Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Luke 12:13-21; Doctrine and Covenants 165:2a, 3a

Prelude

Welcome

As disciples in Community of Christ, we are invited together in worship to find the peace of Jesus in our lives. May we come to the table this day with a desire to serve God and become Christ's servants. May the Holy Spirit abide with us as we worship the Lord this day.

Call to Worship: Psalm 107:1-3, 8-9, 43

Gathering Hymn

“Dear God, Embracing Humankind” CCS 194

OR “Jesu, Tawa Pano /Jesus We Are Here”     Sing several times. CCS 71

OR “Let This Mind Be in You” Sing several times. CCS 169

Invocation

Response

Prayer for Peace

Hymn of Peace

“The Peace of Mind” CCS 320

OR “The Peace of Jesus Christ” CCS 317

OR “O God of Love, Grant Us Your Peace” CCS 316

Light the peace candle.

Peace Prayer

Read the text of “O Christ Who by a Cross,” by Shirley Erena Murray, CCS 315, followed by “Amen.”

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-11

Ministry of Music OR Congregational Hymn of Discipleship

“Clothe Us in Your Spirit” CCS 584

OR “Take the Path of the Disciple” CCS 558

OR “In My Life, Lord” CCS 602

Homily

Based on Colossians 3:1-11

Disciples’ Generous Response

Generosity Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Have you seen the reality TV show “Hoarders?” It’s the story of some people who live in houses packed floor to ceiling. Many of the items they hoard are useless: stacks of old newspapers, piles of dry-rotted clothing, old bottles, and jars they might one day “find a use for.”

In the show, a team of helpers help the client find the fortitude to let the team throw stuff into a Dumpster. The team always includes a psychological counselor.

Part of the appeal of watching Hoarders is turning the TV off afterward and saying, “I thought my messy closet was bad, but it’s nothing compared to that!”

Consider this, though. There are all sorts of ways of being a hoarder. Sometimes it’s physical possessions we hold onto. Other times it’s memories of times we know will never come again. Or it may be cherished hopes and dreams of the future that we now know—if we’re truly honest—will never come to pass. But still, we hold onto them. Still, we make ourselves incapable of experiencing joy in the present.

—Homiletics, Animating Illustration, adapted. Homileticsonline.com/members/installment/93041370

As we open our hearts to courageously and generously share by placing money in the offering plates or through eTithing, we join the movement of God’s compassion in the world. On this Sunday as we share in the sacraments, our offerings are dedicated to Abolishing Poverty and Ending Needless Suffering. This is how God’s generous compassion grows more visible in tangible ways.

If you have participants joining the worship online, remind them that they can give through www.CofChrist.org/give or through eTithing at www.eTithing.org (consider displaying these URLs).

Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 165:2a

Communion Talk

Invitation to Communion

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others might have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

Communion Scripture: Luke 22:7-20

Communion Hymn

Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine

Pastoral Prayer

Hymn of Sending Forth

“Bwana Awabariki/May God Grant You a Blessing”

Sing several times. CCS 660

OR “Peace Be with You” Sing twice. CCS 662

OR “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” CCS 648

Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 165:3a

May you leave this place as a new creation. 

Go with generosity of spirit and Christ’s peace.

Postlude

 

Year C—Letters

Ordinary Time (Proper 13)

Chapter 3 of Colossians begins with a gentle wordplay around the verb “to rise.” Paul reminds the Colossians that having been “raised with Christ, seek the things that are above” compared to things “on earth.”

The intent is not to ignore the earthly reality in which we live. This is the world God loves and continues to care for. Jesus came into and redeemed this world. We have a role in helping to transform the brokenness of this world into an echo of God’s future peaceable reign. Turning from “things that are on earth” means refusing to be governed by values and ethics not centered in Christ.

Paul presents an image of Jesus seated at the right hand of God, a position of authority and power. This Risen Christ becomes the center of thoughts, actions, and life when old habits and divisions are buried in the waters of baptism.

Life “hidden with Christ in God” (v. 3) is a resurrected life that remains a mystery to those who are non-believers. The passage reminds us we cannot know all the answers or see the future. It is hidden in Christ, but we can trust Christ to bring about good. Ideally, the life of a follower merges with the life of Christ so they cannot be distinguished. It is a life secure in faith and trust, unlike a life centered on superficial values and goals. Paul affirms that, eventually, the world will see and recognize Christ. Only then will the lives of his followers be understood by everyone.

Paul encourages the Colossians to put aside personal behaviors that work against the glory of God: fornication, greed, impurity, evil passions, and idolatry. Greed includes not only craving money, but our runaway consumerism. These are marks of the lives of non-believers, and God will punish such disobedience. He adds a second list of social vices that creep into human relationships: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language.

“Do not lie to one another…” (v. 9). Telling the truth can be difficult when it means looking steadfastly at realities we would rather not see, such as the poverty and abuse that we have helped create by our greed. The truth about climate crises, political systems, and the causes of war often are discarded for lies that comfort and support preconceived world views. Clinging to half-truths or twisted interpretations of facts that are lies tears down the community by erecting barriers and divisions.

Discarding an old set of clothes and putting on a new set was symbolic of baptism. The faithful have cast aside the old ways to clothe “yourselves with the new self” (v. 10). The new self is not a finished product. God constantly is renewing lives physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. God’s restoring action recreates disciples in God’s image rather than in images founded on national loyalties, religious rituals, economic status, education, or bondage.

