Home Church 7th Sunday after Epiphany, February 20, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis, Sermon Rev Sally Bullas

Home Church 7th Sunday after Epiphany, February 20, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Preparing the Space Around Us

Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. 

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Introit: Open Our Hearts      MV #21

Open our hearts, open our minds.

Open our lives to you O loving God.

Greeting
One:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

          and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:    And also with you       

Call to Worship    UCC Worship Ways, adapted

One:  Holy and gracious God, we come hungry for your presence; 

All:    where do we find you?

One:  Find me at your table,

All:    We’ll share your food

One:  Find me in your resources,

All:    We’ll share your riches

One:  Find me in your power,

All:    We’ll share your mercy

One:  Find me in your pain,

All:    We’ll share your forgiveness

One:  Find me in your generosity,

All:    We’ll share all, and expect nothing in return

Opening Prayer:                                            

Loving God, in times of need and in times of plenty, we look to you as the source of all that feeds us, all that nourishes us. We come to this time of worship to connect with our gratitude that you care for us and all creation. Amen.

Hymn: Grateful    MV #182

[Refrain]

Grateful for the life you give us,

thankful for your Holy Son,

joyful in your Spirit flowing over all,

O God of Love.

Grateful for the Bread of Heaven,

thankful for your Holy Word,

joyful in your mercy flowing,

we will praise you.

1 You are more than we imagine,

Ancient, Holy Living Lord.

Even when we doubt your presence

you are faithful to your Word. [Refrain]

2 May our lives proclaim your justice,

may our voices sing your praise.

May our hands work in your service

to the glory of your name. [Refrain]

Prayer of Confession                                                     

One:  Please join me in the prayer of confession. Merciful God, we           confess that we have been thirsty for your love, and yet we have  not turned to you for drink.

All:    You would satisfy our thirsts, but we would rather be satisfied

          on our own terms than turn to you.

One:  Remembering God's goodness, let us share our truth with God . . .

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Grace

God’s grace is a river flowing through creation, always present, always inviting us to drink from the source that never runs out. 

Peace of Christ 

Seeing as how we are reconciled with God, let us be reconciled with one another through the peace that surpasses all understanding.   

          N-Z: The Peace of Christ be with you!

          A-M: And also with you!

First Reading: Genesis 45:3-11, 15        Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce

Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me." And they came closer. He said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there--since there are five more years of famine to come--so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.' And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

Second Reading: Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 (Voices United)    Reader: Brad Nixon

Do not fret because of the wicked, or envy those who do evil.

For they soon wither like grass 

and fade away like the green leaf.

Trust in God and do good,

       dwell in the land and there find safe pasture.

Find your delight in God,

       who will grant the desires of your heart.

God will make your vindication shine like the light,

       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before God and wait patiently;

       do not fret because some prosper in evil schemes.

Let go of anger and abandon wrath.

       Do not fret – it can only do harm.

Those who do evil shall be cut off,

       but those who look to God shall inherit the earth.

In a little while the wicked will be no more;

       you will look where they were and their place will be empty.

But the meek shall inherit the earth;

       they shall enjoy fullness of peace.

Salvation for the righteous comes from God, 

their refuge in time of trouble.

God helps and delivers, 

and rescues from the wicked those who seek shelter.

Gospel Reading       Reader: Brad Nixon

One:  God be with you.            

All:    And also with you.

One:  The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Luke;

All:    Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 6:27-38 (NRSV)

"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection      Sally Bullas (attached)                 

Silent Reflection

Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

You are the new song.

You are the next beat in my heart.

You are the praise and possibility. 

You are the present and the future.

I believe the Light of the World has come this day. 

I see it now in all days. 

Those gone and those to come aflame in love.

Your love wrapped in human form,

Your love learned in justice and in mercy,

Your love risen over death.

I believe love has come on this day.

I believe love has and will always come.                                             

Prayers of the People      Paddy Waymark (attached)

One:  Loving and Challenging God, 

All:    Hear Our Prayers

Lord’s Prayer                                                 

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 for ever. Amen.

Offering   Shelagh Huston and David Soy 

Offering Prayer  

Loving God, we are so grateful for this community and for the dream and vision you have given us. Bless us in all we do and all we strive to be; bless each person and all the ways we give, all the ways we serve, that by coming together we may make your love known.

Hymn: Give Thanks, My Soul, for Harvest   VU #522

1 Give thanks, my soul, for harvest,

for store of fruit and grain;

but know the owner gives so

that we may share again.

Where people suffer hunger,

or little children cry,

with gifts from God’s rich bounty

may thankfulness reply.

2 Give thanks, my soul, for riches

of woodland, mine, and hill;

but know that gold and timber

are the Creator's still.

God lends to us, as stewards,

abundance we might share,

and thus provide earth's children

the blessing of God's care.

3 Give thanks, my soul, for labours,

that strength and days employ;

but know the Maker's purpose

brings toil as well as joy.

Show forth, O God, your purpose;

direct our will and hand

to share your love and bounty

with all in every land.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing        Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:  The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,           guiding you, cherishing you.

N-Z:   The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories,            feeding you, challenging you.

A-M:  The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom,           comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living,  guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a           community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!