Gathering Music

Welcome
Words: Laurie Zelman, Music: Mark Miller

Let’s work together for a while and ask where we begin
To build a world where love can grow and hope can enter in.
To be the hands of healing and to plant the seeds of peace,

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.

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.

Let’s dream together of the day when earth and heaven are one,
A city built of love and light, the new Jerusalem,
Where our mourning turns to dancing, every creature lifts its voice!

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.

Centering Prayer

Carrie-Lee Farnham

(From the United Church of Christ)

Leader: Worker God, whose hands built the earth, molded our bodies, and sowed the stars across the sky, we gather in your presence this morning with praise and thanksgiving for your mighty deeds. Meet us here, Worker God; strengthen our hearts and our hands to work with you in the building of a world filled with justice and peace.
All: Amen.

Opening Song

They’ll know we are christians by our love (TFWS 2223)
Words & Music: Peter Scholtes

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

Opening Prayer

Valter Gregorio

(adapted from the General Board of Global Ministries)

Leader: After each petition, join me in the response, “Hear our prayer.”

O Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, we thank you for your care and loving concern for workers throughout the world. We remember workers of all genders, ages, races, and nationalities. Help all working persons to realize a deeper understanding of your presence and call them to do justice and build human community where they are employed.

For workers who face dangerous conditions or hazards in their work
without sufficient warning or protection,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For all those who face the conflicts
of working and caring for children without adequate support,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For all workers who cannot find work
and for whom unemployment assistance is not available,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For workers who are displaced by technical changes
or global pressures to relocate jobs,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For children whose childhood has been cut short
because they are forced to work,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For all who face difficulties or are discriminated against
in getting work or at the workplace
because of race, gender, ethnic group, physical disabilities,
political or religious beliefs, or sexual orientation,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For all workers who have been affected by labor disputes
or who have been discriminated against
as a result of their union activity
or because they sought justice in their place of employment,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

For all workers whose work is taken for granted,
is unappreciated or lacks meaning,
Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth,
hear our prayer.

Jesus, worker and carpenter from Narareth,
hear our prayer.

Amen.

Scripture Reading – Luke 17:7-10

Yaheli Vargas-Ramos

7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon

“Working on It”

Dean Robert Seesengood

Musical Response

God Has Work For Us to Do
Words: Carl Daw Jr., Music: Mark Miller

‘Til all the jails are empty
and all the bellies filled;
’til no one hurts or steals or lies,
and no more blood is spilled:

God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done, and all things are made new,
God has work for us, work for us to do!

‘Til age and race and gender
no longer separate;
’til pulpit, press, and politice
are free of greed and hate:

God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done, and all things are made new,
God has work for us, work for us to do!

By praying through our doing,
and singing though we fear,
by trusting that the seed we sow
will bring God’s harvest near:

God has work for us to do,
God has work for us to do,
’til God’s will is done, and all things are made new,
God has work for us, work for us to do!

Blessing

Dean Robert Seesengood

Sending Song

The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve (TFWS 2241)
Words: Delores Dufner

The Spirit sends us forth to serve;
We go in Jesus’ name
To bring glad tidings to the poor,
God’s favor to proclaim.

We go to comfort those who mourn
And set the burdened free;
Where hope is dim, to share a dream
And help the blind to see.

We go to be the hands of Christ,
To scatter joy like seed
And, all our days, to cherish life,
To do the loving deed.

Then let us go to serve in peace,
The gospel to proclaim.
God’s Spirit has empowered us;
We go in Jesus’ name.