift from you.But we want to hoard those giftsand convince ourselves that the good things in our lifeare of our own making. In our pride we enthrone ourselves upon the piles of our possessions,trophies, accomplishments—even our acts of righteousness and obedience.From this place of self-righteousness, we revel in holding grudges against those who have wronged us,hoarding our mercy and forgiveness.O God, do not repay us in kind. When we have tumbled off our thronesand fallen at your feet, humbled and chastened,forgive us. By your Spirit enlarge our hearts that we might receive life as a gift,and be generous with our lives in return. For we are followers of Christ Jesus,who gave everything, laying down his life for us.We want to be like Jesus, God.Help us.Amen. Assurance of Pardon & Response of PraiseFriends, hear the good news:God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.—Romans 5:8–11 NRSVUESong of Thanksgiving“All I Have is Christ” KauflinPassing of the PeaceGod’s grace is abundant, and his love is never ending. Having received this gift, we have peace with God.Let us share this gift with one another, passing the peace of Christ Jesus. Prayer for IlluminationScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Luke 10:25–37Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:17–19Sermon“The Life that is Truly Life”Song of Response“The Kingdom is Yours” Wilson et al.Breath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that our hearts would overflow with kindness.”Prayers of the PeopleOfferingThe psalmist says in Psalm 112:Blessed are those who fear the Lord,who find great delight in his commands.Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,who conduct their affairs with justice.Surely the righteous will never be shaken;they will be remembered forever.They will have no fear of bad news;their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.—Psalm 112:1, 4–7 NIVEvery week we have an opportunity to practice generosity, to put our trust in the Lord and so be free with our gifts of money, time, and energy. In gratitude for everything God has given us, let us give our offering in joy and trust. Offering PrayerSong of Dedication“My Worth is Not in What I Own” Getty et al.BenedictionMay God the Father, who created the world in all its abundance,fill you with gratitude and hope.May Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for the world he loved,assure you of the never-ending riches of his grace. May the Holy Spirit, freely given to all who believe,empower you to live in kindness and love.May the joy of God’s presenceoverflow through youto every corner of creation.Amen. DoxologyOh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!“For who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?”“Or who has given a gift to him,to receive a gift in return?”For from him and through him and to him are all things.To him be the glory forever. —Romans 11:33–36 NRSVUE“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” KenRevised Common LectionaryPsalm 86Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 7 (12)Psalm 112Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 17 (22)Year A: Epiphany—Fifth Sunday after the EpiphanyGospelYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15)EpistleYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 21 (26)

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Patience is a steadfast hope and trust in God that enables us to endure difficult circumstances and love difficult people.Patience is a fruit rooted in hope and trust. A patient person waits on God, trusting that God is at work in the world, that God is true to God’s word, that God will fulfill his promises. We trust that God’s plans for the world, and for our lives, are good, even when the current circumstances would suggest otherwise. Jeremiah writes of God’s faithfulness in Lamentations, inviting the follower of God to wait on the Lord, for God’s love is steadfast and never-ending. This trust allows us to be patient in the midst of those difficult circumstances, to endure hardship and suffering. The Greek word for patience is makrothumia, and it literally translates to “long-suffering.” We can endure; we can “suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” because we trust that God holds our future in his hands. Sometimes we also translate this word as “forbearance.” The one who is patient can forbear that which is distressing, difficult, or simply irritating, including people! When we lack trust and live out of anxiety and despair—in other words, when we “fret”—says the psalmist, we become quick to anger and impatient with people with whom we disagree or find tiresome. Both of these ideas are present in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He instructs the people to be patient with each other, living in humility driven by a desire for unity. He prays that the church would be filled by the Spirit’s power, able to endure patiently any affliction that may come.Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; All:with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. Leader:I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; All:your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Leader:Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, All:your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.