When everyone is formed in the image of God, there are no distinctions and divisions. All are equal and of worth, despite any individual variations. For those who walk in the image of God, “Christ is all and in all!” (v. 11). Only when Christ is all and in all can a true Christian community emerge as the new creation.

1. Christians’ values, ethics, and actions should align with God’s vision of the peaceable realm.

2. Life “hidden with Christ in God” is a resurrected life that can be understood only partially. We never can know all the answers or see the future.

3. Avoiding lies includes looking steadfastly at realities we would rather not see.

4. God constantly is renewing our lives and calling us to grow as disciples.

1. What are the “things above” we should seek? How relevant is this text for today’s world?

2. Why should we try to do anything if we cannot know God’s plan?

3. What are some of this world’s realities we would rather not recognize? How can we “tell the truth” about these realities through a life centered on Christ?

4. What are the clothes of the new self that we must put on? How many are you wearing already, and how many do you still need to done?

 

Year C—Letters

Ordinary Time (Proper 13)

Communion

Ordinary Time is the period in the Christian calendar from Pentecost to Advent. This span is without major festivals or holy days. During Ordinary Time we focus on our discipleship as individuals and a faith community.

God of peace, we have been blessed by your Spirit of peace as we seek to bring forth Zion through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit.

Our capacity to receive tidings of great joy and proclaim peace throughout your world, including the peace of reconciliation and healing, is balanced with sharing that peace with others.

How beautiful upon the mountains this shall be.

In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

—1 Nephi 3:187–189, adapted

We have entered Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar year. Ordinary time represents all the weeks not included in the holiday seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. We will rotate through different spiritual practices during these weeks.

Today we will engage in a spiritual practice called Tonglen. Tonglen stems from the Buddhist tradition and is a meditation of sending and receiving. You breathe in something hurtful or something you are trying to avoid, and you breathe out something pleasant, affirming, or healing. You breathe in loss and send out gain.

Tonglen awakens our natural empathy and allows us to understand the pain of others. This practice helps us tap into deep compassion and empathy. As painful thoughts and images arise, we breathe them in and open ourselves to our own suffering and the suffering of others who feel the same way. Then we send relief to all of us.

We will breathe in for six counts while thinking of something that is or has been painful in your life and the lives of others.

We then will breathe out for six counts while thinking of something affirming, restoring, or healing to ourselves and others.

We will do five repetitions of this breathing exercise.

Let’s begin:

Breathe in for six counts and think of something that is or has been painful in your life and the lives of others.

Breathe out for six counts and think of something affirming, restoring, or healing to breathe out to others.

Colossians 3:1–11 NRSVue

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!

Many people who call themselves Christians continue living “life as usual,” seemingly unchanged by their relationship with Christ. But, the writer of Colossians reminds the readers that there ought to be a fundamental difference in the lives of those who are “hidden with Christ in God.”

Disciples, having been “raised with Christ, [should] seek the things that are above” compared to things “on the earth.” The intent is not to ignore the earthly reality in which we live. This is the world God loves and continues to care for. Jesus came into and redeemed this world. We have a role in helping to transform the brokenness of this world into an echo of God’s future peaceable reign. Turning from “things that are of the earth” means refusing to be governed by values and ethics not centered in Christ.

The faithful cast aside the old ways to “clothe [themselves] with the new self.” The new self is not a finished product. God constantly is renewing their lives physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. God’s restoring action re-creates disciples in God’s image rather than in images founded on national loyalties, religious rituals, economic status, education, or bondage.

The writer encourages the Colossians to put aside personal behaviors that work against the glory of God. Life “hidden with Christ in God” is a resurrected (transformed) life. Ideally, the life of a follower merges with the life of Christ, so much so that they cannot be distinguished.

It is a life secure in faith and trust, unlike a life centered on superficial values and goals. When everyone is formed in the image of God, there are no distinctions and divisions. All are equal and of worth, despite any individual variations. For those who walk in the image of God, “Christ is all and in all.” Only when Christ is all and in all can a true Christian community emerge as the new creation.

Questions

1. How has your relationship with Christ transformed your life and your way of thinking about or seeing the world and others?

2. What of your “old self” still needs to be transformed?

3. How is God constantly renewing your life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?

4. How are you being re-created in God’s image?

Generosity Statement

Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response. You also may give at CofChrist.org/give.

This 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.

Community of Christ Sings 578, “Jesus Is Calling”

• Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

• Thoughts for Children

 

Communion Scripture

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

—1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NRSVue

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings (choose from below options):

• 516, “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”

• 521, “Let Us Break Bread Together”

• 523, “As We Gather at Your Table”

• 526, “Is There One Who Feels Unworthy?”

• 528, “Eat This Bread”

• 532, “We Meet as Friends at Table”

Materials:

• small containers of bubbles (enough for each participant)

When have you had to apologize for hurting someone with your words or actions? How did it feel to have your apology accepted?

Family and friends forgive us and love us. God loves us like that, too. We call that love grace.

Blow a bubble.

Say: When we are filled with God’s love and grace, we feel as light and free as this bubble filled with air. We aren’t weighed down by our mistakes, because we know God loves us unconditionally. I am going to give you each a container of bubbles. Each time you blow a new bubble, remember that you are loved by God and are always surrounded by God’s love and grace.