10/30/2022
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.
· Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Masks are required by those not vaccinated as well as social distancing
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards. An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
PRAYER REQUESTS
Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston has been moved into a Hospice unit, Maxine Wagner, Annette Conzett, Jo Lefleur Judy Welcher, Dr Dyke, Harlan Marx, Lois Seger, Jon Ryner, Abagail Niles, Helanah Niles, Kay Werner, Ukraine, Arlene Pawlik, Angela and Tristan, Bonnie Pillers , and Deb Weller, Gaulrapp Family.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Today we encounter a sinner who climbed a tree to see the Lord.
P: Today we observe a forgiven man who came down from that tree to
welcome the Lord into his life.
L: Come. Let us climb our own trees. Let us seek the Lord, for he comes this
way.
P: We, too, want this encounter with God’s beloved son that we might
accept his invitation to come into our hearts and homes.
L: Let us praise the Lord and through God’s grace may we bless our world as
transformed sons and daughters of Abraham.
*GATHERING PRAYER
Sometimes we feel small and despised, troubled and anguished, afraid and alone. But we are assured that God stands with us, offering us grace and healing. Let us draw near to our Lord and lay our failings before him. Let us be released from our guilt that we might start anew and live into the hope of our faith.
*HYMN Come Sing to God #181 (You may be seated.)
CALL TO CONFESSION
Sometimes we feel small and despised, troubled and anguished, afraid and alone. But we are assured that God stands with us, offering us grace and healing. Let us draw near to our Lord and lay our failings before him. Let us be released from our guilt that we might start anew and live into the hope of our faith.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious Lord. How easy it is to look with disdain upon those whom we brand as sinners. We excuse our own transgressions while harshly judging others. We stand at a distance from strangers and block the door of our church against those whom we view as unworthy. Forgive us for our arrogance and hard heartedness. Forgive us for ignoring your call to love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to open our arms and our hearts to your beloved and to forgive as you have forgiven us. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Hear the good news. In Christ Jesus we have been washed clean and offered new opportunities for love and faith. As God has welcomed us into his grace, we are called to bring that joyful invitation to all. Praise be to God. Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
PASSING THE PEACE
(Please greet those around you as we all say these words in unison.)
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
INTERLUDE
Word
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord God, you invite us to watch and to learn, to write your vision upon tablets so clearly that even a runner speeding past can take note. That means we need to listen carefully to your word. Help us to hear and to grasp your truth and your love that is poured out before us this day. Amen.
Now it was a rich man, a sinner who needed him (even if Zacchaeus maybe didn’t know it.” Jesus had restored sight to the blind man, and now he restored something even more precious to Zacchaeus. “Zacchaeus,” he said, ”hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” He gave Zacchaeus the opportunity to be restored to the community. The next few moments would tell the story of whether the little man, the tax collector would accept this gift or not. Would he choose the wealth and power of his position, or would he choose righteousness and community?
The next thing we hear is that Zacchaeus is climbing down that tree (in all his undignified glory!) But now the townspeople are upset. “What?—You can’t go to his house. Don’t you know who he is? What he does? He’s a sinner!”
Zacchaeus, of course, hears all of this. He IS a sinner. He knows it, but he also knows that Jesus has just thrown him a life line.
“Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”
That must have made the townspeople’s jaws drop! The Biblical mandate when one is making restitution is to return the original amount plus 20%. Or in the most grievous cases, 50%. But Zacchaeus has pledged 400%. That’s 166% more than is required.
Jesus ends the discussion by saying, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Blessings had arrived for Zacchaeus. He had been forgiven and restored to his rightful place in the community. I want to suggest that blessing had arrive in that community, too. The resources that Zacchaeus had pledged would ripple through the local economy, lifting them all, and if they will give this sinner a chance, who knows what more he can offer them.
Luke seems to be telling us that Jesus is for all people—the poor blind beggar all the way up to the very rich and despised tax collector. All are sons and daughters of Abraham. All are worthy of God’s forgiveness and inclusion in the community.