—Psalm 89:1–2, 5 NRSVUEOpening Song“Ten Thousand Reasons” Redman and MyrinGreetingGod says to his people,“You whom I took from the ends of the earth,and called from its farthest corners,saying to you, ‘You are my servant,I have chosen you and not cast you off’;do not fear, for I am with you;do not be afraid, for I am your God;I will strengthen you; I will help you;I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”—Isaiah 41:9–10 NRSVUEGrace to you and peace,from the one who has chosen you,who is with you,who holds you in the palm of his hand.Songs of Praise“My Soul Will Wait” Kauflin and BuntingCall to ConfessionGod’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. No matter the weight of sin we carry, no matter how easy it is for us to mess things up, no matter how often we fall, God is waiting, ready at all times to offer us forgiveness and grace. Let us turn to God now, ready to unburden our hearts, eager to receive his mercy. Prayer of ConfessionFaithful God,we confess to you our lack of faith.We do not trust your guidance;we do not like to wait;so we impatiently try to get ahead of your plans for us,carving out our own paths instead of trusting in you. In our hurry, we grow impatient with others,speaking harshly and unfairly to those we love. In our desire to get ahead, we grow envious of those who have much, and bitter about those who acquire wealth and status through evil means. Forgive our impatience, God.Forgive our lack of trust.Forgive us for not being content with our lot.Help us to place our lives in your hands,and trust that you are leading us to green pasturesand still waters. We pray this in the name of Jesus,the good shepherd.Amen. Assurance of Pardon Hear the good news:There is no God like our God,who does not hold a record of our wrongs,but who wipes the slate clean.Our God does not nurse his anger,but moves quickly to mercy,for mercy is at the heart of who God is.Receive the mercy of God,and be assured of the forgiveness of your sins,for God is faithful to his people,from generation to generation. —Micah 7:18–20, adapt.Song of Thanksgiving“Great is Thy Faithfulness” ChisholmCall to Holy Living: Psalm 37:1–9Passing of the PeacePrayer for Illumination“Speak O Lord” Getty and TownendScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Lamentations 3:22–33Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1–6Sermon“Bearing With One Another in Love”Song of Response“They’ll Know We Are Christians” ScholtesBreath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that we might bear with one another in love.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“God, the Father of Your People” Newton and MulderBenedictionMay the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.—1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 NRSVUEDoxologyNow to him who is able to keep you from fallingand to present you before his glorious presencewithout fault and with great joy—to the only God our Saviorbe glory, majesty, power, and authority,through Jesus Christ our Lord,before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!—Jude 24–25 NIVRevised Common LectionaryPsalm 89Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 8 (13)Year B: Advent—Fourth Sunday of AdventOld Testament—Lamentations 3Year A: Holy Week—Holy SaturdayYear B: Holy Week—Holy SaturdayYear C: Holy Week—Holy SaturdayYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 22 (27)Epistle—Ephesians 4Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 13 (18)

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Peace is the full flourishing God intended in the beginning, in which everyone’s goal is helping everyone else to lead a life of abundance and joy.Throughout scripture, the word we often translate as “peace” is the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom refers not only to the absence of hostility, but also to the flourishing of all creation. Shalom was God’s intent for the world in the very beginning and is what we long for in the new creation. It’s the image depicted by Isaiah as he writes of the one who will rule the world with righteousness and justice, free from greed and corruption. Isaiah’s hymn about the wolf lying down with the lamb and the cow feeding with the bear invites us to imagine a world free of oppression and fear and a creation living in harmony. In such a world, all people desire is to live in right relationship with God, with each other, and with creation, seeking abundance and joy for all.This peace is not just something we wait for, but a reality we can work to inhabit now, as we live in unity with Christ, the good King, through the power of the Spirit. James urges the church to turn away from behaviour motivated by selfishness and ambition and to sow in peace—to act towards each person we encounter from a rootedness in the vision of God’s peaceable kingdom. When we live such lives, the harvest of such sowing, says the psalmist, will be rich indeed—a harvest of faithfulness, love, righteousness, and everlasting peace.Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:Praise the Lord!Praise God in his sanctuary, in the heavens high above the earth.  All:Praise God for his mighty deeds, according to his surpassing greatness.  Leader:With all instruments and soundmakers, all voices and clapping, All:Praise the Lord! Leader:Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. All:Praise the Lord!—Psalm 150, selectionsOpening Song“All Creatures of Our God and King” (st. 1–2, 5) Draper, St. Francis of AssisiGreetingSong of Praise“Rejoice in All Your Works” KimbroughCall to ConfessionIn Psalm 85, the psalmist declares:You, Lord, showed favor to your land;you restored the fortunes of Jacob.You forgave the iniquity of your peopleand covered all their sins.You set aside all your wrathand turned from your fierce anger.