PRELUDE
GATHERING
GREETING & WELCOME
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.
OPENING MUSIC--“Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending,” ELW #435
GATHERING
GREETING & WELCOME
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And also with you.
OPENING MUSIC--“Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending,” ELW #435
CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Through Moses, God said,
All: “Let my people go.”
L: In scripture, the law declares:
All: “In the seventh year, you must cancel all debts.”
L: With grace, Jesus said:
All: “Give one coat away.”
L: With honesty, Jesus taught:
All: “Sell what you have, give that money to the poor.”
L: Faith has always involved letting go, releasing, setting free, dropping our nets, giving to others, and following.
All: So in this hour of worship, may we release that which binds us. May we worship with open, untamed, and porous hearts, so that we can walk freely with God.
L: Let it be so.
All: Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
L: Let us confess our sins to God.
Gracious God,
All: We admit to holding tight to that which we know and understand.
We put you in a box to avoid the shades of gray that come with faith.
We put worship in a box to avoid the discomfort of change.
We put ourselves in boxes labeled with gender expectations and societal norms.
We put others in boxes labeled “worthy” and “unworthy.”
We put all that we have in a box and pray we won’t run out.
So in this moment, we confess to holding tight to fear, greed, and worldly structures.
Forgive us for missing the point.
Open our eyes to a new way—to a holiness found in open boxes, unclenched fists, shades of gray, and holy release.
Gratefully we pray,
Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
L: Gracious God,
We release our hearts to you.
First, we remove the pressure,
For release requires the freedom to be moved.
Then we allow our hearts to return to their original resting position--
In sync with you, with the rhythm of summer cicadas, and this whole wild creation.
Then, we pray that you will find our hearts available--
Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
So like the mockingbird releases her song,
We release our hearts to you.
Move in them.
Stir us awake.
Speak to us now.
We are waiting.
Amen.
WORD
SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Word of God; Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Matthew 19:16-22
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE--Pastor Tobi White
HYMN OF THE DAY “Blessed Be the God of Israel,” ELW #552
L: Through Moses, God said,
All: “Let my people go.”
L: In scripture, the law declares:
All: “In the seventh year, you must cancel all debts.”
L: With grace, Jesus said:
All: “Give one coat away.”
L: With honesty, Jesus taught:
All: “Sell what you have, give that money to the poor.”
L: Faith has always involved letting go, releasing, setting free, dropping our nets, giving to others, and following.
All: So in this hour of worship, may we release that which binds us. May we worship with open, untamed, and porous hearts, so that we can walk freely with God.
L: Let it be so.
All: Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
L: Let us confess our sins to God.
Gracious God,
All: We admit to holding tight to that which we know and understand.
We put you in a box to avoid the shades of gray that come with faith.
We put worship in a box to avoid the discomfort of change.
We put ourselves in boxes labeled with gender expectations and societal norms.
We put others in boxes labeled “worthy” and “unworthy.”
We put all that we have in a box and pray we won’t run out.
So in this moment, we confess to holding tight to fear, greed, and worldly structures.
Forgive us for missing the point.
Open our eyes to a new way—to a holiness found in open boxes, unclenched fists, shades of gray, and holy release.
Gratefully we pray,
Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
L: Gracious God,
We release our hearts to you.
First, we remove the pressure,
For release requires the freedom to be moved.
Then we allow our hearts to return to their original resting position--
In sync with you, with the rhythm of summer cicadas, and this whole wild creation.
Then, we pray that you will find our hearts available--
Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
So like the mockingbird releases her song,
We release our hearts to you.
Move in them.
Stir us awake.
Speak to us now.
We are waiting.
Amen.
WORD
SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Word of God; Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Matthew 19:16-22
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE--Pastor Tobi White
HYMN OF THE DAY “Blessed Be the God of Israel,” ELW #552
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH—Release
L: Let us confess our faith together:
All: We believe that on the first day,
God released love and creativity over a void;
and that void became mountains and rivers, sunsets and starry nights.
We believe God released
God’s people from the grips of slavery,
liberating us day in and day out.
We believe God laid down with death
and was released from its grip,
knowing suffering and freeing us from this fragile life.
And we believe God invites us--
day in and day out--
to release our fears,
let go of assumptions, tear down walls,
throw open the doors, and walk closer to love.
May it be so.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
MEAL
PASSING THE PEACE
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
All: And also with you.
PRAYER OF OFFERING DEDICATION
L: Holy God,
It is not always easy to give what we have.
We count pennies.
We weigh the pros and cons.
We calculate what we have given before,
And we remind ourselves what we are giving to now.
We all have our money stories.
And yet,
Even though it can take work for us to practice release,
We trust that you can take these gifts--
However freely or reluctantly given--
And use them to build a more beautiful world.
For that is who you are.
You are forever building castles out of sand,
Disciples out of people, and new life out of cautious gifts.
We believe; help our unbelief.
In Christ’s name we pray,
Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
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,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER
L: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
All: Amen.
L: Holy God,
As we leave this table, help us to remember this moment.
Help us remember that with you, all are invited.
Help us remember that with you, there is a seat for everyone.
Help us remember that with you, there is enough food to go around,
even in the wilderness.
Help us remember so that as we go, we can build tables like this in the world.
We need more tables like this in the world.
Gratefully we pray,
All: Amen.
BENEDICTION
L: The blessing of God, Sovereign, ☩ Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always.
All: Amen.
SENDING
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MILESTONES
SENDING MUSIC “Blessed Assurance”, ELW #638
L: Let us confess our faith together:
All: We believe that on the first day,
God released love and creativity over a void;
and that void became mountains and rivers, sunsets and starry nights.
We believe God released
God’s people from the grips of slavery,
liberating us day in and day out.
We believe God laid down with death
and was released from its grip,
knowing suffering and freeing us from this fragile life.
And we believe God invites us--
day in and day out--
to release our fears,
let go of assumptions, tear down walls,
throw open the doors, and walk closer to love.
May it be so.
Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
MEAL
PASSING THE PEACE
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
All: And also with you.
PRAYER OF OFFERING DEDICATION
L: Holy God,
It is not always easy to give what we have.
We count pennies.
We weigh the pros and cons.
We calculate what we have given before,
And we remind ourselves what we are giving to now.
We all have our money stories.
And yet,
Even though it can take work for us to practice release,
We trust that you can take these gifts--
However freely or reluctantly given--
And use them to build a more beautiful world.
For that is who you are.
You are forever building castles out of sand,
Disciples out of people, and new life out of cautious gifts.
We believe; help our unbelief.
In Christ’s name we pray,
Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
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,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
PARTAKING OF COMMUNION
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER
L: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
All: Amen.
L: Holy God,
As we leave this table, help us to remember this moment.
Help us remember that with you, all are invited.
Help us remember that with you, there is a seat for everyone.
Help us remember that with you, there is enough food to go around,
even in the wilderness.
Help us remember so that as we go, we can build tables like this in the world.
We need more tables like this in the world.
Gratefully we pray,
All: Amen.
BENEDICTION
L: The blessing of God, Sovereign, ☩ Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always.
All: Amen.
SENDING
ANNOUNCEMENTS & MILESTONES
SENDING MUSIC “Blessed Assurance”, ELW #638
DISMISSAL
L: Go in peace. Release your hearts.
All: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
L: Go in peace. Release your hearts.
All: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
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