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Worship Script – World Communiion
________________:Blue
Gathering – 9:55 am – Steve Kalnoske plays
10 a.m. – Choir begins introit from seats
Introit “Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty”…unknown
Lycoming College Choir
Christopher Jackson, Director of Choral Activities
_____________, as soon as introit is over, move in front of the chancel table and say:
Today we celebrate World Communion Sunday.
With Christians everywhere
we enjoy the hospitality of Christ
in simple elements of bread and cup.
In this sacrament
we find unity
and Christ is made known throughout the earth.
Please stand and join in the Call to Celebrate
where the words are bolded.
After people are standing and settled, begin.
*Call to Celebrate+
Leader: The world belongs to God, the earth and all its people.
People: Today and every day, Christians in many places
and in many languages
are praying and lifting songs of praise to God.
Leader: Let us join our hearts and voices with theirs. Return to seat.
*Hymn “From All that Dwell Below the Skies”
From all that dwell below the skies,
let the Creator’s praise arise;
let the Redeemer’s name be sung,
through every land by every tongue.
Your lofty themes, ye mortals, bring,
in songs of praise divinely sing;
the great salvation loud proclaim,
and shout for joy the Savior’s name.
In every land begin the song;
to every land the strains belong;
_______________, move in front of the chancel table.
in cheerful sounds all voices raise,
and fill the world with loudest praise.
As soon as the hymn is over, say:
Please remain standing
and join your voices together in prayer.
*Prayer++
Living God, today as we come to the table of the Lord
with Christians from around the world,
we are visited by recollections of the many tables
where we have felt welcomed, seen, known, and loved;
where we savored every bite
and lingered with the others gathered there.
From the business of our lives we come to this gathering.
Be with us, Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
*Act of Praise “O Living God”
O living God, I long to see you lifted up in all your glory;
to see you there in holy beauty.
O Lord, almighty God, living Christ, I love you.
O living God, I soon will see you face to face, in all your glory.
I’ll worship you in endless wonder.
O Lord, almighty God, living Christ, I love you.
As soon as song is over, say:
Please be seated.
Prayer for Illumination
When all are seated and settled, say:
In a world where words vie for our attention
from all directions,
and where silence is not valued,
it is easy to feel disconnected –
from our true selves and from God…
For the next few moments,
you are invited to sit silently and rest in God’s love –
to let go of your concerns, your need for control,
your need to understand,
and to make room for the One
who enables us to see, know, and love –
so that we may pay attention to God’s Word to us this day
and receive it joyfully…
All sit and rest in God’s love…Time one or two minutes of silence.
To break the silence, say:
Awakened to God’s presence and Word,
please join with me in prayer:
Silence in us any voice but your own, Great God.
As these ancient words of scripture are shared,
open not only our hearts, open our minds,
open our imaginations. Amen.
Return to seat.
____________________ and _________________ move to stage.
Sacred Reading from 1st John and the Gospel of John
1 John 1:1-3b nlt and John 1:35-39 nlt
One: ___________________ Two: _____________________
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,
whom we have…seen.
We saw him with our own eyes
and touched him with our own hands.
He is the Word of life.
The following day John was again standing
with two of his disciples.
As Jesus walked by,
John looked at him and declared,
“Look! There is the Lamb of God”
This one who is life itself was revealed to us,
and we have seen him.
And now we testify and proclaim to you
that he is the one who is eternal life.
He was with the Father,
and then he was revealed to us.
When John’s two disciples heard this,
they followed Jesus.
Jesus looked around and saw them following.
“What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”),
“where are you saying?”
“Come and see,” he said.
We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen…
so that you may have fellowship with us.
“It was about four o’clock in the afternoon
when they went with him
to the place where he was staying,
and they remained with him
the rest of the day.
------------------------
If someone claims, “I know God,”
but doesn’t obey God’s commandments,
that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.
But those who obey God’s word
truly show how completely they love him.
I assure you,
we tell you what we know and have seen,
and yet you won’t believe our testimony…
For this is how God loved the world:
He gave his one and only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life.
That is how we know we are living in him.
Those who say they live in God
should live their lives as Jesus did.
God sent his Son into the world
not to judge the world,
but to save the world through him.
--------------------------
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you;
rather it is an old one you have had
from the very beginning.