—Psalm 85:1–3 NIVIt sounds almost like a reminder, as if the psalmist is saying, “Hey God, remember who you are! Remember that you are the God who forgives.” Remember this…because we need your forgiveness once more. So too do we need God’s forgiveness again and again. This morning, as we think about what it means to seek God’s shalom, we are particularly mindful of the ways our actions have harmed God’s creation. Let us go to our God in confession, using the next three verses of Psalm 85 to ground our prayers.Prayer of ConfessionRestore us again, God our Savior,and put away your displeasure toward us.—Psalm 85:4 NIVWe know that we have sinned against you and our neighbor.We have lived for ourselves, seeking our own profit and security. We fight for resources, willing to mistreat people made in your image to get what we want. We have misused the earth, treating creation like a product to be consumed,instead of a gift you have called us to treasure and steward. Forgive us for our actionsdriven by greed. Will you be angry with us forever?Will you prolong your anger through all generations?—Psalm 85:5 NIVThe earth bears the marks of our callousness. We fear the lasting damage we have done, even as we carry on in our thoughtless consumption.The effects of our greed are like waves, rippling out, growing ever larger until they wash over those who are alreadystruggling just to get by.Forgive us for our actions with unintended consequences. Will you not revive us again,that your people may rejoice in you?Show us your unfailing love, Lord,and grant us your salvation.—Psalm 85:6–7 NIVForgive us, God, for the harm we have done to one another and to the earth.Plant within us the desire to seek shalom,to work for the flourishing of othersin everything we do. Amen.Song of Confession“Lord Have Mercy” Zach et al.Assurance of Pardon & Response of DedicationThe psalmist continues:I will listen to what God the Lord says;    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—    but let them not turn to folly.Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,    that his glory may dwell in our land.Love and faithfulness meet together;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,    and righteousness looks down from heaven.The Lord will indeed give what is good,    and our land will yield its harvest.Righteousness goes before him    and prepares the way for his steps.—Psalm 85:8–13 NIVPeople of God, receive God’s forgiveness and his peace,and turn towards him,that our lives might bear the fruit of God’s shalom.In gratitude for the grace that gives peace to our hearts,we will seek to be people of shalom,living with each other and the creationin the harmony of God’s kingdom.Passing of the PeaceHaving received peace from God, let us turn to one another and pass the peace of Christ to each other.Prayer for IlluminationScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Isaiah 11:1–9Second Reading: James 3:13–18Sermon“Those Who Sow in Peace”Song of Response“Instruments of You Peace” MoenBreath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that we might seek your shalom.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“Hear the Call of the Kingdom” Getty and TownendBenedictionThe God of peace,who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,the great shepherd of the sheep,by the blood of the eternal covenant,make you complete in everything goodso that you may do God’s will,working among us that which is pleasing in God’s sight,through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever!—Hebrews 13:20–21 NRSVUEDoxology“All Creatures of Our God and King” (st. 6) Draper, St. Francis of AssisiRevised Common LectionaryPsalm 85Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 12 (17)Year B: Advent—Second Sunday of AdventYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 14 (19)Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15)Old TestamentYear A: Advent—Second Sunday of AdventEpistle Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 20 (25)

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Joy is a deep, enduring sense of gladness and contentment that comes from trusting God. Sometimes we think of joy as happiness, an exuberance or outward manifestation of excitement, when everything in life is sunshine and roses. But such a joy would be fleeting, dependent on outward circumstances being just right. The joy promised by God as a fruit of the spirit is steady and enduring. So what is this joy?This fruit is the deep, enduring sense of gladness that comes from the assurance of God’s presence in our lives and the grace we have received through Christ. Throughout scripture, joy and hope are linked together. The psalmist refers to the joy we find in God’s faithfulness as the root of hope that God will be faithful again. In John 16, Jesus foretells his death and resurrection, telling the disciples that though they will grieve a little while, Jesus will return to them and no one will be able to take away their joy. Even after Jesus ascends and is no longer physically present to them, they will yet know his presence through the Spirit and so will have joy. So the apostle Paul can write to the Thessalonians of his gladness that though the church was experiencing suffering and persecution, they yet received the gospel with joy. The people knew that their suffering did not have the final word; they knew that God was present to them in the midst of it, and a day was coming when all suffering would end. Thus, biblical joy can endure in the midst of sorrows and heartbreak, perhaps not always in an exuberant declaration of giddiness, but certainly through the quiet and persistent confession of faith that says, “This is not the end.”Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;sing the glory of his name;give to him glorious praise.Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! All:O God, all the earth worships you;they sing praises to you,sing praises to your name.—Psalm 66:1–3a, 4 NRSVUEOpening Song“How Great (Psalm 145)” Kauflin et al.GreetingSongs of Praise“Blessed Be Your Name” Redman & RedmanInvitation to LamentWe have gathered here as a diverse community. Some of us feel the warmth of the sun on our faces. Others are trudging through a barren wilderness. One of the deep joys of being community together is that we are able to take on the burdens of others in our prayers, whether that person sits next to us in the pew, or is a friend who lives across the country, or is a stranger we read about in the news. So today, as we hear about the abiding joy of God’s presence, we do so acknowledging that we need this joy to sustain us in a world where there is so much cause for despair. Together we bring our lament before God, trusting that the incarnate one is with us in the valley. Let us pray.Prayer of LamentToday, O God, some of us dwell in deep darkness.Our hearts are heavy, gripped by grief,by fear, by anxiety.For those who know what it is to weep, we pray:Be near to us, O God, and hear our cries.Hear our cries for those who weep for a loved one gone too soon,for a body frustrated by disease,for a future snatched away by the ringing of the telephone.For those who know what loss feels like, we pray:Be near to us, O God, and hear our cries.Hear our cries for those who live in fear,for those who are persecuted for their faith,those whose neighborhoods are destroyed by bombs,those who are kidnapped off the streets because of their skin color.For those who know what hiding feels like, we pray:Be near to us, O God, and hear our cries. Hear our cries for those who live in anxiety,worried about putting food on the table, longing for word from a loved one gripped by addiction,unsure if a child is safe at school.For those who know the length of sleepless nights, we pray:Be near to us, O God, and hear our cries. We long for the day when there is no more heartache or fear or death, O God.We trust that that day is coming,when you will turn our weeping to songs of joy.May the hope of that day, and the promise that you are with us in the waiting,be our joy even now.Amen.Assurance of God’s FaithfulnessOur faithful God has heard our lament. Listen to these promises from Psalm 126 and be comforted. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,    we were like those who dreamed.Our mouths were filled with laughter,    our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations,    “The Lord has done great things for them.”The Lord has done great things for us,    and we are filled with joy.Restore our fortunes, Lord,    like streams in the Negev.Those who sow with tears    will reap with songs of joy.Those who go out weeping,    carrying seed to sow,will return with songs of joy,    carrying sheaves with them.—Psalm 126 NIVSong of Thanksgiving“The Day of the Lord (Psalm 37)” KimbroughPassing of the PeaceIn Psalm 145, which we sang earlier in the service, the psalmist writes: “The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.”—Psalm 145:13–14 NRSVUELet us turn to our neighbor and extend this peace to one another, assured that God holds each one of us in the palm of his hand.Prayer for IlluminationLord God,as we turn to the reading of your word,may your gospel come to us, not just with words,but with power,assuring us of your presence and faithfulness,that we might receive your Word with joy.Through Christ, the embodied Word, we pray,amen.Scripture ReadingFirst Reading: John 16:16–24Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10Sermon“The Joy that Abides”Song of Response“My Life Flows On in Endless Song” Anon.Breath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that we might go forth in joy.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“Christ our Hope in Life and Death” Kauflin et al.BenedictionMay the God of hopeFill you with all joy and peace in believing,So that you may abound in hopeBy the power of the Holy Spirit.—Romans 15:13 NRSVUEDoxologyRevised Common LectionaryPsalm 66Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 9 (14)Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 23 (28)Psalm 126Year B: the Third Sunday of AdventYear B: Season after Pentecost—Canadian Thanksgiving DayYear B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 25 (30)Year B: Season after Pentecost—Thanksgiving DayYear C: Lent—Fifth Sunday in LentPsalm 145Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 27 (32)Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 20 (25)Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 13 (18)Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 9 (14)Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 12 (17)EpistleYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 24 (29)

