October 22, 2023
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
“Truth”

Call to Worship (Inspired by Exodus 33:12-23)
One: Let us worship the Holy One who forms us as a people, a community, and a world!
Many: God knows our name and looks upon us with pleasure.
One: Let us hear, see, and know the ways of the Lord. 
Many: God reveals Godself to us in magnificent and gentle ways. 
One: Let us proclaim the glory, goodness, and graciousness of our Great God!
Many: God is worthy to be praised!

Invocation
Revealing God, you show us the way of life, lead us with love, and move us to compassion. May our hearts be transformed by your Spirit and by your Truth. Let our actions and attitudes demonstrate your kindom. May justice and peace be our hope. Let repair, restoration, and reconciliation be our aim. Make your presence among us known. Let us prepare to receive it. Amen.

Prayer for Transformation and New Life
Righteous One, forgive us for all the ways our hearts have been hardened. Forgive us for every time we chose to reflect the ways, attitudes, and values of this world rather than your kindom. Forgive us for turning away from the brokenness of our world when it becomes too uncomfortable. Forgive us for being timid when you empower us to be bold, for being resigned when you have created us to be resolute, for being complicit when you have charged us to be transformative. Help us to walk in your image and your path of righteousness, courageousness, and loving kindness. Amen.

Words of Grace
Beloved, remember that you do not walk this journey alone. The Comforter and Advocate accompanies you and equips you for the ministry of abundant love that shows up, speaks up, and acts up in the name of Jesus. Know that your life and your witness make a difference. God is faithful to forgive and enables us to do the impossible and be the unimaginable. 

Invitation to Generosity
Psalm 96:3 exhorts us to “Declare God’s glory among the nations, God’s marvelous works among all the peoples.” Let us glorify God through generous living and faithful use of the resources entrusted to our care. Let us marvel at the Creator’s provision by affirming that we have more than enough to share for the benefit and care of our community, world, and God’s church.

Prayer of Dedication and Thanksgiving
Generous God, we thank you for the gifts we receive and for the gifts we give. May they serve to make your kindom come and your will be done. Magnify their impact so that you may be glorified and your name be praised. Amen.

Benediction
May truth gentle your heart.
May truth find itself in your speech.
May truth guide your actions and attitudes.
May truth release you to be fully you.
May truth compel you to greater love and compassion.
May truth fortify you as you go into the world as God’s agent of healing and hope.
Live in truth, go in peace,
Be love.
In the name of Jesus the Christ.

Truth: Service Prayers for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost were written by The Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology, United Church of Christ.