October 4, 2020

St. David’s United Church Order of Worship
October 4, 2020 Worldwide Communion, Season of Creation
 
News and Announcements
 
Prelude
 
Lighting of Candle
In the scriptures, we are given the law, a tradition arising from our Jewish forebears. In that tradition, the law firmed up a community in the mix of daily life.
In the Christian tradition, the laws are firmed up in Jesus’ call, “Come, follow me. Love your neighbour as yourself.”
We light this candle as a people who know Jesus as the source of grace revealing the way and empowering us to follow.
 
Singing:    #457 VU As We Gather at Your Table
 
Call to Worship and Gathering Prayers
Creating God, giver of our first breath,
we breathe our praises to you.
(pause)
Creating God, with breath we form our words
our melodies, our songs, and our prayers.
Breathing together as a community,
we break bread and reach out in compassion.
Breathing together as a community,
we find one rhythm, one heart, one voice,
formed by our many rhythms, many hearts,
many voices.
Creating God,
may we breathe well together this morning;
may we be aware of our own breath;
may we be aware of our neighbour’s breath;
may we be aware of this community
breathing together;
may we become aware of the breath of all creation.
May we receive the breath of blessing,
then return that breath
for the blessing of the world.
One God, One Heart, One Rhythm, One Breath,
with the rhythms of our hearts and breath,
we praise you.
Let everything that breathes praise you, our God. Amen.
 
Coming Together
Nourished by God
 
Reading from Scripture:
Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20        New Revised Standard Version
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A+1-4%2C+7-9%2C+12-20&version=NRSV
 
Philippians 3:4b-14  reading from Contemporary English Version
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203&version=CEV

We respond:
In ages past, disciples, prophets, priests and historians wrote down their faith. 
This is a faithful witness of our ancestors. 
Word of God for us today.
Thanks be to God.
 
Sermon:  Refreshed by God
 
Singing:   #106 MV  I Am the Dream
 
Giving Our Offerings:
 
Doxology  VU#916 Lord's Prayer translation
     
Offering Prayer:
God has shown us the meaning of generosity
through the beauty of creation,
the love of Jesus Christ,
and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
As we have been blessed by God,
we are called to be a community
that blesses others and blesses the earth.
God we join together and ask that you bless our week’s offering.
 
Prayer of the People
 
We prepare now to give thanks to God at this table.
HYMN  Singing: #18 MV Lord, Prepare Me
 
Prayers at the Table
One: The Lord be with you.
All:   And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All:   We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All:   It is right to give our thanks and praise.
 
The Great Thanksgiving
HYMN:  Holy Holy Holy - Tune VU 932
All:   Holy, holy, holy, are you,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest!
 
The Lord’s Prayer
 
Prayer after Communion
Holy God, God of all people and places,
you have called us by name and promised us your abiding love.
Unite us as we celebrate our connection
to the multitudes who gather around feasts as we do,
feasts that name you present in Jesus Christ.
Surprise us as we leave this place of sanctuary
and go into the world to love and serve others. Amen.
 
Singing: #89 MV Love Is the Touch
 
Sending Out
May you be blessed and strengthened
by Almighty God to move gently upon the earth.
May we remember to stop when we have done enough,
and to rest when we are weary,
Let us all go to rejoice in all creation and enjoy the Sabbath! Amen.
Thanks be to God.