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Love is a selfless, unconditional commitment to care deeply for others, reflecting God’s perfect love. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit Paul lists in the Galatians passage. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says that of faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love. In Colossians 3, Paul lays out a wardrobe of godly virtues—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—and then says, “and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3: 14, NIV).Love is the primary characteristic, the core virtue of those who follow Jesus. It’s the thing that makes everything else we do mean something. You can prophesy, and have faith, and give everything you have to the poor, says Paul, but if you don’t have love, those actions are empty and meaningless. Love is the substance and motivation of everything we do as children of God.Whenever I baptize someone, usually an infant, I look them square in the eyes and tell them that we love because God first loved us. Before we’ve even taken a breath, God loves us with an unconditional, self-giving, unfathomably great love. It’s the kind of love that beholds something broken and sees only beauty. We cannot come close to loving one another as perfectly as God loves us, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ calls us to do exactly that. We are called to love one another as Jesus loves us—to care for one another unconditionally, without pride or selfishness, but with the humility of the King who washed the feet of his friends. Service OutlineCall to WorshipLeader:Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. All:Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Leader:Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his; All:we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Leader:Enter his gates with thanksgivingand his courts with praise;give thanks to him and praise his name. All:For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;God’s faithfulness continues through all generations.—Psalm 100 NIV Opening Song“Because of Your Love” BalocheGreetingTo those who are called,who are beloved in God the Fatherand kept safe for Jesus Christ:may mercy, peace, and love be yoursin abundance.—Jude 1–2 NRSVUESong of Praise“Forever” TomlinCall to ConfessionGod’s love endures forever;our own love is frail and fleeting.But out of God’s unending love,we are offered grace and forgiveness.Let us confess our lack of love,bold in the certainty that God’s love is bigger than our sins.Prayer of ConfessionLoving God,you have commanded us to love one another.Through your Son, you have shown what this love looks like, as he knelt to wash the feet of his disciples,as he laid down his own life out of love.We confess that we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves.We do not lay down our pride in service of the other;but instead we treat people as objects who might be of service to us.Yet, we expect unconditional love from our friends and family and partners.When their love is imperfect, even as our love is imperfect,we grow angry and bitter. Help us to forgive one another for our imperfect love,even as you forgive us. Help us to love, and to love well,for in loving this world you have created,we live in love for you.Amen. Assurance of Pardon & Response of PraiseGod so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in himmay not perish but may have eternal life.Indeed, God did not send the Son into the worldto condemn the world,but in order that the world might be saved through him.—John 3:16-17 NRSVUEThanks be to God,whose perfect love saved the worldand freed us from our sins!Song of Thanksgiving“Not What My Hands Have Done” BonarPassing of the PeacePrayer for IlluminationScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Matthew 22:34–40Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 13Sermon“The Greatest of These”Song of Response“The Greatest Commandment” Zach[This song consists of a chorus and verse that can be sung on top of each other - consider teaching both and then dividing the congregation in two so each part can be sung together, as prayer and commandment are woven together.]Breath Prayer[The leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). This prayer can be repeated a few times.] Breathe In: “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence”Breathe Out: “that we might live in love.”Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love” ScholtesBenedictionMay the love of God surround you,the grace of Christ sustain you, and the power of the Holy Spirit embolden you.Go forth to live in peace,loving God, and loving your neighbor as yourself.Amen. Doxology“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” WesleyRevised Common LectionaryPsalmYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 6 (11)Year A: Season after Pentecost—Reign of Christ—Proper 29 (34)Year C: Season after Pentecost—Canadian Thanksgiving DayYear C: Season after Pentecost—Thanksgiving DayGospelYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 25 (30)EpistleYear C: Epiphany—Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: God gives the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the fullness of life to come, even as the Spirit causes us to bear the fruit of life and peace in ever increasing abundance.Pentecost is the Christian name for the Old Testament Jewish festival of Shavuot, or Feast of Weeks. This festival, celebrated fifty days after Passover, marked the beginning of the wheat harvest and was also a day set aside to remember the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. During the feast, all able-bodied