CALL TO WORSHIP
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:13
And also with you.
You are the treasured people of the Lord,
a people holy to the Lord our God.
Keep the words of the Lord in your heart; teach them to your children.
Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away,
when you lie down and when you rise.
One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 26, 11, 8
GATHERING SONG “Let Us Worship and Bow Down”
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God who gives us a new birth into a living hope,
who raises us with Christ from death who fills us with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us repent of our sin and claim the promise of God.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Living God, we confess before you and one another our futile ways,
our pursuit of perishable things, our own part in crucifying the Lord Jesus.
Forgive us, O God; renew the face of the earth;
and give us the assurance that you have rescued us from the power of sin
and made us alive in the Spirit forever. Amen.
Christ suffered for sins once for all in order to bring you to God.
Now you are God's people; now you have received mercy.
In the name of the risen + Lord Jesus I declare to you that your sins are forgiven.
Lay aside guilt, put away shame, for you are chosen and precious in God's sight.
Live in the marvelous light of Christ
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. All-powerful God, in Jesus Christ you turned death into life and defeat into victory. Increase our faith and trust in him, that we may triumph over all evil in the strength of the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
COMMISSIONING OF COUNCIL
AFFIRMATION OF CHRISTIAN VOCATION
Gracious God, as you have called workers to varied tasks in the world and in your church, so you have called these servants to the ministry of Trinity Council.
Grant them joy and a spirit of bold trust, that their work may stir up each of us to a life of fruitful service; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
A reading from Mark: Jesus said, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45
The presiding minister addresses those being commissioned.
In the presence of this assembly will you accept this commission and commit yourselves to this trust and responsibility, in the confidence that it comes from God?
Response: I will, and I ask God to help me.
Will you endeavor in all things to conduct yourselves as is fitting for an ambassador and servant of Jesus Christ?
Response: I will, and I ask God to help me.
Will you be faithful, understanding, and loving as you accompany the people among whom you will live and work?
Response: I will, and I ask God to help me.
Almighty God, who has given you the will to do these things, graciously give you the strength and compassion to perform them. Amen.
The presiding minister addresses the assembly.
People of God, will you support these messengers of Jesus Christ, sent by God to serve with the gospel of hope and salvation?
Will you pray for them, help and honor them for their work's sake, and in all things strive to live in peace and unity in Christ?
We will, and we ask God to help us.
Let Us Pray: Almighty God, by the power of the Spirit you have knit these your servants into the one body of your Son, Jesus Christ. Look with favor upon them in their commitment to serve in Christ's name. Give them courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God guide, bless, and keep you, that you may be faithful in the ministry to which you have been commissioned. Amen.
PSALM 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
O LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If you were to keep watch over sins, O LORD, who could stand?
Yet with you is forgiveness, in order that you may be feared.
I wait for you, O LORD; my soul waits; in your word is my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning,
more than those who keep watch for the morning.
O Israel, wait for the LORD, for with the LORD there is steadfast love;
with the LORD there is plenteous redemption.
For the LORD shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Mark 3:20–35
The holy gospel according to Saint Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.
Then [Jesus] went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" — for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON “Out of His Mind Pastor Phil Wold
HYMN OF THE DAY “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” #886
THE APOSTLES CREED
In Christ, you have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
We believe in him and are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. Eph. 1:13-14
Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PEACE
Sisters and brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace. 2 Corinthians 13:11
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
BLESSING
SENDING SONG “Jesus, Name Above All Names”
SENDING
Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE “Oh Happy Day”
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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.