God’s Vision: Rejoice in It

Service of Worship (Tuesday, July 2, 2013)

http://www.ucc.org/synod/video.html

PROCESSIONAL: “Precious Lord” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

ACCLAMATIONS

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19)

“Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth; and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7)

“I am the Resurrection and the Life; all who believe in me, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11: 25-26)

RESURRECTION ACCLAMATION: Christ is risen!  Christ is risen, indeed!

HYMN: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

LITANY OF NEW LIFE

Let it be!  Let it be!  New life, for the church, for you, for me!  Let it be!

New life doesn’t forget the old, but springs forth from it.   New life emerges, in God’s time— sometimes very slowly; at other times with the power of an unsealed tomb.  Surprise!  God makes all things new.  New life, for the church, for you, for me! Let it be!

Like the children’s game, God says: “Ready or not, here I come!” And God re-creates, in God’s time—Resurrection power!  Who dares say that God can’t or won’t?!  Surprise!  God laughs with joy.  New life, for the church, for you, for me!  Let it be!

 Let it be!  Let it be!

SONG: “Mourning into Dancing”

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 8: 1-8 God’s message: “I am zealous for Zion—I care! I’m angry about Zion—I’m involved!”   God’s message:”I’ve come back to Zion, I’ve moved back to Jerusalem.  Jerusalem’s new name will be Truth City…And my mountain: Mount Holiness.”   “Old men and old women will come back to my city, sit on benches on the streets and spin tales,move around safely—a good city to grow old in.   And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and playing—a good city to grow up in.”  God’s message: “Do the problems of rebuilding seem too much?  But is anything too much for me?”

NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:1-11, 17-20 “After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.  He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  Go on your way.  See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.  Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.  Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’  And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.  Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid.  Do not move about from house to house.  Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The realm of God has come near to you.’  But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you.  Yet know this: the realm of God has come near.’ Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’  He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.  See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’”

HOMILY: “But Wait, There’s More!”  by The Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson

OFFERTORY: “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:    You are invited to Tweet your vision to: #GSWorship

SONG: “Dream God’s Dream”

HYMN: “Now Is the Time Approaching”

BENEDICTION

CELEBRATION: “When the Saints Come Marching In”