Prelude

“Toccata & Fugue in d minor” J.S. Bach

Call to Worship

One: Holy One, dwell within us.
Many: Whisper in our ears;

One: Glimmer in our vision;
Many: Write upon our hearts.

One: We wait
Many: with open ears, open eyes, open hearts.

Hymn of Praise

1. LET’S WALK TOGETHER FOR A WHILE
AND ASK WHERE WE BEGIN      
TO MAKE A WORLD WHERE LOVE CAN GROW
AND HOPE CAN ENTER IN
TO BE THE HANDS OF HEALING
AND TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF PEACE

Refrain
SINGING WELCOME, WELCOME TO THIS PLACE
YOU’RE INVITED TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE
ALL ARE WELCOME, THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE

2. LET’S TALK TOGETHER OF A TIME 
WHEN WE WILL SHARE A FEAST
WHERE PRIDE AND POWER KNEEL TO SERVE
THE LONELY AND THE LEAST
AND JOY WILL SET THE TABLE
AS WE JOIN OUR HANDS TO PRAY

SINGING WELCOME, WELCOME TO THIS PLACE
YOU’RE INVITED TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE
ALL ARE WELCOME, THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE

3. LET’S DREAM TOGETHER OF THE DAY
WHEN EARTH AND HEAVEN ARE ONE
A CITY BUILT OF LOVE AND LIGHT
THE NEW JERUSALEM
WHERE MOURNING TURNS TO DANCING     
EVERY CREATURE LIFTS ITS VOICE

Refrain
CRYING WELCOME! WELCOME TO THIS PLACE
YOU’RE INVITED TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE
ALL ARE WELCOME, THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE

Scripture

Matthew 10:26-42 (NRSV)

26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your God. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my God in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my God in heaven. 
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

One: Hear what the Spirit is saying
Many: We are listening!

Response

“If Jesus Is Come”
words by Adam Tice, music by Sally Morris

Scripture

Revelation 21: 1-7 (NRSV)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
The Holy One will dwell with them;
they will be God’s peoples,
and God will be with them;
4 The Holy One will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”
5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” It was said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then the one seated on the throne said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

One: Hear what the Spirit is saying
Many: We are listening!

Sermon

“Learning From the Future” Rev. Dr. Tyler Schwaller

Anthem

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

words by Charles Wesley, music by Mark Miller
Seminary Choir

Table Liturgy

L: The Holy One be with you
P: And also with you
L: Open your hearts to the One who is Love
P: We open our hearts to you, O God
L: Let us give thanks to God who takes risks for love
P: For the courage of the Holy that lives in us, we give thanks

Throughout history, O God, we have struggled to claim the power you have given us. Destructive forces within and around us make us question your call upon our lives. We turn ourselves over, in ways ordinary and remarkable, to what is. To what has been. To the familiar. 

But you have created us for so much more. In Jesus, we saw a life lived in all its potential. In all its Sacred power. Life that is abundant. Love that was creative, and fervent for justice.

We saw, too, the consequences of living as if the Kindom were close.
And so we wonder. 
If we live with such courage, what will we lose?
In proclaiming truths that confront unjust power, do we stand a chance of survival?
How will it go for us, if we are willing to risk everything for love?
You have never promised us safety, but you have shown us what is possible. 
The Spirit brings new life even to places of death. 

Jesus, knowing the dangers ahead, still did not cave to the threats of power or give in to the temptations of the popular.There was nothing he would trade for his love of the suffering and betrayed, not even his own life. 

On the night of his arrest, he gathered around table with his companions. His friends. His beloveds in the struggle. Even the one who would turn him over to the cross. He took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to all of them and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Take, eat, and remember me.” After the supper, he did the same with the cup, saying, “This is a symbol of the new covenant. Drink in remembrance of me.”

In remembering the life of Jesus, we remember what he taught us about ourselves – about the power God has given us. We remember that God enfleshed is Good News that feeds, that protects, that heals, and delivers. We remember the words he spoke: “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,and they will do even greater things than these.” 

And so we pray, pour out your Spirit on this bread and this cup, O God. Through these gifts, fill our hearts with courage to believe the Kindom is within us, to live boldly in pursuit of love that liberates, and to follow the Wisdom that leads from the margins. 

Blessed be this meal of hope.

Music During Communion

Blessing

Sending Forth

sung to the tune of “Addams Family”

Be Present At Our Table Lord
be here and everywhere adored
thy creatures bless and grant that we
may feast in fellowship with thee!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above the heavenly host
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost
Amen!

We are marching in the light of God!