HOPE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
A Progressive Christian Worshipping Community
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost – August 16, 2020
PRELUDE
WELCOME and GREETING
INTROIT
CALL TO WORSHIP – from Martin Buber
One: Every morning
I shall concern myself anew about the boundary
Between the love-deed-Yes and the power-deed-No
And pressing forward honor reality.
All: We cannot avoid
Using power,
Cannot escape the compulsion
To afflict the world,
So let us, cautious in diction
And mighty in contradiction,
Love powerfully.
HYMN #364 Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (vv. 1 & 4)
“Forgive our sins as we forgive,”
you taught us, Christ, to pray;
but you alone can grant us grace
to live the words we say.
O cleanse the depths within our souls
and bid resentment cease;
then, bound to all in bonds of love,
our lives will spread your peace. +
READINGS OF THE DAY
First Reading –from J.K. Rowling
MUSICAL INTERLUDE
Second Reading – Matthew 15:10-28 (New Revised Standard Version)
MESSAGE Pharisees and Phoenicians
The Reverend J. Gary Brinn
HYMN # 700 God of Freedom, God of Justice
God of freedom, God of justice,
you whose love is strong as death,
you who saw the dark of prison,
you who knew the price of faith:
touch our world of sad oppression
with your Spirit’s healing breath.
Rid the earth of torture’s terror,
you whose hands were nailed to wood;
hear the cries of pain and protest,
you who shed the tears and blood:
move in us the power of pity
restless for the common good.
Make in us a captive conscience
quick to hear, to act, to plead;
make us truly sisters, brothers
of whatever race or creed:
teach us to be fully human,
open to each other’s need. +
JOYS AND CONCERNS/PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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.
CONGREGATIONAL AND PASTORAL BENEDICTION
Alleluia
POSTLUDEPlease join us for conversation and sharing during our Zoom Coffee Hour.
