WORSHIP RESOURCES
Ordinary Time (Proper 11)
Ephesians 2:11-22
Christ Is Our Peace
Additional Scriptures
2 Samuel 7:1-14a; Psalm 89:20-37; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56;
Doctrine and Covenants 163:2a; 163:9
Preparation
Gather materials needed for the Focus Moment. See below.
Share and Care
Prelude
Welcome
The presider should prayerfully read all four lectionary scriptures several times and prepare a statement of welcome, including an overview of the scripture and theme of the day. An example:
Welcome to this sacred time. We come in response to the invitation issued through God’s grace. We come to find our peace in Christ.
On April 8, 2018, President Steve Veazy concluded his sermon, “Hope Rising,” with this question: When God dreams of Community of Christ, what does God see?
He answered the question as follows:
I think God sees a worldwide family bound together in the spirit of Christ.
I think God sees people experiencing all of the dimensions of salvation through positive witness and innovative ministry.
I think God sees people and groups being spiritually restored through reconciled relationships to God, others, and the whole creation.
I think God sees a spiritual movement that is creating alternatives to cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God.
I think God sees us as we are and as we are becoming.
And when God sees us, God sees hope for the world rising.
Our theme today, “Christ Is Our Peace,” envisions a similar future resulting from God’s reconciling work breaking down walls that seemed permanent. We will also share modern day counsel on the peace of Jesus Christ.
Welcoming Hymn
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
CCS 87
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “Welcome, Jesus, You Are Welcome"
CCS 277
OR “Christ Has Changed the World’s Direction"
CCS 356
Call to Worship: Doctrine and Covenants 163:2a
Hymn of Praise
“Ososŏ/Come Now, O Prince of Peace” Sing several times.
CCS 225
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “O Christ Who by a Cross"
CCS 315
OR “Creation Flows Unceasingly"
CCS 107
Invocation
Response
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22
The reading of the lectionary theme scripture is placed here so it will be known in worship elements that follow. The presider and speaker should consider ways the scripture verses can be made most meaningful to listeners. For example, a bulletin insert of the reading, or more than one reader.
Hymn of Reflection
“Somos el cuerpo de Cristo/We Are the Body of Christ”
CCS 337
This hymn text is a mixture of Spanish and English. Encourage participants to experiment with the language that is not their own.
OR “In Christ There Is No East or West”
CCS 339
OR “Arabs, Romans, Jews, and Gentiles”
CCS 341
Focus Moment
Project or display pictures of the Berlin Wall and the Great Wall of China. Use wooden blocks or dominos to build a wall while you discuss how walls divide people from each other.
Walls often seem permanent. For example, for people who grew up in the late twentieth century, the Berlin Wall felt permanent. It was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1951 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the rest of Germany. It was twenty-seven miles long and nearly fourteen feet high. This wall came down beginning November 9, 1989.
On other hand, the Great Wall of China is 3,000 years old. It was built to block nomadic invaders. Depending on how the wall is measured, it stretches somewhere between 2,500 and 3,400 miles (4,000 and 5,500 kilometers).
Today’s scripture verses tell us that Jesus broke down dividing walls. In his context that probably meant the hostility between Jews and Gentiles. He brought these groups together so there could be peace between them. Jesus offers that same kind of peace today. We will pray for such peace next in our prayer for peace.
Prayer for Peace
Light the Peace Candle.
Prayer
Reconciling God,
Your desire is for us to be reconciled within ourselves, with each other, and with creation. We live in a time of deep divisions between people and nations. We tend to listen only to those we agree with, even as voices get more and more strident in expressing opinions. Nations, it seems, settle for conflict and war rather than doing the hard work of reconciliation and peace.
God of peace,
Energize us for reconciliation. Make us impatient with divisiveness. Help us see and hear past differences that are made greater by the clamor of opinionated talk. Help us recognize commonalities of purpose and desire. Help us be loving in mind, heart, body, and soul as we live in the name of Jesus. Amen.
—Steve Bolie
Peace Hymn
“O May Your Church Build Bridges”
CCS 224
OR “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds”
CCS 325
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “Weave”
CCS 327
Message
Based on Ephesians 2:11-22
Ministry of Music OR Congregational Hymn
“O Christ Who by a Cross"
CCS 315
OR “Peace of Jesus”
CCS 318
OR “The Love of God”
CCS 210
Disciples’ Generous Response
Statement
Our hearts grow aligned with God’s when we gratefully receive and faithfully respond by living Christ’s mission. During the Disciples’ Generous Response, we focus on aligning our heart with God’s heart.
Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
Our offerings are more than meeting budgets or funding mission. Through our offerings we are able to tangibly express our gratitude to God who is the giver of all. As we share our mission tithes either by placing money in the plates or through eTithing, use this time to thank God for the many gifts received in life.
