Gathering Music

“On Eagles Wings” by Michael Joncas

And God will raise you up
On eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of God’s hand.

Call to Worship

One: Wherever you are, Almighty God, beauty surrounds you. My soul yearns for the presence of the Holy One.

All: Our hearts, our very being cries out for the presence of the Living God.

One: Even the birds of the air have found their home in you O Lord, a source of comfort and safety where we might grow together in love.

All: Blessed are those who dwell in your presence, O God, for they are ever praising you.

Hymn of Welcome

“Blest are They” by David Haas

Scripture

Genesis 28:10-19 NRSV

10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14 and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15 Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” 17 And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Homily

Dr. Kenneth Ngwa

Rocky, Earthy Dreams

Choir Anthem

“I Dream of a Church” by Mark Miller

Table Liturgy

Leader:
Christ our Lord invites us to the table all who love him,
Who earnestly repent of their sin
And seek to live in peace with one another
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another

Unison Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not done your will, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have ignored the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us, cleanse us, make us new. Embolden us to be bearers of your light and love in a broken and fearful world, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Leader: Hear the Good News: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; That proves God’s love toward us.
All: In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven.

The Great Thanksgiving

Leader: God be with you
People: And also with you
Leader: Lift up your hearts
People: We lift them up to the Lord
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise

Leader:
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
Always and everywhere to give thanks to you
God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
And so,
With your people on earth
And all the company of heaven
We praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

Leader:
Holy are you and blessed is the One you called Beloved.
Ageless Wisdom, Word and Wonder came to us as a child
and gave us the power to become your children again.
Then as now, now as then, Jesus eats with the unwanted,
and teaches the unforgiving what forgiveness means.

On the night in which Christ gave himself up for us
He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
Gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup,
Gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you;
This is my blood of the new covenant,
Poured out for you and for many
For the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
In remembrance of me.”

And so,
In remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving,
As we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
May they be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ redeemed by his love.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
One with each other,
And one in ministry to all the world,
Until Christ comes again,
And we feast at God’s heavenly banquet.

Through the Risen One and your Holy Spirit in your holy church,
All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
Amen.

Leader: And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray:

Sung Lord’s Prayer

Leader: This is the bread of life. This is the cup of forgiveness.

Music During Communion

“Bless the Lord, My Soul”
“Here I Am, Lord”

Blessing

Dr. Kenneth Ngwa

Sending