Hybrid Church, Reign of Christ, November 20, 2022,Rev. Karen Hollis

Hybrid Church, Reign of Christ, November 20, 2022

Rev. Karen Hollis

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich

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!

Welcome 

If you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ. 

Land Acknowledgment & Announcements

Centering & Stillness

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

Almighty God,                                                                         

 To you all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from you no secrets are hidden.

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect                                                                                                        UCC Worship Ways, adapted

Though many forces have scattered us in various ways, we long for you to bring us together within ourselves and all around us. Prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits, Gathering God, to encounter you today and receive exactly what we need from this time of worship. Amen.

Hymn: As the Deer Pants for the Water                                             VU #766

1As the deer pants for the water,

so my soul longs after you;

you alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship you.

[Refrain] You alone are my strength, my shield

to you alone may my spirit yield;

you alone are my heart's desire,

and I long to worship you.

 

2I want you more than gold or silver,

only you can satisfy;

you alone are the real joy-giver

and the apple of my eye. [Refrain]                                                2

3You're my friend and you are my brother,

even though you are a king;

I love you more than any other,

so much more than anything! [Refrain]

 

Prayer of Confession 

Compassionate God, it is so easy for us to get caught up in the busyness of life, lost in our to-do lists, trapped in patterns of thought, steeped in things out of our control. We suddenly look up and find we have strayed from that which keeps us connected to you. Find us, we pray . . . wherever we are, come and find us, O God. 

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Grace

Whether we find ourselves at Christ’s feet or out in the wilderness, 

God is with us, with arms out to embrace us. Thanks be to God! 

Passing of the Peace 

Christ’s peace is an invitation to healing, wholeness, and reconciliation. It is not an easy peace . . . still, it is a lasting peace. Let us celebrate the peace Christ brings. 

One:    The peace of Christ be with you! 

All:      And also with you!

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another.

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)                                 Reader: David Soy

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD. The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

Psalm 46: (VU #770 Refrain 2)                                           Reader: David Soy                        

God is our refuge and strength,

            a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth should quake,

and the mountains fall into the depths of the sea,

          though the waters of the sea rage and foam,

          and the mountains tremble at the tumult.   R                             3

There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God,

sanctifying the dwelling of the Most High.

          God is in the midst of the city, it shall not be moved.

          God will help at the break of day.

Nations are in tumult, empires are shaken,

          for God speaks and the earth melts away.   R

Come and see what God has done,

The wonders wrought upon the earth.

          God makes wars to cease in all the world,

          God breaks the bow and snaps the spear,

          and burns the shields in the fire.

Be still and know that I am God,

          exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth.

The God of Hosts is with us,

          the God of Jacob is our refuge.   R

Gospel Reading                                                                                      Reader: David Soy

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel. 

Reader:           God be with you.         

All:      And also with you

Reader:           The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Luke

All:          Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.                                             

Luke 23:33-43 (NRSV) When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are 

getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

       Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.   

       All:        Praise be to Jesus Christ       

Reflection                                                                                                                                

Silent Reflection

Hymn: My Love Colours Outside the Lines                                                 MV #138

Apostle’s Creed

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People                                                                               Susan Brockley

One:  Jesus, Good Shepherd,

All:    Hear Our Prayer.

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                                                          VU #959

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

Invitation to the Offering                                                                         enfleshed, adapted

“We must not portray you in king’s robes, you drifting mist that brought forth the morning,” writes Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. Today as we gather our offerings, we strive to do so without dictating what’s best for other beings, but entrusting mutuality to move resources to where they might support thriving.

Doxology                                                                                                                                         CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer                                                                                                              enfleshed

Sacred Love, we do not praise titles nor positions of power. We praise those who, like our example, Jesus, teach us about the art of presence—the toddler, the contemplative, the pet, the person nearing death. In the Kin-dom of God, the table is set for all. The meal is family-style—all of us giving and receiving, eating and feeding each other. Bless our offerings to this purpose. Amen.

Invitation to Communion                                                     

Jesus said, gather together… gather around the table and remember me. This is the purpose of ritual, to do things that bring attention to the things that are important… to the things we need to remember. Jesus the Christ gave us the Eucharist to remind us of his presence among us … in the bread, in the spoken words, in the faces around us, in this gathering of Christ's body. Come to this table, whoever you are… it is Christ who invites us to meet him here.

