Pentecost +16
Exodus 14:19-31 
Psalm 114 
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35

Call to Worship  (in response to Matthew18)

L: Sisters and brothers, look around and see those we know and love.

P:  We’ve come, family and friends along with some we hardly know,
      grateful we are all made in God’s image.

L:  As followers of Jesus, the Christ, we’re ready to grow in our ability
     to love and to forgive one another.

P:  Forgiveness is the ground on which we all can stand.

L:  So we gather to worship God as we experience the joy of
      forgiving and of being forgiven.

All:  Let us worship the One who calls us into restored relationships
       through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Opening Prayer

Loving God,
we stand before you,
eager to be restored to full energy
and full capacity to forgive
so we might grow in loving ourselves,
loving one another, and loving you.
Renew us in this hour with full confidence,
believing you forgive us our (debts/trespasses),
even as we claim your strength to forgive one another. 
AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

Matthew 18 startles us with Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant. Who can imagine being in such debt? Are there enough zeroes to write the figure?  Ten thousand talents equal more than what a laborer would be paid in 150,000 YEARS!

Yet the king grants forgiveness to the indebted servant.

When we take time to imagine what God forgives in our life, we might come up with such an unlikely number as well.

Yet we’re assured God’s forgiveness is sufficient. 

In grateful response, we bring symbols of our whole life to offer in thanksgiving to God. Telling the truth to ourselves opens the door to our desire to live in gratitude.

Let’s share our gifts as we receive our morning offering.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Forgiving God,
You offer us new life through your forgiveness. 
Accept this offering as one way
we seek to celebrate the new life you offer each of us.
With grateful hearts,
we give you thanks for each gift, for each giver,
and for the capacity you offer us to live in a community
where we strive to forgive one another,
even as we have been forgiven.  
AMEN

Invitation to Communion

At its best, this Table is a sign and symbol of God’s full-circle love made known for all through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Scripture encourages us to mend relationships before coming to the Table. That way, the rugged disruption of life which comes from resentment, anger, and guilt can be assuaged before we open our hands to receive bread and cup.

Both the wounds we’ve caused as well as the wounds we’ve endured leave us injured and less-than-wholly-able to drink in the gift of communion. The act of forgiveness can help heal and restore both the perpetrator and the punished.

You are welcome here. 

As you come, I invite you to commit to forgiving and to accepting forgiveness, so these emblems might fully strengthen you to action and to a life of love.

The post September 13, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +15
Exodus 12:1-14 
Psalm 149 
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20

Given the focus in the following Call to Worship, consider using Chalice Praise #186“Halleluya! We Sing Your Praises,” to open worship or for your communion hymn.

Call to Worship  (in response to Psalm 149)

L:  Praise the Lord!
P:  With our voices and our hearts, we sing to the Lord a new song!
L:  Together we’re glad in our Maker, and sing for joy.
P:  We rejoice in God, maker of heaven and earth.
L:  Today we offer glory to God.
P:  Praise the Lord!

Opening Prayer

Holy Lord,
we’ve come to celebrate the ways
you’ve adopted us as your beloved children. 
We give thanks for your love,
your gift of life,
and the joy of leaning into our identity as learners – disciples –
of your Son, Jesus, whom we know as the Christ. 
We offer you our praise, and sing our joy!  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship (reflections in response to Romans 13)

In Romans, we hear Paul’s understanding that the commandments (including the 10 Commandments) are summed up in this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

How can we do that?

Let’s take a moment to look at our daily actions with Paul’s teaching in mind: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

There are a variety of ways for us to act in love for ourselves and for our neighbors. This morning let’s consider just a few of our neighbors and how we can act in love toward them.

(Name two or three situations which are significant in your own setting, or use these

People living close to us had their homes and businesses flooded in recent torrential rain storms. Our financial gifts, going to local agencies, will be put to immediate use to help allay the devastation which our neighbors face.

Forest fires have decimated communities around the US and across the globe. Our own Week of Compassion invites us to make a financial donation (either for a specific location or “where most needed”) as a caring response for neighbors.

With rising prices for gas, food, and so many other daily necessities, your support of this congregation and our food pantry will allow people to stretch what they have through what they can choose at our pantry.

And, as always, your financial gifts for the ongoing efforts of our congregation in this community allow us to offer our building for group meetings, engage our staff in community outreach, and efforts to help create communities of care right here.

