Gathering Music

“Stillness”

Words by Lindy Thompson, Music by Mark Miller. Sung by Julian Wamble.

Call to Prayer

People of God, open your eyes! Look around!
The presence of our Jesus is here – among us and within us.
God’s love is close at hand – nearer than you know.
So open your hearts and minds to the Spirit, and let’s worship God together!

Opening Song

“We Resist”

By Mark Miller. Sung by Isaac Garrigues-Cortelyou, Hyemin Park, Beth Quick and Mark Miller.

Reading

Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my sibling who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the reign of God is like a ruler who wanted to settle accounts with their servants. 24 As they began the settlement, someone who owed ten thousand bags of gold was brought to them. 25 Since the person was not able to pay, the ruler ordered that they and their whole family and all that they had, be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on their knees before the ruler. ‘Be patient with me,’ they begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The ruler took pity on the servant, canceled the debt and let them go 28 “But when that servant went out, they found one of their colleagues who owed them a hundred silver coins. They grabbed their colleague and began to choke them. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ they demanded. 29 “The other servant fell to their knees and begged, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But they refused. Instead, they went off and had their fellow servant thrown into prison until they could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their ruler everything that had happened. 32 “Then the ruler called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ they said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger their ruler handed them over to the jailers to be tortured, until they should pay back all they owed. 35 “This is how God in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your siblings from your heart.”

Homily

“Forgiveness and Justice”

Prof. Mark Miller

Sung Response

“I Choose Love”

Prayer of the Day

Blessing

Prof. Mark Miller

Sending

“What Does the Lord Require of You?”

---

Worship Notes:

Call to Worship adapted by Kelsey Wallace from https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/08/call-to-worship-proper-18a.html