men were required to travel to Jerusalem to give a firstfruits offering at the temple—an act of grateful recognition that the harvest to come was a gift from God.When Christ ascended into heaven, he promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon his followers. His words were fulfilled on Pentecost, when thousands were gathered in Jerusalem for this harvest festival. So Paul, reflecting on this gift of the Spirit in Romans 8, refers to the Spirit as “first fruits.” As creation groans with longing to be restored, the Spirit is the guarantee of the harvest to come, when the master farmer redeems all things to himself. This promise is an active one. Even as we wait for this final redemption, the Spirit brings new life to those who, as branches to a vine, are in Christ Jesus. No longer do God’s people stand condemned under the law given at Sinai. We need not strive in fear to uphold the law lest we be excluded from the harvest. Instead, we are invited to receive the Holy Spirit, who unites us with Christ, our Savior—the first fruit of those who have died. In this unity there is life and peace, as the Spirit moves within us, giving us the power to do what the law could not do and we could not do on our own—bear the good fruit of a grateful life.Service OutlineCall to Worship Leader:On the day of Pentecost, the people gathered in Jerusalem to bring an offering of thanksgiving to the Lord.  All:Give thanks to God, for all his gifts!  Leader:The Spirit descended upon Jesus’ followers,and they began to speak in tongues.  All:We will lift up our voices and praise God’s name!  Leader:The Spirit, source of the first fruits, gives life and is the promise of the life to come.  All:Give thanks to the triune God,  for the promise of new life! Opening Song“Cantai ao Senhor/O Sing to the Lord” Brazil traditional, trans. CartfordGreetingMay the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,and the love of God,and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. —2 Corinthians 13:14 NRSVUESongs of Praise“King of Kings” Ligertwood et al.“Fear Not, Rejoice and Be Glad” WrightCall to ConfessionOn the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the gathered crowds, proclaiming that Jesus, who they had killed, was the Messiah. Grieved by their sin, the people asked Peter, “What shall we do?”Peter answered them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”—Acts 2:37–39, adapt. NIVLet us repent of our own sins, our own refusal to acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior, and ask for God’s forgiveness. Prayer of ConfessionAlmighty God,who sent the promised Holy Spirit to bring life and hope,we confess that we do not always trust this promise.Rather than rest in the assurance of our salvation,we live in fear, striving to uphold a law that is powerless to save.Our striving causes us to boast in our own power and righteousness,and to live in vain comparison with others.We forget that our salvation and our sanctificationare gifts from you.Forgive us for our pride and lack of trust. Help us live in gratitude and peace.We pray this through Christ our Lord,in the power of the Holy Spirit.Amen. Assurance of Pardon There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. —Romans 8:1–2, 11 NRSVUESong of Thanksgiving“Great Are You Lord” Leonard et al.Passing of the PeaceMay the God of hope fill youwith all joy and peace in believing,so that you may abound in hopeby the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.—Romans 15:13 NRSVUEPrayer for IlluminationScripture ReadingFirst Reading: Acts 2:1–4, 14a, 22–24, 32–39Psalm: Psalm 104:24–35Second Reading: Romans 8:1–25Sermon“The First Fruits of the Spirit”Song of Response“Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God” Getty and TownendBreath PrayerEarlier in the service we sang, “It’s your breath, in our lungs, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise.” On Pentecost we proclaim that our life is a gift, and everything we do that is good and just and beautiful and true, we do because of our union with Christ, through the power of the Spirit of God moving within us. One of the ways we experience this union with Christ is through prayer. [Before leading the congregation in the prayers of the people, consider leading them through a simple breath prayer as a way of underscoring the movement of the Spirit as the very breath in our lungs. As people breathe in slowly, you might say, “Holy Spirit, fill us with your presence.” As people breathe out, you might say, “that we might bear good fruit.” Do this a few times as a group, breathing slowly, before moving into the prayers of the people.]Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication & Doxology:“Come, Holy Ghost” Maurus, Benedict & MillsBenedictionMay the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God,and the communion of the Holy Spiritbe with you all.Amen. —2 Corinthians 13:14 NIVRevised Common LectionaryActsYear A: Easter—Day of PentecostYear B: Easter—Day of PentecostYear C: Easter—Day of PentecostYear A: Easter—Second Sunday of EasterYear A: Easter—Third Sunday of EasterYear A: Easter—Fourth Sunday of EasterPsalmYear A: Easter—Day of PentecostYear B: Easter—Day of PentecostYear C: Easter—Day of PentecostEpistleYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 10 (15)Year A: Lent—Fifth Sunday in LentYear B: Season after Pentecost—Trinity SundayYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 11 (16)Year C: Easter—Day of PentecostYear B: Easter—Day of Pentecost