30th Sunday in Ordinary Time year A

Reformation Sunday

First Reading Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Gospel Matthew 22:34-46

Call to Worship:  in the Spirit of Psalm 90
     Welcome all to this dwelling place
     We enter this space that surpass the generations of the past and will welcome the generations         to come
     The Holy surrounding us welcomes us our Creator who formed us and the world
     Holy God have compassion on us, your servants 
     Engulf us in your love as we rejoice in your Holiness
     We rejoice and are glad in all our days
     Let the favor of our Lord be upon us
     Let our worship and work in our hands glorify you

Confession: 

    Loving sustainer, as we sit in our pews we remember all those mothers and fathers of our faith who praised and confessed before us; especially as we celebrate the reformers of the past we are reminded of the many transgressions that the church continues to commit.   Grant us courage to change and equip our futures; grant us forgiveness in the sins we continue.  Help us to stand strong in the wake of social justice and firm in your will.  Help us to find wisdom in frustration; spread love instead of hate; share joy instead of anger and forgiveness instead of resentment.  As our church celebrates its history helps us to speak the truth of our sins and embrace the grace of your glory...(assurance of pardon) Amen.   

Prayer of illumination: 

     Holy Spirit descend into our hearts this morning and allow the Words read and spoken to move in us and through us to inspire us.  We are thankful for the reformers who boldly brought the Word to our spoken language so that we may come to understand our own relationship with you.  Today, as the Church celebrates across the world the movement that a few bold Christians started stir in us the spirit of change, the spirit of reform and the spirit of life.  Amen

Dedication: 

     Loving sustainer, we lift up to you today the blessings in our life.  We lift up to you all the gifts we share with the church including our time, energy and money.  We ask that you give us guidance as we use these gifts to equip the future of the church.  Grant us discerning hearts and wisdom in our decisions so that your will will reign in this church; further offering your glory to our church, our community and the world. Amen