Prelude
Something Highly inspirational Someone Important (Grace Mauk, piano)
Welcome Donna Steppe, Senior Warden
Opening Hymn Please rise. All Creatures of our God and King
The Hymnal 1982 #400
Collect of the Day
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray.
Prayers for the Inclusive Church
God of debts forgiven, you call us to account our hunger for power; you disturb hierarchies which crush the weak: break the vicious cycles of revenge and domination that we might look to him whose mercy never ends, Jesus Christ, our redeemer. Amen.
Please be seated.
Reader: A reading from Genesis
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Psalm Psalm 103: 8-13 Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill
REFRAIN Please join the choir on the refrain and they will offer the verses.
REFRAIN
You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. You love us more than we can ask or Imagine; in truth, we belong to You.
REFRAIN
For You understand us, requiting us not according to our ignorance and error. As far as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is your loving response toward those who are humble;
REFRAIN
So far does your enduring strength uphold those who face the darkness within As parents are concerned for their children, so You come to those who reach out in faith. For our ways are known, our weaknesses seen with compassion.
REFRAIN
Reader: A reading from Romans
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Gradual Please rise
Bless the Lord, my soul
Taize Community Sing through three times.
Leader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Leader: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Affirmation of Faith
We are not alone, we live in God's world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God.
From The United Church of Canada
We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
The Prayers of the People Adapted from prayers created for the Ministry of Justice & Reconciliation by the Episcopal Standing Committee on Liturgy & Music
Intercessor: God of love, we pray for your church: Equip us with compassion and love, to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world. God of love,
People: Hear our prayers for the church.
Intercessor: God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world: Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love. God of freedom,
People: Hear our prayers for the world.
Intercessor: God of justice, we pray for the earth, your creation entrusted to our care: Stir up in us a thirst for justice that protects the earth and all its resources, that we may leave a legacy of beauty and abundance honoring all you have given us.
God of justice,
People: Hear our prayers for the earth.
Intercessor: God of peace, we pray for this community: Give us courage to strive for justice and peace among all people, beginning here.
God of peace,
People: Hear our prayers for this community.
Intercessor: God of mercy, we pray for all in any kind of need or trouble: For refugees and prisoners; for the sick and suffering, the lonely and despairing; for those facing violence; for all held down by prejudice or injustice.
God of mercy,
People: Hear our prayers for all who are in need.
Intercessor: God of grace, we pray for those who have died: Make us faithful to your call to proclaim your Good News, by word and example, and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light. God of grace, People: Hear our prayers for those who have died.
Celebrant: God of all, you have called us to serve you: Grant that we may walk in your presence with your love in our hearts, your truth in our minds, your strength in our wills. All this we ask as we walk the Way of Love day by day. Amen
The Confession of Sin & Absolution
Priest: Let us confess our sins to God.
People: To you Lord, all hearts are open, no secrets are hidden. Forgive our secret sins; Forgive our habitual sins; Forgive our unnoticed sins; Our sins against ourselves, Our sins against others, Our sins against you.
Lord, let our memory provide no shelter for bitterness against another. Lord, let our minds provide no foothold for prejudice against another. Lord, let our hearts provide no harbor for hatred of another.
Lord, let our attitudes be no associate in the condemnation of another. Lord, let our tongues be no accomplice in the judgment of another.
Celtic Confession
Priest: Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you Pardon and deliver you from all our sins, confirm and strengthen you is all goodness, and keep you in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you. People: And also with you.
Offertory Invitation
Loose offerings (cash or checks) can be placed in the Offertory Plate as it is passed during the Offertory or deposited in our Giving Box stationed at the back of the sanctuary. To give Online, use the attached QR code or visit www.trinitytoledo.org/online-giving/, choose GIVE NOW and today’s date. You can also text the word “Give” to 419-OMG-LOVE (419-664-5683) to make your weekly offering.
Warren Brown