Explanation for visitors: For more than twenty years, Community of Christ has used the term Disciples Generous Response in place of offertory. It emphasizes that our offerings are our response as disciples to generous God. Mission tithes may be designated for worldwide mission or local mission.
If your congregation is meeting online, remind participants they can give through CofChrist.org/give or eTithing.org (consider showing these URLs on screen).
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Closing Hymn
“Jésus est le rocher de ma vie/Jesus Is the Rock for You and Me"
CCS 265
OR “We are the Singers Who Celebrate Jesus"
CCS 352
OR “O God of Love, Grant Us Your Peace"
CCS 316
Benediction
Response
Postlude
SERMON AND CLASS HELPS
Year B—Letters
Ordinary Time (Proper 11)
Ephesians 2:11–22
Exploring the Scripture
This letter never refers to the Ephesians nor details about a specific congregation in early manuscripts. It may have been a general letter, circulating from one congregation to another. Vocabulary, writing style, and sentence structure differ from Paul’s usual writing. Perhaps one of Paul’s followers created this letter using ideas and themes from Paul’s known letters, reinterpreted for the church’s continuing needs.
From ancient times, the Jews identified themselves as God’s chosen people, in a special covenant relationship with God. Over time, being God’s chosen people expanded into an elite attitude that flavored Jewish culture, laws, and traditions. Other nations were unclean.
Marriage with non-Jews was forbidden, and at times in their history, men who married Gentiles were ordered to cast off their wives and children, condemning them to certain death. Gentiles who wanted to become Jews had to go through the sacred ritual of tvilah, for restoration of spiritual purity. This rite was symbolic of dying to all their pagan ways.
Paul’s mission to Gentiles was controversial because of the strict separation between Gentiles and Jews. Many Christian leaders in Jerusalem and Alexandria argued for Gentile converts to be circumcised before being baptized as Christian. Paul fought against the “Judaizers,” arguing with the apostles in Jerusalem.
Today’s passage recognizes the traditional division between Jews and Gentiles, but states Christ has overcome the separation. The Gentile Christians did not bear the mark of circumcision in their flesh, because that category of acceptance by God was now obsolete. They were aliens and strangers to the customs, laws, and traditions of Israel, but there are no strangers in Christ.
Herod’s temple in Jerusalem included a dividing wall on the 35-acre Temple Mount. Signs posted along the lattice-work barrier proclaimed: No foreigner may enter within the fence and enclosure surrounding the sanctuary. Whoever is caught so doing will have only himself to blame for the death which inevitably follows.
Although Jews did not have Roman authority to kill with impunity, it was understood that Roman soldiers would turn a blind eye to whatever happened within the temple precincts. Therefore, the Gentiles stood far off from the inner courts and the sanctuary, the dwelling place of God.
Christ, the barrier-breaker, demolished the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles. ”[H]e is our peace” (v. 14), reconciles all disciples into one fellowship. Further, God is no longer separated from humankind by space, time, or human barriers (such as the veil that closed off the Presence of God in the inner sanctuary). Instead, God is fully accessible to each person, without an intermediary, just as a parent is present to all household members. Gentiles and Jews are equal citizens of God’s kingdom.
Ephesians presents Christ as the cornerstone of the household of God. Isaiah 28:16 says, “See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation…” to bring justice, righteousness, and truth. The name of the cornerstone would be “One who trusts will not panic.” Jews understood the cornerstone to be the Messiah. In Ephesians, the cornerstone joins together all disciples to create a growing, expanding, organic temple in which God’s Spirit lives, the very heart of the New Jerusalem of Isaiah’s vision.
Central Ideas
- The Jews separated themselves from all other nationalities and ethnic groups as God’s chosen people.
- Herod’s temple symbolized the division between Jews and Gentiles, with its dividing wall and dire warnings. The temple veil symbolized the barrier between God and humankind.
- Jesus was the barrier-breaker, who reconciled Jew and Gentile, God and humankind.
- Christ is the cornerstone, the foundation of a community of people who are united in justice, righteousness, and truth.
Questions for the Speaker
- How is your nation divided and hostile to those who are different? How are they symbolized?
- Who are the “chosen people” in modern society? In Christianity? In Community of Christ?
- What is your congregation doing to help destroy the barriers that exist in your local community?
- How are you and your congregation building a spiritual temple dedicated to justice, righteousness, and truth? What does it look like? How is it changing?
SACRED SPACE: A RESOURCE FOR SMALL-GROUP MINISTRY
Year B Letters
Ordinary Time, Proper 11
Ephesians 2:11–22 NRSVUE
Gathering
Welcome
Ordinary Time is the period in the Christian calendar from Pentecost to Advent. This period is without major festivals or holy days. During Ordinary Time we focus on discipleship as individuals and a faith community.
Prayer for Peace
Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.
