Prelude
True Colors Billy Steinberg/Tom Kelly arr. Jennifer Linn
All Are Welcome Marty Haugen Setting by Randy Sensmeier
Welcome & Announcements
*Gathering Litany
We begin in the name of the Holy Trinity, recognizing that we were created out of nothing, no-thing, only Grace.
We come here to be reminded of who we are.
Created for goodness,
We come with open hearts to be filled with everlasting love.
Created as a beloved child of God,
We come in celebration of the diversity of the body of Christ.
Created with a heart for celebrating the rich diversity of creation, we come trusting in the one who creates, redeems, and sustains us as we acknowledge and honor the Kumeyaay peoples upon whose ancestral homelands we gather.
As we live into the diversity that God has created, may we be bold to tell the whole story, for in knowing the truth of who we have been, we come to know more fully who we are called to be. Amen.
*Thanksgiving for Baptism
Water is life. Our bodies need water. This community needs water to be resilient and flourish.
Plants and animals need water. Water is essential for all of life on this planet to thrive and flourish.
We need water for drinking, for washing, for cooking, for cleaning, for refreshing. Water sustains our lives, and water enhances our lives. Every day of our lives includes multiple uses of water.
Let us give thanks for the gift of water and for baptism.
We give you thanks, O God, for this water that comes to us as a gift from our Creator, the source of all that is good and life-giving.
You are a generous and loving God who blesses us through water and who claims all people in the fullness of sexual or romantic orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, gender expression, immigration status, beliefs, and abilities.
You are like the water in this font which is filled with water from our homes, water from nearby lakes and rivers, creeks and streams – water upon which all living creatures depend and that nourishes all of life on this planet. We, though many, are one in the unity of God’s love for us and for all the world. Water is life.
O God, may we live as careful stewards, guardians of this precious gift, protectors of the health of this planet, builders of resilient communities, and
cultivators of life-giving relationships that promote peace and unity.
A: Thanks be to God! Amen!
*Gathering Hymn All Are Welcome
*Prayer of the Day
God of Beauty, you gather your beloved children into your care, each one a unique image of you. You claim us as your own and call us to follow in the ways of mercy, justice, and joy. Strengthen our changing hearts and minds to continue the work of your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 9:1-4
1 There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time the Lord brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied exultation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 27
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then | shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I | be afraid?
4 One thing I ask of the Lord; one | thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek God | in the temple.
5 For in the day of trouble God will | give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high up- | on a rock.
6 Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies | who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music | to the Lord. R
7 Hear my voice, O Lord, | when I call;
have mercy on me and | answer me.
8 My heart speaks your message— | “Seek my face.”
Your face, O Lord, | I will seek.
9 Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- | vant in anger.
Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of | my salvation. R
The Epistle Lesson 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been made clear to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel—and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation
Jesus preached the good news | of the kingdom* and cured every sickness a- | mong the people. (Matt. 4:23)
*Gospel Matthew 4: 12-23 Glory to you O Lord
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson
*Hymn of the Day All the Colors of the Rainbow
*Exchange of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.
*Prayers of Intercession
Trusting in God’s extraordinary love, let us come near to the Creator in prayer.
A brief silence.
We pray for our pastors, deacons, bishops, and church leaders, that they may guide us well as we become a loving, welcoming, and resilient community in Jesus Christ. We give thanks for ReconcilingWorks and all of our Reconciling in Christ ministry partners. We pray that the whole church may someday become a blessed community where all our LGBTQIA+ siblings are celebrated. Spirit, intercede for us,
Send wholeness to our church.
We pray for the sustainability of our planet. Guide us to care for creation, be mindful of how much we throw away, reduce how much carbon dioxide our lifestyles add to the air we breathe, and remember how much our choices impact the lives of people in poor and marginalized communities. Spirit, intercede for us,
Send wholeness to our Earth.
We pray for our siblings all around the world. We pray that leaders everywhere recognize and respond to the suffering of the poor, marginalized, and persecuted. We pray that governments enact laws that protect and defend the poor, marginalized, and persecuted. We pray that your hand of justice intercede for us. Spirit, intercede for us,
Send wholeness to the nations.
We pray for people who have chaos swirling around and within them. We pray for those that have been told they are less than, wrong, or an outcast for who they are. We pray that all of us find true peace, joy, and wholeness in you. We pray for people who are victims of violence because of queerphobia [or homophobia, transphobia, biphobia], racism, sexism, and ableism. We pray for your mercy, love, and healing to care for them. Spirit, intercede for us,
Send wholeness to your children.
We pray that our congregation and its ministries uplift and care for all living things in our world. We pray that we work towards justice and peace in our own family and community. Spirit, intercede for us, Send wholeness to us.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
We pray for LGBTQIA+ saints, all our siblings who have gone before us in the fight for justice, freedom, and peace, even when church and society ignored them and many of your LGBTQIA+ children forgot them. Help us remember and honor the memory of the people who have boldly stood as themselves, showing the substance you created even when the world told them to hide. Spirit, intercede for us,
Send wholeness to this community of LGBTQIA+ people and allies.
Receive the prayers of your children, merciful God, and hold us forever in your steadfast love; through Jesus Christ, our holy wisdom.
Amen.
*Statement of Faith
Let us join together in proclaiming our faith:
We believe in you, O God, who spoke all life into being, author of heaven and earth, architect of time, quilter of the cosmos. You shape our bodies from the dust of the ground, and by your breath we are given life.
We believe in you, O God, who became incarnate in Christ Jesus, the Word made flesh, truly divine and truly human. You lived among us to reveal your justice, died among us to break the bonds of sin and death, and were raised among us to bring abundant life.
We believe in you, O God, who transforms us by the Holy Spirit, draws us into community, moves us to action, and inspires us to hope against hope. You breathe new life into a fallen world and equip us to proclaim the good news of resurrecting love. All thanks and praise to you, O God, our beginning and our end. Amen.
Offering
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Offering Music
In Christ There Is No East or West Burleigh Setting by Dale Wood
Installation of Council Members
*Offering Prayer
Let us pray. O God, from nothing you created not only us as your beloved children but everything we would need to have an abundant life. As we bring our varied gifts to you, strengthen us as we celebrate the diversity you have blessed us with. Fill us with what we need and help us to recognize that there is more than enough for all as we work to bring your love to the ends of the earth. Amen.
*The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
*Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. By the leading of a star he was shown forth to all nations; in the waters of the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son; and in the miracle of water turned to wine he revealed your glory. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
*Sanctus
*Eucharistic Prayer
On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …
Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, … almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.
Amen.
*The Lord’s Prayer
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be 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 forever. Amen.
Agnus Dei
Communion Distribution
Communion Hymn Shall We Gather at the River
Blest Be the Tie That Binds
*Communion Blessing and Prayer
Let us pray: Jesus our friend and savior, your life, death, and resurrection changed our world. May this meal of bread and wine bless us and sustain us in the building of a blessed community which welcomes all people, that sees all people, and that works for justice for all people. Amen.
*Sending Hymn Will You Come and Follow Me?
*Blessing & Dismissal
As we leave this space may God’s face shine upon us, God’s love sustain us, and God’s peace inspire us and grant us peace. May God – Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer - fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may live in hope of a blessed community where humanity’s diversity is celebrated. Amen.
Go in peace to seek justice for all people. Thanks be to God.
Postlude
All Are Welcome Improv Reprise by FLC Musicians
