Hospitality
Worship
THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE
Liturgical Aids
Call to Worship
Here within the shelter of God's holy presence do we come.
God is truly strength and protection against life's harm.
Here do we celebrate God's healing grace.
Here it is that we seek well--being for body, mind, and spirit.
We rejoice that God accepts all who come.
None is turned away; all are included in God's hospitality.
Praise be to God, for God's ways are merciful.
Praise be to God, for God's love is sure.
Invocation
Gracious and eternal God, unchanging, ever true, once again with arms opened wide you receive us into your helping, healing presence. You provide for each of us much needed respite from the storms of life which rage both within and without. We are here welcomed, and then strengthened for the journey. With a warmth that reflects your love, we come to know that we belong to something far greater than self, indeed a family widespread, from all parts, that bears your name. Thus do we rejoice and make this time one of heartfelt worship. Even as you gladly, joyfully share with us in such a complete way, may we likewise open ourselves to receive the good gifts that you bestow. In your name, above all names, do we pray. Amen.
Call to Confession
Though God seeks to meet our every need, this with mercy and an abundance that is truly amazing, we so often find pride and a lack of generosity usurping these godly traits as we confront the needs of others. We seek first a place for ourselves before we in any way show concern for our neighbor. Moreover, what we share is hardly abundance; rather, it is but a shriveled part of the whole. Let us confess to the hospitable God the many ways in which we have failed to show hospitality, asking God's forgiveness and a redirecting for our future.
Prayer of Confession
O most holy and gracious God, your message made known to us in Jesus the Christ is clear enough: we are to share ourselves with others in the same compassionate, caring way as you share yourself with us. Rather than using our energies to seek a place for self, we are to provide welcome, acceptance, and a place at the table of life to others - to all others that we encounter along life's way. What an assignment that is! What a challenge! Surely we cannot do it on our own. But with the love, the insight, the strength that you both promise and provide, the story can be different. Forgive us the folly of focusing on self. Widen our vision - to include all those many others around us. Moreover, grant us the wisdom to rely on the resources that you make available to us, for they will be more than enough for both self and neighbor. By so doing can our lives be remade - into the compassionate, caring servants you mean us to be. Let this be done, we pray, as we hold the example of Jesus ever before us. Amen.
Words of Assurance
The patience of God is indeed amazing. The compassionate nature of God is a sure sign of God's goodness - to us. A willingness to forgive, a willingness to share, the very resources of God made available to you and to me: this is the picture of God that we can hold with confidence and assurance. Moreover, it can remake our lives! Let us rejoice in the God who cares.
Thanks be to God for not only showing the way, but for providing us the resources to walk it faithfully.
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 112)
Praise the Lord! Happy are those who revere the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor.
Their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
Offering Sentences
Giving centers not so much on the amount as on our faithfulness in sharing what we have. This is the message that Jesus sought to impart. This is the teaching that should govern our giving, for as Jesus so demonstrated, this is the way to life in all its fullness. Let us follow that way in our living and in our giving.
Prayer of Dedication
Let these gifts carry forth your work of hospitality, O God. May they likewise involve us in ministries of hospitality - offering shelter to those who need a respite from the storms of life, holding forth healing to those wounded by the inconsiderateness of others. By this means, may some of your children, O God, find peace, this through your family acting indeed as family. In the name of the Christ, the head of the family, so be it!
Benediction
Let us depart this place of worship to be about our business as Christians - that of practicing hospitality. Let us remember that in God's sight there are no throwaway persons. Thus, let us share ourselves in Christ's name with all those whose paths shall this week intersect with ours. For such will be our greatest joy.
Here within the shelter of God's holy presence do we come.
God is truly strength and protection against life's harm.
Here do we celebrate God's healing grace.
Here it is that we seek well--being for body, mind, and spirit.
We rejoice that God accepts all who come.
None is turned away; all are included in God's hospitality.
Praise be to God, for God's ways are merciful.
Praise be to God, for God's love is sure.
Invocation
Gracious and eternal God, unchanging, ever true, once again with arms opened wide you receive us into your helping, healing presence. You provide for each of us much needed respite from the storms of life which rage both within and without. We are here welcomed, and then strengthened for the journey. With a warmth that reflects your love, we come to know that we belong to something far greater than self, indeed a family widespread, from all parts, that bears your name. Thus do we rejoice and make this time one of heartfelt worship. Even as you gladly, joyfully share with us in such a complete way, may we likewise open ourselves to receive the good gifts that you bestow. In your name, above all names, do we pray. Amen.
Call to Confession
Though God seeks to meet our every need, this with mercy and an abundance that is truly amazing, we so often find pride and a lack of generosity usurping these godly traits as we confront the needs of others. We seek first a place for ourselves before we in any way show concern for our neighbor. Moreover, what we share is hardly abundance; rather, it is but a shriveled part of the whole. Let us confess to the hospitable God the many ways in which we have failed to show hospitality, asking God's forgiveness and a redirecting for our future.
Prayer of Confession
O most holy and gracious God, your message made known to us in Jesus the Christ is clear enough: we are to share ourselves with others in the same compassionate, caring way as you share yourself with us. Rather than using our energies to seek a place for self, we are to provide welcome, acceptance, and a place at the table of life to others - to all others that we encounter along life's way. What an assignment that is! What a challenge! Surely we cannot do it on our own. But with the love, the insight, the strength that you both promise and provide, the story can be different. Forgive us the folly of focusing on self. Widen our vision - to include all those many others around us. Moreover, grant us the wisdom to rely on the resources that you make available to us, for they will be more than enough for both self and neighbor. By so doing can our lives be remade - into the compassionate, caring servants you mean us to be. Let this be done, we pray, as we hold the example of Jesus ever before us. Amen.
Words of Assurance
The patience of God is indeed amazing. The compassionate nature of God is a sure sign of God's goodness - to us. A willingness to forgive, a willingness to share, the very resources of God made available to you and to me: this is the picture of God that we can hold with confidence and assurance. Moreover, it can remake our lives! Let us rejoice in the God who cares.
Thanks be to God for not only showing the way, but for providing us the resources to walk it faithfully.
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 112)
Praise the Lord! Happy are those who revere the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.
Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor.
Their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
Offering Sentences
Giving centers not so much on the amount as on our faithfulness in sharing what we have. This is the message that Jesus sought to impart. This is the teaching that should govern our giving, for as Jesus so demonstrated, this is the way to life in all its fullness. Let us follow that way in our living and in our giving.
Prayer of Dedication
Let these gifts carry forth your work of hospitality, O God. May they likewise involve us in ministries of hospitality - offering shelter to those who need a respite from the storms of life, holding forth healing to those wounded by the inconsiderateness of others. By this means, may some of your children, O God, find peace, this through your family acting indeed as family. In the name of the Christ, the head of the family, so be it!
Benediction
Let us depart this place of worship to be about our business as Christians - that of practicing hospitality. Let us remember that in God's sight there are no throwaway persons. Thus, let us share ourselves in Christ's name with all those whose paths shall this week intersect with ours. For such will be our greatest joy.
