We gather for communion this Sunday and celebrate the way that Jesus’ Spirit binds us together in a body of life and joy. We’ll listen to stories of healing that give us hope. All the words that we’ll be using for worship are below. But, you can also download and print a copy here.

Prelude                              “Abide With Me”

Call to Worship – Psalm 146

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever;
   who executes justice for the oppressed;
   who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign for ever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

 Song – O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing #590

Prayer of Confession

Most High and holy God, some of us come to you feeling imprisoned; in our minds or to addiction. Others of us bow before you unable to see; our purpose or the future. Some of us feel estranged; from you or from a community of belonging. Others harbor some wickedness that we can’t control; prejudice or pride. So, we confess our need for your presence to set free, to open, to lift up, to welcome in, to ruin what is wicked within us. Bless us all with your Holy Spirit so that we might enjoy your help and find hope. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Song – You Are My Hiding Place #412

Words of Assurance

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 

Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 

But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise

Anthem – Waymaker

Scripture – Luke 7:1-17

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

7After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. ²A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. ³When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. ⁴When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, ⁵for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ ⁶And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; ⁷therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ ⁹When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’ ¹⁰When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Jesus Raises the Widow’s Son at Nain

11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. ¹²As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. ¹³When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ ¹⁴Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. ¹⁶Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’ ¹⁷This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

Sermon

Song – There Is a Redeemer #833

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord be with you.

AND ALSO WITH YOU.

Lift up your hearts.

WE LIFT THEM TO THE LORD.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.

O Holy God… we lift our hearts in joyful praise:

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.

We praise you… until we feast together in your eternal Kingdom

THROUGH CHRIST, WITH CHRIST, IN CHRIST, IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL GLORY AND HONOR ARE YOURS, ALMIGHTY GOD, NOW AND FOREVER.  AMEN

Prayers w/ 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Offertory – Truth I’m Standing On  sung by Aaliyah George

Benediction

Sending Song – I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me  #854