Growing Seed

Norlan Scrudder

Call to Worship

Leader:            This is the Lord’s day so we come into the Lord’s presence

with thanksgiving and adoration, so, come!

Come let us worship God, creator of all things and all peoples of the earth.

People:             We are here to praise God and to worship the one who created us.

We give thanks and praise through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Leader:             AMEN.

People:            And Amen!

 Hymn—“Majesty”

 Invocation

Gracious God. We have lifted our voices in worship and praise of your holy name. We continue to give you thanks and praise throughout this service and the remainder of our lives. Receive us, bless us, direct us.  Through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

 Call to Confession

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Almighty God, and we have grievously sinned against each other in thought, word and past deed. We, therefore bow silently, remembering our own sins and events past and present that has caused grief and pain to our sisters and brothers of other origins. Let us silently confess our sins.

 Prayer of Confession (responsively)

Almighty God we humbly confess that we have often thoughtlessly been a part of a culture that sins against even those we love and care for very much. For those sins and others we can name only in our hearts, we beg for your undeserved forgiveness. Please restore harmony where division has prevailed.  Forgive us. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.

And Amen!

 Assurance of Pardon (responsively)

Though our sins be many God has promised that if we are faithful and sincere in confessing our sins that we receive forgiveness from Christ our Lord. I therefore proclaim to you that in Christ, we graciously receive forgiveness.  AMEN.

And Amen!

 Hymn—“Here I Am, Lord”

Prayer for Illumination (prayer from ancient liturgies of the Church)

Come Holy Spirit. Come as Wind and Cleanse. Come as Fire and Burn. Come as Light and Reveal. Convict, Convert, Consecrate until we are wholly Thine. Amen.

 Scripture Possibilities for the Sermon

• Lectionary scriptures as appropriate to the theme
• Mark 4:28–Emphasizing God’s gifts to all humankind. It could be expanded to include the entire parable of the growing seed.

“All by itself the soil produces grain–first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head”….

Prayers of the People

As a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ, our Lord you are invited to share any prayer concerns or prayer requests at this time.

(time of silent prayer) 

 We come, Almighty God offering prayers of petition for those who are in our prayers this day.  Only you know that for which we pray but always our prayers are offered with the hope that “Thy will be done” through us and for those in our prayers.  Amen.

 Invitation to the Offering

God has provided food from the earth, the light of Christ for our pathway, the breath of the Holy Spirit upon our cheek, and all good gifts in our lives. We now offer our lives and other gifts we bring to God through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 Offertory Prayer

Creator God, we have lifted our voices through prayers and songs to worship you in spirit and in truth.  Now we lift these offerings given freely by these, your people, and send them to places of need in your world and through your holy name. Amen.

And Amen!

Hymn—“Lift High the Cross”

 Charge

Go in peace. Serve the Lord by serving and loving those who are in need of your precious love.  Light our pathway with the light of Christ as we follow that light into our world.

 Benediction

Now may the grace, love and peace

of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

go with you all now and forever more.  AMEN.

And Amen!