Remembering these acts of love that are made possible by our gifts, let us receive our morning offering.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Loving God, you’ve created us in your image and taught us to act in love toward our neighbors. Thank you for each gift made today, and for the ways this offering will allow us to act out our love for neighbors both near and far. Bless both the givers and the recipients, even as we do our best to make these gifts demonstrate your love made visible.  AMEN

Invitation to Communion

Paul’s teaching is stated simply:  “Love does no wrong to a neighbor.”

As we come to this Table, many of us recognize we have, in fact, done wrong to our neighbors. 

So today, I invite you to take a few moments of silence to remember and silently acknowledge when and where you have hurt a neighbor. 

Before we share this bread and cup, as we acknowledge the ways we have fallen short of acting in love, let us turn away from those thoughts and actions.  The Bible word is “repent.”

Repentance does not assume we arrive at this Table having gotten everything right. It does mean we come willing to be changed.

One bite of bread; one sip of juice – elements which draw us closer to Jesus and his invitation for us to remember him.

Swallow into yourself not only these tangible tastes, but also the true acceptance of your repentance.

Come! Eat and drink your intention to fulfill the commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The post September 6, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +14
Exodus 3:1-15 
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c 
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28

(Consider singing “Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah!” as an opening, before or after this call to worship.)

Call to Worship  (in response to Psalm 105 from The Message)

L:  Hallelujah! Let’s thank God, celebrating what the Lord has done.
P:  We’ll lift our voices to praise God. 
     We’ll belt out the hymns
      and remember God’s wonders with our songs.
L:  Raise your voice to honor God with a strong “Hallelujah!”
P:  Remind everyone to keep our eyes open for God:
      See! We’ll watch for all God is doing in our midst!
ALL:  Hallelujah!

Opening Prayer

We give you thanks, Lord,
for the good gifts of this day. 
Accept our praise,
and help us sing out “hallelujah”
as we share in this worship hour.
Inspire us to live in harmony
with one another,
and live peaceably with all,
as followers of Jesus the Christ,
in whose name we pray, AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

Paul, writing to the Romans, listed marks of true Christians.

He begins with “let love be genuine.” How is it we can show our genuine love for one another and for the whole of God’s good creation? We’re able to share our finances, our time, and our talents!

Out of care for “the saints” and the strangers, our financial resources can provide (name specific ways your congregation acts on behalf of others).

Sharing from what we’ve received is one way to live in harmony.

So let us receive our morning offering. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank you, generous God,
for making us receivers of your life
and sharers of your gifts.
Accept this offering,
and help us use it fully and wisely.
Challenge us to lean into our identity as a congregation
seeking to build up your Realm on earth as it is in heaven.  AMEN

Invitation to Communion

We are turning to a time of receiving the gifts of God for the people of God.

In Jesus Christ we’ve been claimed and given a place at this Table.

So let us come with joy and eager anticipation to share bread and cup, renewing each of us to live every day in gratitude, with the confident claim: “We are followers of Jesus the Christ!”

As these gifts fill us, send us from this symbolic feast so our lips may speak truth, our eyes may look with compassion on the needs of the world, and our hands may daily serve those who yearn for compassion and care.

The post August 30, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

The post Thinking Generously #1 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

This is just a test. I don’t know how this works, so we are trying it out.

The post Test: Thinking Generously appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +13
Exodus 1:8 – 2:10
Psalm 124 
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20

Call to Worship  (in response to Psalm 124)

L:  Welcome to this time of worship, where we’ve come to
     give thanks to God, who has been and is and will be
     on our side!
P:  When life is tough, God is still on our side.
      When the day gleams with light and life, God is still on our side.
L:  When enemies surround us, when the flood threatens to carry us away,
P:  God is on our side.
L:  So come!  Together, let us rejoice,
ALL:  for our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Opening Prayer

In confidence we lift our hearts to you, Loving God.
We’re grateful for the witness of scripture,
the assurance from history,
and the reality of our own experience:
You do not give us up! 
We give thanks for the knowledge
that our help is in your name,
Maker of heaven and earth!  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

Jesus had traveled with his closest disciples for some time when he sat down with them for a Q&A. 

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” is the way we read the question.

