Get on Board with God’s New Thing:
Service Prayers for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 28 (Inclusive)

Isaiah 65:17-25              Psalm 98          
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13                Luke 21:5-19 

The text from Isaiah, one of the most powerful and best loved texts in the Hebrew Scriptures, is a promise to the exiles after their return to Jerusalem. God’s new thing is justice and abundance. In a different way, the epistle and gospel readings are calls to faith-filled lives even in the midst of suffering and perplexity.  

Call to Worship           (Based on Psalm 98)

Sing to God a brand-new song.

God has made a world of wonders!

God shows the world what can be done

With steadfast love and faithfulness:

God loves us as a dear family;

The whole earth awakes to witness God's saving work!

Shout your praises to God, everybody!

Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

Round up an orchestra to play for God.

Add on a hundred-voice choir.

Feature trumpets and big trombones.

Fill the air with praises to God.

Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,

Let all who live on earth join in!

Let ocean breakers call out, "Encore!"

and mountains harmonize the finale—

Welcome our God who comes with justice

to make things right!

Invocation

Loving and merciful God,  we gather for worship

because you have called us to be your people.

But we gather with conflicting feelings:

some of us are filled with a sense of joy and hope for the future;

others feel overwhelmed by suffering around us.

At times, our lives seem out of control.

So we ask that you send your Spirit.

Allow us to leave cynicism and weariness behind.

Inspire us to be part of the new thing you are doing

this day and always.                                     Amen.  

Prayer of Confession

God, we proclaim that your will is sovereign

and your mercy is boundless.

Yet we live as if we never learned to trust you.

Our anxieties overwhelm us

and we fear that we have to go it alone.

We act from self-interest and fail to take risks for justice.

Forgive us, God.  Remind us of your promise.

Help us to discern your presence in our world

and inspire us to act with faithfulness.

Assurance of Pardon

The promise of God extends from generation to generation:

a new heaven and a new earth where fear and want are not remembered. 

We are heirs to this promise.

Therefore, let us never grow weary of doing what is right.

Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel:

In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

Call to Offering

In response to God’s great and abundant promises,

let us dedicate ourselves anew to God’s action in the world.

Let us give thanks through the presentation of our tithes and offerings.

Prayer of Dedication

God of blessing and abundance,

we offer these gifts with humility and gratitude.

These tithes and pledges represent

our labor, our intelligence, and our dedication to you.

Accept them and multiply their impact.

Help us to build the world as you intended it to be

where all enjoy the fruit of their labor,

where no one lives in fear

and where the wolf and the lamb eat together. Amen.

Benediction

Go into the world renewed in hope and courage

that our God is making all things new.

Go into the world to leave the past behind

and join in the chorus of praise for God’s great promise.

Go into the world to love and serve God in all that you do.

Get on Board with God’s New Thing was written by the Rev. Christopher Ney, Pastor of Central Congregational Church, UCC, of Newburyport, MA.

Copyright 2010 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved. 

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