​ 
July 30, 2023
9th Sunday after Pentecost
 
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
 
 Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
School Supply Drive.  See more information about this United Way effort to provide school supplies to all the elementary students in Clinton County.  A box has been placed in the hall outside the sanctuary.  If you would like to donate cash instead of items, the Christmas in July box is there to accept your donations.  Thank you!
The Gathering Place continues to serve the needs of people who need connection and socialization.  Tell your friends.  Come assist and join with this thing that Christ is doing in our midst.  Please speak to Pastor Joyce to sign up to assist in the near future.
 
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
 
JoAnn Grimm who fell last week and broke 2 ribs.
The Pawlik family as they morn Arlene
Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
 
 
 
PRELUDE
 
 
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP
 
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.
 
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who finds one pearl of great value.
 
Let us sell all that we have and buy that field.
 
Let us sell all that we have to purchase that pearl.
 
For the kingdom of heaven is a precious gift that offers life and healing.
 
We seek this day the kingdom of God’s glory.
 
Let us worship God.  Amen.
*GATHERING PRAYER 
 
*HYMN                   Come, Thou Almighty King                                                      #139                                                      (You may be seated.)
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
The Kingdom of Heaven is here and now, but we fall short of that which is asked of us.  How we need the yeasty, mustard scented kingdom that enables us to be a more faithful people.  Let us offer to God our fears and our failings.
 
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION  
Wonderful Savior.  Your realm is like a mustard seed or a bit of yeast, a hidden treasure or a beautiful pearl.  These parables point to your workings that are right in front of us.  You call us to be a kingdom people and to know that you are at work in our midst.  But too often we turn away.  Instead of seeing you and the power of your love, we look for easier truths.  Forgive us, Lord, for rejecting your saving activity and refusing to participate with you.  Help us to see your hand at work and to be a part of your love for all the world.  Amen
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
“If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not also give us everything else? … It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn?  Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Thus we receive, this day, the assuring words of Paul.  In God’s incredible love, we are offered holy grace and forgiveness.  Let us take hold of this gift and never let it go.
 
SONG OF PRAISE  Gloria Patri  #579
 
 
PASSING THE PEACE 
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
 
 
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION   (from Romans 8: 38-39)
 
As your word is read and proclaimed, holy Lord, help us to be assured that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from your love, as presented to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS       Romans 8: 26-39
 
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:  “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
                                              Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
 
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
 
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.  “Yes,” they replied.  52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
 
SERMON     A Little Goes a Long Way!
 
In the very small town where my children grew up the Christensen family was a fixture.  This strong catholic family with 13 children was very involved in the community.  Their dad, Wayne was a wrestling fan, and as those boys began to hit high school they dominated the wrestling mat.  Before too many years had passed the “Christensen” name was very familiar at the state wrestling level.  Many championship trophies, medals and awards decorated their celebration wall.  Several of the boys went on to wrestle in college with excellent records.  Two became coaches who trained many other state champions.  Even the daughters got into the act by bringing their sons into the next generation of wrestling champions.  Today 8 grandsons are wrestling at the college level.  One family—yes, it was a large family, but what a thumbprint they put on the Iowa wrestling world!  If you google Iowa Wrestling and Christensen a plethora of articles come up regarding this family who are involved in the sport.  And it began with one father’s passion for the sport.  His enthusiasm rubbed off and his work with his sons, his encouragement and his support allowed that small town to produce a whole legacy of wrestlers.
I think of Wayne and his family at times when I hear people talking about the impending death of the church.  It wasn’t too long ago when I was told that the church as an institution would not survive into the next generation because it had been replaced by soccer and baseball leagues, gymnastic tournaments and other child centered activities.
Well, in the first place, I think the talk of the church’s demise is a bit premature.  Christ’s church has survived under difficult threats for over two thousand years.  There have been many waning periods that are then followed by renewal.  I concede that things are changing, and church membership is dwindling.  Anyone who drives past baseball fields in the early summer see the power and appeal of the kids’ sport. The job of the church, in the midst of this time, is to keep holding tight to God’s love and discipleship. We shouldn’t pull out our white flag yet.
So with the backdrop of dwindling church importance in our society and the modern day example of what one small family can accomplish, I want to explore our gospel scripture for today.  The mustard seed faith.  The mustard seed is a very tiny seed, but it grows into a very impressive shrub.  It becomes a home for all kinds of wildlife.
Let me ask.  Can you step out your door and watch the plants in your garden grow?  Now I don’t mean can you see that they are bigger today than they were yesterday.  I mean, can you literally see them getting bigger before your eyes—in the moment?  Probably not.  Neither could the people of Galilee see a mustard plant growing.  But God was at work, and it did grow.  Perhaps it surprised that person who had seen it a week previously regarding how MUCH it had grown.  The point is that oftentimes growth happens without us being fully aware.  God is at work, and that’s the part that we hold onto.  And that mustard plant—it adds aroma and vitality to our world.  It provides shelter and it offers shade that nourishes us.
But the mustard seed isn’t the only parable before us today.  “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”  In another translation it says that the woman hid the yeast in the flour.  The point is that a very small amount of yeast is mixed in with a very large amount of flour.  Scholars tell us that three measures of flour would be about 60 pounds.  That’s a lot of bread!  That would be bread enough for a banquet, bread to nourish lots of people—to provide for a celebration of life and well-being.
So, if you’ve done any baking you know for yourself that a little yeast goes a very long way.  One teaspoon is enough to raise two loaves of bread.  One teaspoon of yeast per 4 or 5 cups of flour. Of course there are a few other ingredients, too—a liquid of some sort, a bit of salt and sugar, but the main ingredient is the flour.
Have any of you bakers ever accidentally left the yeast out, or tried using yeast that had expired.  What you end up with is a small hard brick that is more useful as a door stop than a nutritious part of your meal.
Here’s a science lesson.  Yeast is actually a biological agent that grows and expands when certain conditions are present.  Then it gives off a gas.  To make that happen yeast needs liquid, warmth and sugar to make it work.  The liquid activates it.  The warmth allows it to multiply and the sugar gives it the fuel to make it go.  Yeast needs a bit of a head start before being added to the rest of the bread ingredients.  Then it needs to be thoroughly mixed with the dough, kneaded so that it is trapped in the protein strands of the flour.  As the gas is produced, it lifts and lightens the bread.  Otherwise you get that doorstop effect of a lump of baked flour.
 
