“GOING AHEAD IN GOD’S LEADING”	
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost 
October 01, 2023

Exodus 17:1-17, Ps 78:1-4, 12-16,  or Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32  and Ps 25:1-9, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32

Special Offering: 	Neighbors in Need Offering
Other Special Celebration:  World Communion Sunday

Introduction
In many communities in the USA, “each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.”

The Hispanic/*Latine communities are an essential fabric of God’s precious Kin-dom here on earth. The Hispanic Heritage is 30 days of celebration and lifting their diverse histories and shared contributions. The Hispanic/Latine bring various gifts and talents into their spaces as they engage within faith and secular communities. 

This is an excellent opportunity for UCC churches to be creative in introducing and celebrating Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month in their congregations. Opportunities to share something about the Hispanic/Latine community and their contributions to society with the congregation. One way is to invite a Hispanic/Latine community member to come and share with the congregation what it means to celebrate the diversity of the  Hispanic/Latine people. 

The Hispanic/Latine community is sure to bring collective and diverse voices with a wealth of people's vibrant and colorful cultural experiences that demonstrate their resilience to live life to the fullest. They are people of deep faith in God, and their faith keeps them strong amidst any challenges they might confront daily. They are people on the move who understand that God is always leading them and walking alongside them wherever they may be heading.

Call to Worship
One:	We gather as God’s people to celebrate the beauty of our diversity.

All:	Let us love each other as God loves us beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image.
  
One:	We give thanks for who we are, Beloved of God.

All:	Let us open our hearts to God’s spirit of love and unity.

One:	We celebrate the gifts of all gathered here today.

All:	Let us worship God with all we are and celebrate the beauty of all God’s creation. 

Invocation
Lord, open our eyes to see the beauty in each person we meet. Help us freely share your love with all your creation. We give thanks for beautifying your creation and for making a diverse world. Help us to be kind, compassionate, and loving to all. We thank you,  O Lord, for allowing us to grow in our welcome and learn about other cultures as we share your amazing grace and love with each other and the world. Amen!

Hymn			Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You		 	NCH  4

Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus, we confess we have been dishonest in our walk with you. We have not treated others with respect and acceptance and have not cared for the least of these as you have called us to do. We acknowledge that too many times, we have taken the effortless way to our benevolence and have mistreated those in need and with judgment. We ask your forgiveness for all we have done that is not pleasing to you, Oh Lord. We ask your mercy on us. Amen!

Moment of Silence
(Each person can take this moment to confess those things to God; they need to surrender to God privately.)

Words of Grace
Jesus has already paid for your transgressions, and we are free because Jesus Christ, our Savior, has made His grace accessible to us. People of God, your sins are forgiven. Amen!

Hymn			Blessed Assurance				NCH  473

Reading of Scriptures

Message

Hymn			 We Are Your People			NCH 309

Community Prayer
Leader:
Holy One, we ask that you continue to mold us into your likeness. We ask that your Holy Spirit move us into being kind, compassionate, and generous as we live out our faith daily. Lord, in your mercy,

People:	Hear our prayers.

Leader:
Holy One, we pray for those who are hurting, on the margins, excluded, lonely, and dealing with rejection and unacceptance by society. May each person know you love them and accept and value them as your precious creations. Lord, in your mercy,

People:	Hear our prayers.

Leader:
Holy One, we lift all the beautiful diversity of your people in prayer that they may all know your presence, grace, and infinite love for them. Shower them with your blessings, and may the church become a safe place for all your people to gather. Help us, Oh God, to strive for unity and harmony and a more just world. Lord, in your mercy, 

People:	Hear our prayers.

Leader:
Holy One, we pray for all those in our community who are caregivers, first responders, and those who advocate for the well-being of your people. We pray for our police and firefighters, medical personnel, and all who care for us in many ways, watch over them, and protect them from harm. We thank all who care for us and keep us safe each day. Lord, in your mercy,

People:	Hear our prayers.

Leader:
Holy One, we lift in prayer our nation, our leaders, our President, and Vice-President, and all those legislators and representatives in our government who are making divisions on our behalf so that they may be fair and just in leading our country. Open their hearts to the suffering of your people and give them the wisdom to lead with compassion and empathy for the least of them. Lord, in your mercy,

People:	Hear our prayers.

Leader:
Holy One, we lift in prayer all ecumenical partners and organizations working in our communities to achieve justice for all. May your Spirit continue to lead them in ways that honor you, Oh God, as they seek to work together in unity and with the goals of a unified voice of collaboration for the common good of all your beloved people. Lord, in your mercy,

People:	Hear our prayers.

Leader:
Holy one, we ask that you help us to become the beloved community you want us to be. We ask your forgiveness when we neglect our calling to be your hands, heart, and body. May our actions and deeds honor and glorify You. Into your hands, Holy One, we commend all for whom we pray, in the name above all, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. 

Hymn			Take My Gifts				NCH 562

Lord’s Prayer (in preparation for communion)
Leader:  Let us pray as Jesus taught us to pray…
Our Father who Art in Heaven…

Holy Communion 
Invitation to the table
Words Institution
Communion Prayer
Sharing the Elements
Prayer of Thanksgiving

Call to Offering 
God, we open our hearts to give generous of the abundant blessings we have received from you. All that we have comes from you; therefore,  we give our offerings and tithes in gratitude for all you have done for us. 
Offertory Prayer
Holy One, we ask that you bless these offerings and tithes so they can multiply to be a blessing for our community, our mission, and worldwide. Accept our offerings and tithes, O God, as a testimony of your goodness in our lives. Amen!
	
Closing Hymn  	Called as Partners in Christ’s Service 		NCH 495

Benediction
God’s love surrounds you,
Jesus, peace engulfs you.
And the  Holy Spirit accompany you,
As you go forth into the World,
to love and service all God’s people. 

Going Ahead in God’s Leading: Service Prayers for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Celebrating Communion Sunday and Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month) was written by the Rev. Persida Rivera-Mendez, retired UCC pastor. 

References for footnotes
(Footnote 1) 
About National Hispanic Heritage Month 
“Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.”
https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about.html

(Footnote 2) 
New terminology for gender-neutral language.
Latine (pronounced la-‘ti-ne) is a gender-neutral form of the word Latino, created by LGBTQIA+, gender no-binary, and feminist communities in Spanish-speaking countries. The objective of the term Latine is to remove gender from the Spanish word Latino by replacing it with a gender-neutral Spanish letter E. This idea is native to the Spanish language and can be seen in many gender-neutral words like “Estudiante.”   (The source for this information is: – callmelatine.com.)