Some of the disciples answered in a pretty generic way: “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

But when Jesus posed the question more directly—“Who do you say I am?”—it was Peter who gifted Jesus with this answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

It’s a confession many of us have also made.
It’s the cornerstone of the church, challenging us to keep on learning and growing in our daily lives.

It’s because we recognize that the church of Jesus, the Christ, at its best, is a rock on which we can anchor our lives that we bring our financial gifts and offer our time and talents.

So let us receive our morning offering.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We will not proclaim our faith with our words only, but with our lives and these gifts we offer to you, O God.  With confidence we pray this offering will help strengthen us and others to be continually transformed by your grace, your hope, and your peace.  Amen.

Invitation to Communion

When we come to the Lord’s Table today, I invite you to think back to Peter’s great confession.  Jesus asked, “Who do YOU say I am?” and Peter responded:

“You are the Messiah (the Christ), the Son of the living God.”

Today, we are all invited to share in this simple meal as one way of affirming Peter’s answer as our own.

This table is set with emblems of remembrance: 
bread, symbol of Jesus’ body,
and juice, symbol of Jesus’ blood.

When we share these gifts, we, too, remember Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. When we share these gifts, we affirm Jesus as the Christ and our decision to be disciples—lifelong learners following in the Way of Love that Jesus taught.

Recommitting ourselves to love God and love our neighbor, let us eat the bread and drink from the cup. 

The post August 23, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +12
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 133
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 15:21-28

Call to Worship  (in response to Matthew 15)

L:  As followers of Jesus, we remember challenging moments when
     we had no other place to turn, like the Canaanite woman, and cry out
P:  “Lord, have mercy on me!”
L:  We come today – some of us filled with eager delight,
                               some with sorrow,
                               some in internal pain we cannot even describe.
P:  Each of us, and all of us, come to link our lives to Jesus, the Christ.
L:  So let us turn our hearts and minds to worship God, giving thanks
     for the One sent by God to live among us.
P:  Created, redeemed, and sustained,
     let us offer God our worship and our praise.
     

Opening Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the witness of scripture,
which reveals you over and over to be one who acts in love. 
Help us today to eagerly seek your Word
in scripture, in song lyrics, in proclamation, and as we gather at the Table. 
Grant us minds to focus, taking in each image
so we might grow in faith, in connection to one another, and in covenantal love.  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

The story of the Canaanite woman who shouted to Jesus about her daughter rings true for so many who love someone who is tormented.  This mother yearns for help for her daughter and is willing to make her case in a loud appeal to Jesus.

She wants her daughter to be healed and pleads for Jesus to act.

In a sense, this unnamed woman becomes one model for each one of us as we plead for the gift needed for someone we love. 

At first, Jesus tries to ignore this foreigner. He makes his case to the disciples that he’s been sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

The persistent mom continues to reach out to Jesus.

When Jesus accepts her appeal, the woman’s heart-focus finds comfort, hearing Jesus declare, “Great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

In gratitude for the ways Jesus works, we respond with our tithes and offerings. Grateful for the blessings which come to us in the tough times and in the calmer moments, let us share the gifts we’ve set aside, confident in God’s desire for each and for all to be brought close in love. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

All things come from thee, O Lord; and of thine own have we given thee.
(Chalice Hymnal #380 can be spoken, sung solo, or as a congregational response to the offering.)

Invitation to Communion

What would it take for each of us to have great faith?
Is that something which takes a lifetime to gain?
Or is it something born out of grief, pain, or anxious love for another?

When we come to this Table, there is no demand that we have great faith.

Rather, this is our opportunity to increase our faith as we
take the bread, which has been blessed and broken,
and drink from the cup, which has been blessed and poured out.

These elements are the symbols of Jesus’ body and blood,
offered to each one, no matter if we’re part of some “in” crowd,
or we have stumbled into this worship service because of an inner torment.

The bread and cup are simple gifts, made available to all who will come
and remember Jesus as you take, taste, and take on your partnership with
the Body of Christ.

Come!  For the meal is prepared and there is a place for you.

(Consider using Chalice Hymnal #426 “The Voice of Jesus Calls His People” as your communion hymn.)

The post August 16, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +11
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33

Call to Worship  (a response to Psalm 105)

L:  Today we come to give thanks to the Lord.
     We’ll lift our voices in songs of praise,
        and seek the Lord’s presence as we worship.
P:  We’ve come to remember all God has done,
       and look ahead to what God will do.

