Prelude arrangements by Mike Klingbeil, Piano
God Bless the Child Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog
I wish I Knew Hoe it Would Feel to Be Free Billy Taylor
Welcome & Announcements
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” -Psalm 46:1
*Confession and Forgiveness
Holy God, we thank you for the love you show for all of us, showing no partiality across cultures and races.
Give us good courage to remember that we are all your
beloved children.
God of all, forgive us for our complacency. We acknowledge the many ways we collectively have fallen short of our calling, knowing that it is both what we do and what we do not do that can be sinful. Forgive us for all the times and places we have failed to welcome the stranger. Forgive us for the times we
prioritized our comfort over expanding our knowledge and advocacy.
Ignite our hearts, Oh Lord, to remember that you are present in all who flee their homes and search for new opportunities.
God of the Trinity, we remember that you sent Jesus to Earth not only to be with refugees, but as a refugee himself. You made yourself known in human form as a Palestinian outcast, born to a poor, young woman who was forced to flee all that was familiar and dear.
Remind us, oh Lord, that as we welcome refugees and immigrants today, we welcome you. Forgive us for all of the ways we have individually and collectively fallen short to do this holy work of welcome.
God, we acknowledge that walls and all earthly systems that work to separate us from one another are not your desire for your beloved people. Give us good courage to open our arms wide and strong in welcome and convict us to make real your kingdom of love, joy, grace, justice, and hospitality real here on Earth.
Forgive us, Oh God, Work through us and within us to share your love.
*Gathering Hymn O God, You Give Us Neighbors
*Prayer of the Day
Oh God of welcome, we give you abundant thanks for our immigrant neighbors and community members. We celebrate all of the richness and diversity they bring to our world and to our communities and that you call them by name just as you call us by name. Today, as we give thanks for the gift newcomers are to our community, reconvict us to work for a justice and abounding love that is rooted in hospitality and welcoming of all. May our hospitality bring joy to not only those we work to welcome, but to us as well. Amen.
Introduction of Global Refuge Pr. Bill Radatz
Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 10: 17-22
17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, 18 who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; him you shall serve; to him you shall hold fast; and by his name you shall swear. 21 He is your praise; he is your God who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. 22 Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 46
1God is our ref- | uge and strength,
a very present | help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the | earth be moved,
and though the mountains shake in the depths | of the sea;
3though its waters | rage and foam,
and though the mountains tremble | with its tumult.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- | y of God,
the holy habitation of | the Most High. R
5God is in the midst of the city; it shall | not be shaken;
God shall help it at the | break of day.
6The nations rage, and the | kingdoms shake;
God speaks, and the earth | melts away.
7The Lord of | hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold.
8Come now, regard the works | of the Lord,
what desolations God has brought up- | on the earth; R
9behold the one who makes war to cease in | all the world;
who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the | shields with fire.
10“Be still, then, and know that | I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted | in the earth.”
11The Lord of | hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob | is our stronghold. R
The Epistle Lesson Hebrews 13:1-3
1 Let mutual affection continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation
*Gospel Luke 24: 13-35 Glory to you O Lord
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Vicar Karla Leitzman
*Hymn of the Day Let Streams of Living Justice Flow
*Prayers of Intercession
Response to each petition: God of mercy, hear our prayer.
*Statement of Faith
I believe in Almighty God, who guided the people in exile and in exodus, the God of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, the God of foreigners and Immigrants.
I believe in Jesus Christ, a displaced Galilean, who was born away from his people and his home, who fled his country with his parents when his life was in danger. When he returned to his own country he suffered under the oppression of Pontius Pilate, the servant of a foreign power. Jesus was persecuted, beaten, tortured, and unjustly condemned to death. But on the third day Jesus rose from the dead, not as a scorned foreigner but to offer us citizenship in God’s kingdom.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom among us, who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, and reunites all races. I believe that the Church is the secure home for foreigners and for all believers. I believe that the communion of saints begins when we embrace all God’s people in all their diversity. I believe in forgiveness, which makes us all equal before God, and in reconciliation, which heals our brokenness. I believe that in the Resurrection God will unite us as one people in which all are distinct and all are alike at the same time. I believe in life eternal, in which no one will be foreigner but all will be citizens of the kingdom where God reigns forever and ever. Amen.
*Exchange of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.
Offering
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Offering Music Light Dawns on a Weary World Temple of Peace Setting Mark Sedio
Light dawn on a weary world | When eyes begin to see all people’s dignity.
Light dawn on a weary world: | The promised day to justice comes. - Mary Louise Bringle
Offering Prayer
Loving God, we offer at your table the gifts of our hearts. Help us take heart in you and share freely of your love, so that all creation can taste your abundance. We ask this in the name of Jesus, through the Spirit abiding with us now and forever. Amen.
*The Great Thanksgiving
*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; …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
You are indeed holy, gracious and merciful God; everything is filled with your glory…
…Remembering his command to love one another, his life and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, we pray for his coming again even as we cry:
P: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, that all of your promises may come to us and your whole creation.
P: Amen. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our friend.
*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 Oh, Look and Wonder Choir
Refrain:
¡Miren qué bueno, qué bueno es! Oh, look and wonder how good it is.
How good it is when brothers dwell in peace with one another: it is like precious oil when running fresh on Aaron’s beard. Refrain
How good it is when sisters dwell in peace with one another: fresh like the morning dew that falls on Zion’s holy hill. Refrain
How good it is when all earth’s people dwell in peace together: that is where God will pour the blessing, life forevermore. Refrain
Text and Music: Pablo Sosa, 1933-2020
*Communion Blessing and Prayer
Compassionate God, through the gifts of bread and wine our hearts are filled with the abundance of your love. Strengthen us that we, through this holy meal, may share your love freely, as you have shared with us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, through the Spirit nourishing us now and forever. Amen.
*Sending Hymn Build a Longer Table
*Blessing & Dismissal
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Go in peace. Welcome the stranger.
Thanks be to God!
Postlude Sweet is the Work arr. by James Kasen
Sweet is the work, my God, my King, | To praise thy name, give thanks and sing,
To show thy love by morning light, | And talk of all thy truths at night. My heart shall triumph in my Lord | And bless his works and bless his word. Thy works of grace, how bright they shine! | How deep thy counsels, how divine!
