Hybrid Service, 20th Sunday after Pentecost, October 23, 2022

Hybrid Church

20th Sunday after Pentecost

October 23, 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 & Announcements

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. 

 

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

 

Call to Worship                                                                                                 

One:  Praise be to God who pours out Her spirit upon all life.

All:    She gives us everything we need to build beloved community.

One:  Gathering us into Her dwelling place, She strengthens us.

All:    In Her presence, the weary are renewed and joy is restored.

One:  From all the edges of the earth, She calls to those who desire to grow in Love.

All:    Coming home to the presence of God is also a coming home to each other. With hearts awake to the wonder of this Sacred calling, let us worship God.

 

Opening Prayer                                                                                          

God, make us sincere in spirit. Whether we find ourselves being humbled before one another or extending mercy to a neighbor, may we mean what we say and what we do. Lead us in pursuit of authentic relationship with one another, hindered neither by pride nor pretense nor fear. With the Spirit of Christ as our guide, may it be so.

 

Hymn: Grateful                                                                           MV #182

 

Prayer of Confession                                                           The Pattern of Our Days, Iona

One:  Searching and creative Spirit of God,

All:    who makes community from the raw materials of our lives

teach us the humility to learn from those who know a true rejoicing through Jesus Christ, who simply revealed your glory.

 

silent prayer of confession

 

Assurance of Grace 

Let us give thanks to God, who brings us back again and again to love… the foundation of community.

 

 

Passing of the Peace 

Christ is not only our host, but the unseen guest in our midst – let us share the peace he 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: Joel 2:23-32                                                          Reader: David Soy

O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame. Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

 

Psalm 65                                                                                                                                  VU p. 783

1 To bless the earth, God sends us 

from heaven's abundant store

the waters of the springtime,

enriching it once more.

 

2 The seed by God provided

is sown o’er hill and plain,

and then come gentle showers

to bless the springing grain.

3 God crowns the year with goodness,

the earth God's mercy fills,

the wilderness is fruitful,

and joyful are the hills.

 

4 With grain the fields are covered,

the flocks in pastures graze;

all nature joins in singing

a joyful song of praise.

 

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 18:9-14 (NRSV) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

 

Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.   

All:          Praise be to Jesus Christ       

 

Reflection: 

Silent Reflection

 

Hymn: We Are Pilgrims v. 1,2,3,4,6                                                          VU #595

 

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:  God of Hope

All:    Hear Our Prayer

 

Lord’s Prayer (sung)                                                                                                     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.

 

Invitation to the Offering 

 

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, adapted

Holy One, in whatever ways we have wandered from right-relationship with you, our neighbors, or ourselves - restore us. Bring us back to our place in the whole of things - none more or less valuable than another. May we share justly and equitably all that we have materially, spiritually, and relationally. Amen.

 

 

Hymn: What Does the Lord Require of You (3x)                        VU #701

What does the Lord require of you?

What does the Lord require of you?

Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.

To seek justice, and love kindness, 

and walk humbly with your God.

 

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.

Men: The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories,

          feeding you, challenging you.

Women: 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!