L:  This is a day to tell what the Lord did,
P:    and look for signs of God’s presence in our midst.

L:  This is the day to recall the judgments of the Lord,
P:     and praise the One whose name is holy.

ALL:  So let’s seek the Lord and give thanks. Praise God!

Opening Prayer

We do give thanks, Lord, as we worship you. 
We offer our praise, tune in our attention,
and seek your presence in our daily lives.

Accept our desire to truly claim our identity
  as your beloved daughters and sons.
Help us rejoice as we join with myriads to remember
  the ways you have acted in love for your creation and your creatures.
AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

 One of the stalwart hymns of Christian faith in America is “How Firm a Foundation.” Do you remember this verse?
           Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
            for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
           I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
            upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

It’s practically impossible to never be afraid, especially as we recognize challenges of health, of relationships, and change all around us, to say nothing of the realities of politics, war, and natural disasters.

Yet scripture renews in us a sense of confidence which comes both from the First Testament, and the Second: God is with us, Jesus lives in us, and the Spirit accompanies us even in our most difficult moments.

In that confidence, we recognize we can rejoice and respond with gifts as symbols of our lives. 

Today, let’s let our faith lead us to joyfully share a portion of our time, our talents, and our treasure as we receive our morning offering.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

(Consider singing verse 3 of Chalice Hymnal #381 as a sung, or spoken, prayer of thanksgiving.)

Take whatever I can offer – gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen, talents of the hand and mind.
Things made beautiful for other in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you, God who first of all loved me.
  

Invitation to Communion

Varied people over the centuries have picked up on particular teachings of Jesus, making them central to their community’s faith life.

People participating in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have recognized the actions of Jesus as pivotal to our identity as “disciples” (life-long learners).

In congregations across the United States and Canada, as well as throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Disciples’ weekly worship includes sharing in the Lord’s Supper (or “communion” or even “eucharist”).

That’s our practice here, as well.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the story of Jesus walking on the water immediately follows the description of Jesus telling his disciples to feed the hungry crowd despite only having 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish for a gathered group of “about 5000 men, besides women and children.”  In that text, Jesus “takes, blesses, breaks and gives,” just as happens later in an upper room, when Jesus “takes, blesses, breaks and gives” bread from the Passover table.

Remembering Jesus, we, too, come to this table where someone will take, bless, break and give bread to ALL who yearn for a way beyond fear.

So come!  You are invited and assured there is a place for you, and gifts of bread and cup for you.

Come on! There’s plenty for all who hunger and thirst. AMEN

The post August 9, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +10
Genesis 32:22-31 
Psalm 17:1-7, 15 
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21

Call to Worship  (inspired by Genesis 32)

One: As people of faith, we sometimes claim our identity with those of scripture.
Many:  In challenging times, we find ourselves wrestling with God, yearning for a blessing.
One:  May this hour of worship open the door for each of us, and all of us,
to receive with open hands the gifts God willingly provides.
Many: Today we may glimpse the face of God,
One:  knowing in God’s presence we’ll find our peace.
Many:  Let us worship the Lord our God!

Opening Prayer 

Loving God,
out of our fear, our anxiety and our discouragement,
we come to you.
In our energy, our excitement and our delight,
we come to you.
Help us recognize your presence in the midst of our own situations,
   even as we seek your blessing for our own lives,
   and for the life of ALL your creation.
Walk with us in this hour and in each day as we limp and laugh with you. AMEN

Moment for Stewardship  (in response to Matthew 14)

Perhaps some of you can sympathize with Jesus. 

He’d been working non-stop, healing, teaching, and responding to the demands of the crowds. When he heard of the murder of John the Baptist, he tried to break away for some time alone.

Yet when he looked up from the boat he’d taken across to what he hoped would be a deserted place, a crowd had already gathered!  Instead of turning around, or simply dropping anchor out on the water, Jesus came ashore, and “had compassion for them.”

Even when we are exhausted, discouraged, uncertain, or downtrodden, we have the model of Jesus standing before us. Jesus engaged, once more, with people who needed food in that deserted place. So he took what was available, gave thanks to God for the bread and fish, and gave the food to his disciples to pass to the crowds.