Today’s Prayer for Peace is inspired by the hymn, “Ososŏ,” Community of Christ Sings 225, by Geonyong Lee.
Spirit of reconciliation,
We crave peace that looks like
Gentle wind on freshly fallen snow,
Fragile-winged butterflies on strong stems,
A tiny grain of sand rolling down the silent dunes created of its cousins.
Your peace is astonishing and beautiful!
Thank you for bringing our poetic minds back to the truth that pursuing peace means reconciliation. Reconciliation is beautiful, too, though it takes work, humility, and the setting aside of our precious egos for the sake of our community’s health.
Strengthen our resolve to pursue peace in this way. May we be quick to forgive and to set healthy boundaries in the name of pursuing peaceful relationships. In the name of Jesus, our example of reconciliation. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Holding in the Light
Our Enduring Principle focus this week is on Blessings in Community. We are called to create communities of peace in our families, neighborhoods, congregations, nations, tribes, and around the world. A spiritual practice that helps us feel connected to our communities is called Holding in the Light. It is a form of intercessory prayer/meditation adapted from the Quaker movement.
We will stand in a circle together. I will have a candle to light in my hand. The rest of you will hold your hands in front of you as if helping me hold the light.
Pause to let the group get situated. Read the following:
While looking at the light from the candle, center yourself and breathe in the word love, breathe out the word light. Repeat three times.
Say the names of the loved ones, communities, or countries you are holding light for. You can name them aloud to hold as a group or keep them in your heart.
Pause to let people name who they need to.
Now imagine these persons being surrounded by the light as bright as the candle.
We will hold these loved ones in light for three minutes.
Say the following:
Offer a moment of gratitude for your loved ones, your communities, and this experience of holding in the light.
Next time you see a sunset or sunrise, you can remember to hold a loved one in the light.
Sharing Around the Table
Ephesians 2:11–22 NRSVUE
So then, remember that at one time you gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us, abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone; in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
From ancient times, the Jews identified themselves as God’s chosen people, in a special covenant relationship with God. Over time, being God’s chosen people expanded into an elite attitude that flavored Jewish culture, laws, and traditions.
Paul’s mission to Gentiles was controversial because of the strict separation between Gentiles and Jews. Many Christian leaders argued for Gentile converts to be circumcised before being baptized as Christian.
Today’s passage recognizes the division between Jews and Gentiles but states that Christ has overcome the separation. The Gentile Christians did not bear the mark of circumcision in their flesh because that category of acceptance by God now was obsolete. They were strangers to the customs, laws, and traditions of Israel, but there are no strangers in Christ.
Herod’s temple in Jerusalem included a dividing wall on the thirty-five-acre Temple Mount. Signs posted along the lattice-work barrier proclaimed, “No foreigner may enter” within the fence and enclosure surrounding the sanctuary. So the Gentiles stood far off from the inner courts and the sanctuary, the supposed dwelling place of God. But Christ, the barrier-breaker, demolished the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles. God is fully accessible to each person, without an intermediary. In Christ, Gentiles and Jews are equal citizens of God’s kingdom.
Ephesians presents Christ as the cornerstone of the household of God. The cornerstone joins together all disciples to create a growing, expanding, organic body in which God’s Spirit lives.
Questions
- How is your nation divided and hostile to those who are different? How is it welcoming?
- Who are the “chosen people” in modern society?
- What is your congregation doing to help destroy barriers in your local community?
- How are you dedicated to justice, righteousness, and truth? What does it look like? How is it changing?
Sending
Generosity Statement
Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.
—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a
The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.
The offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:
Discipling God, as we navigate our world of debt and consumerism, help us save wisely, spend responsibly, and give generously. In this way may we prepare for the future and create a better tomorrow for our families, friends, the mission of Christ, and the world. Amen.
Invitation to Next Meeting
Closing Hymn
Community of Christ Sings 273, “Draw the Circle Wide”
Closing Prayer
Optional Additions Depending on Group
- Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
- Thoughts for Children
Thoughts for Children
Say: Today we are going to play a sorting game. I am going to give two descriptions. Those who meet my first description will go to my right, and those who meet my second description will go to my left. If you do not meet either description, stay in the middle.
If you have brown hair, go to my right. If you have blond hair, go to my left.
If math is your best subject, go to my right. If reading is your best subject, go to my left.
If you are the youngest child in your family, go to my right. If you are the oldest child, go to my left.
If chocolate ice cream is your favorite, go to my right. If vanilla is, go to my left.
Have participants sit back down with you.
Say: So often in the world we use differences to define us and divide us. We create categories, and sometimes the categories are so small that they don’t even apply to everyone—for example, when I asked about your hair color, if you had red hair or black hair, you had nowhere to go, you just stayed in the middle. The scripture for today reminds us that rather than using our differences to categorize and divide, we should use our differences to strengthen our community and build a more-inclusive world.