We need to pay attention here, because we ARE Zacchaeus. Don’t we want to see Jesus? Aren’t we willing to even climb a tree? Aren’t we rich (at least by the standards of our world) and aren’t we sinners? But we’re also the crowd, the ones who want to judge which sins should be forgiven. The ones who want to exclude those whom we judge unworthy.
Jesus accepted Zacchaeus, Even Zacchaeus! He knew who he was, but he offered an opportunity to this sinner to be received back into the warmth of the community. And Zacchaeus said YES. He would have to give up some things. He might have to drive a used car instead of that fancy BMW in his garage. He might have to make his own macaroni and cheese from a box at home instead of going out for a fine dinner every night. He might have to release his servants or pay them a better wage. But look at what he would gain. Friends, companions, a sense of God’s presence and blessing.
On the other hand the community would need to allow him to become the new Zacchaeus, forgiven just as each of them had been forgiven, able to share his talents and abilities with them and to offer praise and thanksgiving to God. And if they can do that, perhaps they, too can hear Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. Praise is offered. Thanks for their faith is lifted up. Their ability to serve God and to feel God’s presence in their lives is growing, and they love one another.
My friends, if we want to be that community of faith that is growing and loving one another, we will need to forgive as Jesus forgives. We will need to accept as Jesus accepts. We will need to remember our own tree climbing and how Jesus looked into our eyes and said, “Come down, for I’m going to your house today.”
We can’t have it both ways—to know the love and joy and forgiveness of our Savior without working to offer those same gifts to others.
Jesus calls Zacchaeus out of that tree and restored his place in the community. Even Zacchaeus, Even such a sinner, and he calls us to receive others, as well, to rejoice in them, to receive them and teach them and walk with them along the way.
Let’s welcome the wee little man. Let’s welcome the sons and daughters of Abraham and rejoice over them.
Praise God. Amen
*HYMN O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go #384
(You may be seated.)
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING OUR LIVES
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed (Ecumenical) p. 14
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
And He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN What a Friend We Have in Jesus #403
Sending Forth
*CHARGE & BLESSING
POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.
· Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Masks are required by those not vaccinated as well as social distancing
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards. An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
PRAYER REQUESTS
Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston has been moved into a Hospice unit, Maxine Wagner, Annette Conzett, Jo Lefleur Judy Welcher, Dr Dyke, Harlan Marx, Lois Seger, Jon Ryner, Abagail Niles, Helanah Niles, Kay Werner, Ukraine, Arlene Pawlik, Angela and Tristan, Bonnie Pillers , and Deb Weller, Gaulrapp Family.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Today we encounter a sinner who climbed a tree to see the Lord.
P: Today we observe a forgiven man who came down from that tree to
welcome the Lord into his life.
L: Come. Let us climb our own trees. Let us seek the Lord, for he comes this
way.
P: We, too, want this encounter with God’s beloved son that we might
accept his invitation to come into our hearts and homes.
L: Let us praise the Lord and through God’s grace may we bless our world as
transformed sons and daughters of Abraham.
*GATHERING PRAYER
Sometimes we feel small and despised, troubled and anguished, afraid and alone. But we are assured that God stands with us, offering us grace and healing. Let us draw near to our Lord and lay our failings before him. Let us be released from our guilt that we might start anew and live into the hope of our faith.
*HYMN Come Sing to God #181 (You may be seated.)
CALL TO CONFESSION
Sometimes we feel small and despised, troubled and anguished, afraid and alone. But we are assured that God stands with us, offering us grace and healing. Let us draw near to our Lord and lay our failings before him. Let us be released from our guilt that we might start anew and live into the hope of our faith.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious Lord. How easy it is to look with disdain upon those whom we brand as sinners. We excuse our own transgressions while harshly judging others. We stand at a distance from strangers and block the door of our church against those whom we view as unworthy. Forgive us for our arrogance and hard heartedness. Forgive us for ignoring your call to love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to open our arms and our hearts to your beloved and to forgive as you have forgiven us. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Hear the good news. In Christ Jesus we have been washed clean and offered new opportunities for love and faith. As God has welcomed us into his grace, we are called to bring that joyful invitation to all. Praise be to God. Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
PASSING THE PEACE
(Please greet those around you as we all say these words in unison.)