Today, can demonstrate our compassion – our “pity with” others.  Not the only way, but one way to respond to the needs of others comes by sharing our morning offering. 

Will you put compassion to the forefront for this moment?  Will you respond, knowing a portion of our offering goes to ____________________ (support the food pantry, provide new underwear for those coming to our free clothing shop, pay our minister as he/she/they counsels with disconsolate folks)?

Let us present our gifts as signs and symbols of the compassion we know most clearly from the life of Jesus, the Christ.

Prayer of Thanksgiving*

As one family we sing
while these, our gifts, to God we bring;
who in love has made us one
in the church of Christ, God’s Son.

Use us and use our gifts, good Lord,
for holy service in the world.

Hope to all your people give
as to your glory we now live.  AMEN


Invitation to Communion  (inspired by Matthew 14)

Each time we come to this Table, we hear an invitation extended to all who will come. Here there are no tests to pass, no threshold of giving to exceed, no affirmation from some authority to present. Here we find the gifts of God for the people of God, presented in simple bread and juice.

Counting on the compassion of Jesus Christ, we recognize our hunger and our thirst may be assuaged here even as we remember in a deserted place, long ago,
                        Jesus took simple foods,
                             blessed them,
                             broke the bread
                             and gave the bread and fish.

So, today, knowing these gifts will not fill our stomachs, but can satisfy our soul hunger, we remember Jesus taking bread,
                                                      blessing it,
                                                      breaking it,
                                                      giving it.

With gratitude, come to receive the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
 

*Adapted from Gifts of Many Cultures, Maren C. Tirabasi and Kathy Wonson Eddy, 1995, Pilgrim Press, p. 126.

The post August 2, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.

Pentecost +9
Genesis 29:15-28 
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b 
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

 
Call to Worship  (in response to Psalm 105)   

L:  I invite you to take a deep breath and then let it out (model this).
     Now, begin to focus your heart and mind so together we can worship
     the Lord our God.

P:  Tuning our minds and hearts, we come to give thanks to the Lord.

L:  Glory to God’s holy name! Let us rejoice!

P:  We remember what God has done: 
      making a covenant with the people to be their God.

L:  And we, too, are part of God’s own people,

P:  Praise God! 

(Use Chalice Hymnal #6 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” as the opening hymn.)

Opening Prayer

Holy God, we do give you praise and glory! 
Joyfully, we offer you our gifts
of time, talent and treasure,
remembering how you pour out your gifts to us.
Help us in this hour
set aside all that would leave us here in body only.

May our energy be focused on you,
your Word, and the ways we might better
live out our identity as followers of Jesus,
whom we know as the Christ.  AMEN

Moment for Stewardship

Jesus used parables to engage and teach those who heard him. In Matthew, we hear a whole series of parables seeking to identify what the Kingdom (Realm) of God is like.

Each week when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we say:
    (use the language used in your congregation)  
“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

When we ask: “What can we do to help ‘thy Kingdom come’?” one way is to share our financial resources. When we give, we make possible the ministries of care and compassion of our congregation (name one or two).

When we act like the finder of a treasure hidden in the field, or like a merchant in search of fine pearls (as in two of the parables in Matthew 13), we become willing to give not only generously but perhaps even sacrificially.

How are you acting on Jesus’ teachings and the prayer we pray?

Let us share with joyful hearts as we receive our morning offering!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Giver of all good gifts,
we lay before you this morning’s offering. 
May our reflection on Jesus’ parables,
and our own praying of the Lord’s Prayer,
work together to challenge us to move on
toward generous and grateful giving.
AMEN

Invitation to Communion

Growing as a disciple of Christ can be costly! 

We may find ourselves drawn away from the challenges of being a follower of Jesus when so much around us says, “Take the easy way!” or “Grab for all the gusto…you deserve it!”

Yet week by week, we’re invited to share a simple meal and keep company with Jesus as he offers emblems of his life, his death, and his resurrection in the bread and the cup before us.

Here we find strength to turn away from greed, selfishness and narcissism.
Here we are nourished to choose actions of generosity, selflessness and agape’ love which Jesus modelled.
Here we remember we are part of the Body of Christ.

Come, for the meal is prepared, and you have a place at this Table.

The post July 26, 2026 appeared first on Center for Faith and Giving.