Your kingdom come, your will be done....

​Organ Prelude : “ Amazing Grace” - arr. S.Clark.
​Deirdre Morell-Ormerod, organ

​
Welcome (Worship Leader is the Rev. Elisabeth Bachem-Jennings)
​
Lighting of the Christ Candle:
We light this light in the name of God the Creator who said “Let there be light” and there was light.
We light this light in the name of God in Jesus, light of the world.
We light this light in the name of God, Holy Spirit: Light in our darkness, a lamp to our path.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
*Opening sentences/ Call to worship
from Micah 6:8
God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

It is good to be together, God,
even behind masks, but with one another,
together listening for your voice,
united by your Spirit.
In this time of worship
tell us about your kingdom of kindness
so that we can seek it.
Show us your justice.
We want to walk with you,
humbly, closely, daily.+

Sing: Voices United  #356 
     “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”   

Opening Prayer ++

God of grace, we come with all we have;
bodies, souls, minds, all here to worship you.
We have come for a glimpse
of your kingdom of kindness--
a world where love rules over all,
a world where enemies embrace,
distinctions between friend and foe
evaporating in the light of your love.
But you know how and where we stand in the way.
Help us, to see it, too. Help us to see it, as we just look back at this one week which is past.....  Amen.
(A moment of silence is kept)
​
Communal Prayer for Forgiveness:
Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy immortal One
have mercy on us.
Words of Assurance
God does not seek punishment for us or mountains of guilt feelings from us. This love goes out looking for us, to bring us home.  Thanks be to God.
 Amen.

 Musical Offering  “Come, Come unto me”                                     

                                                      HEARING and LISTENING
 Today’s Scripture Reader:                  Kerry Fitzgerald                    
From the Hebrew Scriptures:
    A reading from the Prophet Micah 6:1-9
    Human shortcomings and God’s will
    One: This is the witness of Israel
    All: Thanks be to God.
From the gospel
according to Mark 12:28-34
    What brings us into the kingdom realm?
    The gospel of Jesus Christ
    Alleluja.

​*Hymn: Voices United #680  Isaiah the prophet

Authors: Joy F. Patterson, American
1 Isaiah the prophet has written of old
how God's new creation shall come,
instead of the thorn tree, the fir tree shall grow;
the wolf shall lie down with the lamb.
The mountains and hills shall break forth into song,
the peoples be led forth in peace,
for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God
as the waters cover the seas.
2 Yet nations still prey on the meek of the world,
and conflict turns parent from child.
Your people despoil all the sweetness of earth;
the brier and the thorn tree grow wild.
God, bring to fruition your will for the earth,
that no one shall hurt or destroy,
that wisdom and justice shall reign in the land
and your people shall go forth in joy.

Message: " Your kingdom come, your will be done"

RESPONDING with PRAYER and ACTION
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession:  Followed by the Lord's Prayer in the contemporary english version ( CEV   ), Matthew 6: 9-13
Our Father in heaven, 
help us to honor your name. 
Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. 
Give us our food for today. 
Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil. Amen.

Offering of Time, Talent, “Treasure”/ Minute for Mission (video)
Communal Offertory Prayer
God of grace,
we know you want no big show of devotion 
from us but to do justice, love kindness and a good measure of humility.
Accept these gifts from our hands,
with which we foster justice and sow acts of kindness. Accept these gifts for the work of your church.  Amen.

Announcements:
*The Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Commissioning and Blessing

​Organ Postlude: “Gird Thee Now, My Soul, With Gladness” by  J.L.Krebs  

Source acknowledgement:
+ and ++ From: CarolPennerLeadinginworship. Used with permission.