The Great Thanksgiving                                                             enfleshed

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to God.

One: Let us give thanks to God most high.

All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God, your invitation to come and feast in your presence is but a taste of the love you extend to us every day. By your very nature, you are always seeking us out – searching for ways to connect us and connect with us. You meet us in the most ordinary of places and you make them sacred. By your grace, we come to recognize the holiness that dwells in the world around us, in our neighbors, in our own internal depths. Therefore we join our voices with your people on earth and all the company of the heavens, singing praise to you,                                 6            

Sanctus                                                                                                          MV #203

O Holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.

Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

Blessed are you and blessed is your eternal table. You welcome all who thirst for justice and hunger to grow in love. You ask us to extend this same welcome to all our neighbors, but God, since our beginning, we have struggled. And so in your love for us, you took on flesh in Jesus. Through his life, you pointed to your presence on the margins. You revealed the sacredness in all life. You showed us how to live together, even among forces of destruction.

Believing it could transform the world, Jesus proclaimed the Good News. He called for the captives to be set free. He spoke of the lowly being lifted up. He talked of redistributing wealth and eradicating the causes of poverty. His commitment to practicing love knew no bounds – not even the bounds of death.

On the night of his arrest, Jesus shared a meal with his companions.

He took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples and said:

“This is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

After the meal, he took the cup, blessed it, and shared it saying:

“This cup that is poured out is the new covenant.”

In remembrance of all you have done to save us,

we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Christ was birthed among us.

Christ was killed among us.

Christ rises again among us. 

Pour out your Spirit on these gifts, O God. Make these ordinary elements into the Sacred gift of your presence with us once again. May they awaken us anew to your everlasting invitation into a life of resurrection. Aliven us in our pursuit of a world where all needs are met, power is balanced, and the worth of every creature and creation is celebrated.

Glory and honour to you Triune God, 

dynamic of love, complete and perfect unity, 

now, and in all ages.

Amen

Breaking the Bread

One:  We break this bread to share in the body of Christ

All:    We, being many, are one body, 

          for we all share in the one bread.

One: These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

All:    Thanks be to God.

One:  Let us all who are gathered here receive Christ in our hearts. Those gathered in the sanctuary are also invited to receive a wafer.

Please keep to your right as you process up behind the communion table to receive and continue around, back to your seat. If you prefer to remain in your seat and socially distanced, indicate so to the usher and you will be served in the pew. Gluten Free is available upon request.

Communion Hymn: As We Gather at Your Table             VU #457

1My love colours outside the lines,

exploring paths that few could ever find;

and takes me into places

where I’ve never been before,

and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

[Refrain] We’ll never walk on water

If we’re not prepared to drown,

body and soul need a soaking

from time to time.

And we’ll never move the gravestones

if we’re not prepared to die,

and realize there are worlds outside the lines.

2My Lord colours outside the lines,

turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;

and takes me into places

where I’ve never been before

and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.   R

5

3My soul longs to colour outside the lines,

tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;

I want to walk beyond the boundaries

where I’ve never been before,

throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.   R

Prayer After Communion                                                           enfleshed

God, by the bread of heaven and the cup of life, you make us one body. Bind us together by your spirit that we might live into your hopes for us, a community centered in Christ and rich in compassion, commitment, courage, and care. May it be so.

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.                                                                                               

Hymn: Lord, the Light of Your Love is Shining                CP #460

1Lord, the light of your love is shining

in the midst of the darkness, shining;

Jesus, Light of the World shine upon us,

set us free by the truth You now bring us,

shine on me, shine on me.

[Refrain} Shine, Jesus, shine,

fill this land with the Father's glory;

blaze Spirit, blaze,

set our hearts on fire.

Flow, river, flow,

flood the nations with grace and mercy;

send forth your word, Lord, 

and let there be light.

2Lord, I come to your awesome presence,

from the shadows into your radiance;

by the blood I may enter your brightness,

search me, try me, consume all the darkness.

shine on me, shine on me.   R

3As we gaze on your kingly brightness

so our faces display your likeness;

ever changing from glory to glory,

mirrored here may our lives tell your story,

shine on me, shine on me.   R

Thank You

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.

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

Right/Zoom: 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!