This old commandment – to love one another –
is the same message you heard before.
Yet it is also new.
Jesus lived the truth of this commandment,
and you also are living it. [Readers return to seats.]
Anthem “See Him that Maketh the Seven Stars”…Jonathan Dove
Message - Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball
*Hymn “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear; and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Refrain
My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.
My God, my Savior, has ransomed me.
And like a flood his mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace.
The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Refrain.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine.
But God who called me here below, will be forever mine,
will be forever mine. You are forever mine.
Prayers of the People – Tongsung Kido - _________________
You are invited to pray aloud at the same time. As you do, concentrate on your own earnest prayers, longing for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Sung Response “This Is My Song”
This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
and hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations;
myself I give thee; let thy will be done.
Invitation to the Table, Confession, and Word of Grace++
Bishop SSB:
To your table, Christ, you bid us come.
Bishop Matthews:
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,
who earnestly repent of their sin,
and seek to live in peace in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Bishop SSB:
Together, with all gathered around the table of the Lord
throughout the world, make your silent confession.
Give people time to confess silently…then continue.
Bishop SSB:
Christ, you have set the places,
and there is always room, you say, for one more.
And so we come.
Bishop Matthews:
Here the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God’s love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God! Amen.
Bishop Matthews:
As those who have received the good news
of God’s amazing love,
please stand and exchange signs and words of God’s peace.
After the peace has been passed and people are seated,
Bishop SSB says:
Hungering for your bread,
singing your song in every language,
speaking your name in every tongue,
we come, O God of wisdom, we come.
As musician begins playing intro to hymn, servers gather on stage.
Hymn “As We Gather At Your Table” Tune: Hyfrydol
As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word,
help us know, O God, your presence;
let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own;
teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love’s victory known.
*The Great Thanksgiving+
Bishop Matthews:
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Deacon:
It is pure delight to be in your presence.
It is amazing to think of joining with Christians
all over the world
to celebrate the new life we all enjoy in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You have made us one family.
You have united Christians from the United States
with Christians from Costa Rica, Korea, Africa,
Palestinian Christians and Chinese Christians,
Zimbabwean Christians and Jamaican Christians
all into one family.
You have given us brothers and sisters
who live on every continent;
who speak every language imaginable
and then some.
You have given us brothers and sisters
who think like us
and get along with us,
and even some who get on our nerves
every single day.
And you love us all as your family
and expect us to love one another as family.
And so,
as your family on earth,
together with the members of your family in heaven,
we join together and give to you our unending song of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Bishop SSB:
No one is holy but you, O Lord.
And no one is as faithful as your Son Jesus Christ
who taught us the transforming experience that is ours
when we see, know, and love.
On that last night, Jesus surrounded himself
with those whom he knew would betray, deny,
and desert him;
yet, he washed their feet
and enjoyed an evening of feasting with them.
Taking bread, he gave thanks to you.
broke the bread,
and gave a portion to everyone present saying:
“This is my body broken for you.
Whenever you eat this bread, remember me.”
At the end of the meal, taking the cup,
Jesus gave thanks to you, and said:
“This is my blood shed to ratify God’s covenant of grace
with you and with many for the forgiveness of sin.
Whenever you drink of this, remember me.”
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts
in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Bishop Matthews:
Holy Spirit, make holy these gifts of bread and cup;
and each person here,
all who are seeking to live a life
that can only be found in relationship with Christ.
Pour out your Spirit on those worshiping
here, in the churches throughout the Northeastern Jurisdiction,
across the nation, and around the globe.
May your Spirit inspire and empower your whole church –
apostolic and universal.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory,
and we feast at your heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer - Bishop SSB:
And now we pray together The Lord’s Prayer
choosing one of the three versions or in the language of your choice.
As we pray,
this prayer reminds us
of our connection and responsibility
with all around the globe who follow Jesus’ way:
Bishop Matthews use this one:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in haven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Deacon use this one:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Bishop SSB use this one:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Breaking the Bread – Bishop Matthews
Giving the Bread and Cup – Bishop SSB will give instructions
During the giving of the bread and cup, the Lycoming Choir will sing:
“Hope for Resolution”…arr. Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory
“Alleluia”…Paul Basler
“O How Amiable”…Ralph Vaughan Williams