GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST
Welcome to Graduation Sunday
Sharing of Announcements
*Call to Worship
Liturgist: The Spirit of the Lord is upon us.
People: The Spirit of the Lord is in us.
Liturgist: Anointing us,
People: Sending us.
Liturgist: To bring good news
People: to bind up
Liturgist: to proclaim favor
People: to comfort
Liturgist: to provide
People: to loosen.
Liturgist: The day of the Lord is coming.
People: The day of the Lord has come.
(Written by Katherine Hawker (2004), and posted on Liturgy Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/)
*Opening Prayer
Holy One, your kingdom always takes us by surprise— like a mustard seed growing into a great shrub where the birds of the air can build their nests; like a treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great price. May we desire your kingdom more than we value worldly things, through Christ, who shows us the way. Amen.
(The Abingdon Worship Annual 2017)
Opening Hymn
"Take Our Bread"
UMH #640
Graduation Recognition and Blessings
COMMUNION
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We offer our thanks and praise, O God, for the glories of creation: for the black velvet of the night sky that allows the stars to twinkle, and the moon to glow; for the sun that peeks over the horizon and paints the sky as it sets. We offer our thanks and praise for the heavens and the inhabitants of Heaven, for the cloud of witnesses. We on earth sing with them above as we say together these words:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, Holy One, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Born in the stillness of night, he knew the love of family and stranger alike. Threatened by evil, he fled to a distant land. Endowed with the spirit, he taught about grace and forgiveness, and he healed the sick, and confronted the powerful. In humility and trust, he lay down his life that he might rise again and bring new life to the world.
Great is the mystery.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
For the gifts of his life and presence, we give you thanks, and ask for one thing more: that your Spirit descend now upon us, upon this table, that the bread we break and the cup we share would be transformed from their ordinariness to sacred things. As we share one loaf and one cup, may we become one with the world, bringing good news to all. And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O Jesus, our beloved, we give you thanks for inviting us to your table and sharing your feast. May we know that we have been fed with love and grace, and may we follow you out in the world, ambassadors of your hope and peace. Amen.
(by Beth Merrill Neel)
Message in Music
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”
Newton, Tomlin, and Giglio
The Till Family - Mother and Daughter Duet
ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD
Scripture Reading
Luke 4:16-24
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown.
Verses 28-30
28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Message
“Jesus Before Christianity (4), Jesus and the Kingdom of God”
Pastor Seok-Hwan
WE RESPOND
*Offertory Prayer
Giver of all good gifts, help us be kingdom builders as we offer our gifts to the world. May our gifts be like treasure in a field for those waiting for new life. May our offerings be like yeast for those hungering for their daily bread. Bless our lives and our giving, that we might be part of the great mystery of kingdom building, in world waiting to be remade. Amen.
(The Abingdon Worship Annual 2017)
*Closing Hymn
“We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations”
UMH #569
The Blessing and Sending Forth
Online
Video: Bill Kruger
Liturgist: Bev Welsh
In-Person
Liturgist: Jill Lohmeier
Projection: Sharon Lipp
Organist: Matt Cron