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
INTERLUDE
Word
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord God, you invite us to watch and to learn, to write your vision upon tablets so clearly that even a runner speeding past can take note. That means we need to listen carefully to your word. Help us to hear and to grasp your truth and your love that is poured out before us this day. Amen.
Now it was a rich man, a sinner who needed him (even if Zacchaeus maybe didn’t know it.” Jesus had restored sight to the blind man, and now he restored something even more precious to Zacchaeus. “Zacchaeus,” he said, ”hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” He gave Zacchaeus the opportunity to be restored to the community. The next few moments would tell the story of whether the little man, the tax collector would accept this gift or not. Would he choose the wealth and power of his position, or would he choose righteousness and community?
The next thing we hear is that Zacchaeus is climbing down that tree (in all his undignified glory!) But now the townspeople are upset. “What?—You can’t go to his house. Don’t you know who he is? What he does? He’s a sinner!”
Zacchaeus, of course, hears all of this. He IS a sinner. He knows it, but he also knows that Jesus has just thrown him a life line.
“Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”
That must have made the townspeople’s jaws drop! The Biblical mandate when one is making restitution is to return the original amount plus 20%. Or in the most grievous cases, 50%. But Zacchaeus has pledged 400%. That’s 166% more than is required.
Jesus ends the discussion by saying, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Blessings had arrived for Zacchaeus. He had been forgiven and restored to his rightful place in the community. I want to suggest that blessing had arrive in that community, too. The resources that Zacchaeus had pledged would ripple through the local economy, lifting them all, and if they will give this sinner a chance, who knows what more he can offer them.
Luke seems to be telling us that Jesus is for all people—the poor blind beggar all the way up to the very rich and despised tax collector. All are sons and daughters of Abraham. All are worthy of God’s forgiveness and inclusion in the community.
We need to pay attention here, because we ARE Zacchaeus. Don’t we want to see Jesus? Aren’t we willing to even climb a tree? Aren’t we rich (at least by the standards of our world) and aren’t we sinners? But we’re also the crowd, the ones who want to judge which sins should be forgiven. The ones who want to exclude those whom we judge unworthy.
Jesus accepted Zacchaeus, Even Zacchaeus! He knew who he was, but he offered an opportunity to this sinner to be received back into the warmth of the community. And Zacchaeus said YES. He would have to give up some things. He might have to drive a used car instead of that fancy BMW in his garage. He might have to make his own macaroni and cheese from a box at home instead of going out for a fine dinner every night. He might have to release his servants or pay them a better wage. But look at what he would gain. Friends, companions, a sense of God’s presence and blessing.
On the other hand the community would need to allow him to become the new Zacchaeus, forgiven just as each of them had been forgiven, able to share his talents and abilities with them and to offer praise and thanksgiving to God. And if they can do that, perhaps they, too can hear Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. Praise is offered. Thanks for their faith is lifted up. Their ability to serve God and to feel God’s presence in their lives is growing, and they love one another.
My friends, if we want to be that community of faith that is growing and loving one another, we will need to forgive as Jesus forgives. We will need to accept as Jesus accepts. We will need to remember our own tree climbing and how Jesus looked into our eyes and said, “Come down, for I’m going to your house today.”
We can’t have it both ways—to know the love and joy and forgiveness of our Savior without working to offer those same gifts to others.
Jesus calls Zacchaeus out of that tree and restored his place in the community. Even Zacchaeus, Even such a sinner, and he calls us to receive others, as well, to rejoice in them, to receive them and teach them and walk with them along the way.
Let’s welcome the wee little man. Let’s welcome the sons and daughters of Abraham and rejoice over them.
Praise God. Amen
*HYMN O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go #384
(You may be seated.)
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING OUR LIVES
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed (Ecumenical) p. 14
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth,
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
And He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN What a Friend We Have in Jesus #403
Sending Forth
*CHARGE & BLESSING
POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.