First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 13, 2020

Photo by Alice Nash

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“Living mercy guide our lives”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

“Chanson” by Kevin Norris

Call to Worship

One: Soften your hearts.
Many: We open our hearts to the Divine.
One: Let your minds come to rest.
Many: We settle our minds in to God’s Holiness.
One: Bring your body to stillness.
Many: We gentle our bodies, so as to be fully present.
One: Breathe deeply.
Many: As we breathe in and out, we bring our whole selves to worship

Hymn #187: Rise, Shine, You People

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

Living Mercy,
You engage us with love,
hope,
and grace.
So often, though, we forget.
We treat ourselves with harsh judgement, impossible expectations, and belittling narratives.
Worse, we treat others as we treat ourselves.
May we learn your mercy,
from the inside out,
so we can experience it,
savor it,
and share it.
Amen

Silent Prayer

Photo by Alice Nash

Pastoral Prayer

You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.

Living Mercy,
As our country struggles with racism, wildfires, natural disasters, and polarization, we are all weakened.
As our world struggles with a pandemic, global warming, and increased authoritarianism, we are all harmed.
As our church struggles with homophobia, racism, sexism, classism, and colonialism, your Love is stifled.
And none of it is the last word.
Guide us, Holy One, to be part of the healing,
the hope,
the blessing of the world.
And help us pay as much attention to the joy as to the concerns,
to the wonder as to the fear.
While we ask for those who are ill to be healed,
may we offer thanks for those who are well.
While we mourn the distance from our communities,
may we offer thanks for the gifts they’ve been in our lives.
Living mercy, guide us,
so that we can see hope and joy,
even in these days,
and then be able to share it with those who also need it.
Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

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 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, for ever. Amen.

Word and Reflection

Choir Anthem

As the Bridegroom to His Chosen – John Rutter

Scripture – Romans 14:1-12

Mission Moment – Jan Huston

“This!”

Today’s Mission Moment is an update and thank you from our missionary in Nicaragua, Dr. Belinda Forbes. In her BlogSpot she reports on how the coronavirus is affecting Nicaragua, what her agency (Acción Médica Cristiana) is doing about it, and how the United Methodist Church is helping. Please go to her blog to read her report.

Children’s Time

Passing of the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

Hymn #560: Help Us Accept Each Other

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

Sermon – “A Kindom Parable?!” – Rev. Sara E. Baron

Responding

Offering

Photo by Alice Nash
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

Offertory Anthem

“Dona Nobis Pacem” – Mark Miller

Prayer of Presentation

Living Mercy,
With these gifts, we seek to break free of the brokenness of this world, and participate in your blessings instead.
May the gifts that we give: our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness be blessed to be useful to your kindom.
Amen

Hymn #2171: Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

Benediction

May God gift you with awareness of the systems you are in, and the courage of your convictions to respond! Amen

Postlude

“Fantasia” by Johann Pachelbel
Dominick Giaquinto – Organ


Photo by Alice Nash