Sacred Journey
Welcome stand
P: God eternal and righteous God, Who created the heavens and the earth, we give you thanks:
C: For breath that ,ills us with your life, for love that softens us, & beauty revealed at every turn.
P: Christ redeeming and forgiving Son, who is always faithful and merciful. We give you thanks:
C: For redeeming our souls, transforming our lives, & giving us peace that calms our hearts.
P: Compassionate Spirit who sustains us, calling us into the family of God, We give you thanks:
C: For drawing us ever nearer to you, for caring when our hearts are aching, & all your generosity, lavish and over,lowing.
P: God who created the earth and the heavens, eternal, redeeming and sustaining One, We gather to give you thanks.
C: We come with hearts full of gratitude.
P: Through your will we are made whole, through your love we are renewed. Through your abiding presence we become community.
C: Thanks and praise to God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer through all eternity. Amen. We sing as we light candles:
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Please be seated after you have lighted a candle(s)
Lectio continua—Reader:
from Psalm 18
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked.
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring Jire from his mouth; glowing coals Jlamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub and Jlew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
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AM: Gracious and generous God we give you thanks:
C: For making each of us in your image.
AM: For caring and providing for us, we give you thanks:
C: For our clothes and homes that shelter and protect us, for our food that nourishes and strengthens us, for our friends and family who love and comfort us in times of need.
AM: We thank you for all the spiritual gifts you have given us.
C: You have provided your Word to guide us, your sacraments to nourish us, and most especially your own Son to redeem us and lead us back home.
AM: Thanks be to God.
C: Amen. adapted from Christine Sine, Godspace, 11/24/2020.
AM: Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
C: For great is his steadfast love toward us, his faithfulness endures forever.
AM: Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
C: for his steadfast love endures forever!
AM: Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD set me free.
C: The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
AM: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
C: The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
AM: Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:
C: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
AM: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
C: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. Amen. (from Ps 117-118) sit
Hymn of the Evening stand
Reflection
Centering Prayer: mercy from Matthew 18
[Jesus told this parable] “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him $20.6 Billion {10,000 talents} was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a $22,500 {100 denarii}; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?'
1. Place yourself in the parable as the slave owing billions of dollars: given time, how could you repay this enormous debt?
• As you (the indebted slave) encounter one who owed you a signiJicant, but repayable, amount of money, why wouldn’t you have mercy on him?
2. Place yourself in the story as Peter who is hearing this story for the Jirst time: how does the story make you feel?
• How do you think Peter and the 12 processed this teaching?
3. We read this story—now familiar to us—how does it make us feel?
• How good are we at living this radical forgiveness out?
Final verse of “Come Now, You Blessed”
Prayer in the Spirit:
AM: I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
C: My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
AM: I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
C: Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never ashamed.
AM: The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, & delivers them.
C: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
AM: The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
C: The LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
AM: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves them.
a moment of Silence
AM: Come, Holy Spirit, Come
C: Ignite within me true gratitude for all your blessings to me.
P: Thank you, King of the Universe…
AM: Thank you, Father of all Creation…
C: Thank you, Holy friend…
We invite God to help us count our Blessings:
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AM: Open my eyes that I may see...
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: May I see the provision you give me in this world—far more than the simple food, clothing, and shelter I require,
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: May I see the provision you give my mind and heart—love, and friendship; and far more information than I could ever drink in,
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: May I see provision you have made for my soul—in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the outpouring of your Divine Spirit on me,
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: Holy God we come before you humbled by your lavish generosity.
C: Thank you, Lord.
stand
Silence
Prayer of Thanksgiving
AM: Heavenly Father, giver of all that is good, it is in your abundant provision we gather tonight.
C: You call forth Life, and the earth grows plants that yield fruit and nourishment for our bodies and souls, and you have called it good.
AM: In your love, you provided both manna and quail to your people Israel as they Jled bondage in Egypt.
C: Tonight you set a heavenly banquet table for us to gather around, as we ,lee bondages of our own. We give you thanks.
AM: Jesus, Bread of Heaven, & Living Water, your grace sustains us.
C: Like a mother nursing her child, you feed us with your very body. You teach us to share your compassion, mercy, and reconciliation.
AM: The generosity of your love Jills the empty places in our lives and souls, so we may bring your love to the empty places in others.
C: Your provision knows no end. For this, we give you thanks.
AM: Holy Spirit, Wisdom of God, you call us, gather us, and enlighten our hearts and minds. You birth us into Christ.
C: With thankful hearts, we gather at your Table, Glory to you!
P: We gather here and ask you to feed us once again with the fruit of both Jield and vine; may they become for us the Body and the Blood of Jesus our Savior.
C: Bind us with Jesus, and bind us to one another.
P: We join our hearts, & lift our voices in prayer, as Jesus taught us:
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
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Communion
P: The Jirst thing Jesus did with both the bread and the wine on that sacred night was to give thanks for them. We hear these words every time we celebrate this meal, but do we reJlect on the depth of this thanksgiving?
C: Make us truly grateful, Father.
Communion Song: repeated Please form a close circle around the Altar
P: The invitation to this Table is open to all. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, Pharisees and master scribes. Regardless of how you come here tonight, you are welcome. Jesus desires to eat this meal with you.
C: Come, Lord Jesus, join us here and feed our faith.
Verse
P: We offer you our praise, blessed Father, and lift our hearts before you. For the earth we give you thanks and ask your blessing.
C: We ask you to bless this bread and wine, that it may be for us the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing.
Verse
P: Jesus, on the night before he suffered, took bread, and holding it before his followers, he gave thanks to you, he blessed it, broke it and gave it to them, saying: “Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you.”
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Verse
P: Then he took the cup, blessed the wine, and gave it to them saying: “Take and drink, this is my blood, shed for the forgiveness of all.”
Verse
P: May all who share in this bread and wine be blessed in your love.
C: Amen. Thanks be to God!
Verse distribution
P: Dear Jesus, every time we celebrate this meal together, we do it in memory of you. May your spirit of thanksgiving remind us of your love and provision. As we leave the Table nourished il, we ask your blessing on the many tables we will eat at this week. May they be tables of blessing for those who break bread together.
C: Amen.
P: Lord, you have welcomed us here tonight, and heard our praises and our prayers,
C: Now send us out to live and work to your glory. Amen.
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First Lutheran Church
1663 Main St W Barnstable, MA 02668 ofJice@Jirstcapecod.org
Pastor: Rev Dr Derek J Cheek Music Minister: Eric Williams Sexton: Chuck Fillian One License # A728-108
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