There are different ways to interpret this parable, of course.
1.  The Holy Spirit is the yeast and as it interacts with us—the church—we become bread, the substance of life, bringing well-being to the world.  We offer life and health and healing to those who are hurting and who need the love of God.  We bring others into the church where they, too, can feel that new life and be a part of Christ’s hope for our community and world.
2.  Or are we the yeast?  We who seek to follow Jesus.  Are we the agents through whom God works to bring about new life?  Are we the workers who are placed in the mix to counteract the violence and injustice, the pain and hopelessness that so many encounter?  In this interpretation we are the agents that allow that flour to become a tasty, joyful slice of bread or toast adorned with jelly or honey.  We are called to interact with all with whom we encounter.  Do you like that? Does that give you a warm sense of purpose and meaning?  I hope so, because I firmly believe that we have the responsibility to offer the gifts of God to the world such that the world is transformed and God’s love rules the day—even if we can’t see it.
3.  Or is it some combination.  The Holy Spirit becomes yeast for Christ’s church and we are then allowed to become the yeast to lift and transform our world with God’s love and new possibilities for life.
So how do we, as the church, work in the name of God to make that difference in our world?  In the first place, we should understand that the Holy Spirit is a vital part of the equation.  In Romans Paul tells us that the Spirit even intercedes into our prayers, to help us lift to God our hearts and our lives.  We have trouble doing it on our own. The Spirit leads us and helps us as we reach out into our world.  With that in mind, we shouldn’t assume that we can behave like a company--develop a plan and then plowing ahead to bring that plan to fruition.  When we are working with the Holy Spirit, prayer is important.  Talking together allows us to feel God’s hand leading us.  We need to take the time to discern God’s agenda before we make an agenda of our own.
If the church is the yeast, then the Spirit is the liquid that allows that leavening process to begin.  I also believe that fellowship, camaraderie and the support we get from one another is a vital part of the process, too.  It’s the way we feel God’s hand guiding us and caring for us.  It’s the way we are sustained along the journey.  We are changed.  Qualities like compassion, understanding and forgiveness take on a larger role in our life.  We develop a passion for justice.  We learn to be more patient and respectful of others who are different, and even our generosity grows and flourishes.  and our world is lifted and transformed.  We might not be able to see it, but it’s happening, none the less.
So here’s the part that I come back to.  God is in the mix.  We would all like for our congregation to grow.  That’s at least a part of why our new ministry, The Gathering Place is up and going.  But that’s not the primary reason we do it—at least I hope not.  The Gathering Place is a needed element in our community.  Right now we have 5 ladies who are regular attendees, and this is a huge part of their week. It allows them to be with other people and to make connections.  It chases away the loneliness.  God is in this mix.  As we play cards, laugh over our silly scrabble words, teach each other new games or work on a puzzle together, and we feel God’s care.  We get to be a part of God’s care.  We get to be a bit of that yeast.
And that’s the pearl of great value, the treasure that is found buried in the field.  We get to be a part of God’s healing in our world—right here in Clinton, Iowa.  We get to feel God’s touch of great love in our own lives, as well.
We are small, but God hasn’t counted us out.  There are opportunities for us to make a difference in our world.  We might not always be able to see that difference.  It might seem like we are not getting anywhere—especially if our singular goal is to welcome lots of new people into our front door on Sunday morning.  But when God is in control, and the Holy Spirit is at work, things are happening.  We strive to be the yeast that is poured into a very large measure of flour.
Let us invite the Spirit to make of us that mustard seed, that yeast.  Let us pray for the wisdom to seek that pearl of great value or that treasure hidden in a field.  And then to sell everything, recognizing that if we have the kingdom of heaven, we don’t need anything else. Like the Christensen Family we, although small, have the power to become agents of something joyful and filled with new possibilities.
Mustard Seed people.  Yeasty brothers and sisters.  Let’s give thanks to God for the gift of being a part of God’s good work in our world.  We CAN make a difference.  Praise be to our Lord.  Amen.
 
*HYMN                 Called as Partners in Christ’s Service                                                                            #343                 
                                               (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 GIFTS TO GOD
 
 
*DOXOLOGY  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow  #592
 
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
 
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We trust in God the Holy Spirit,
    Everywhere the giver and renewer of life.
The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith,
     Sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor,
     And binds us together with all believers
     In the one body of Christ the Church.
In a broken and fearful world
The Spirit gives us courage
      To pray without ceasing,
       To witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
       To unmask idolatries in Church and culture,
       To hear the voices of peoples long silenced,
       And to work with others for justice, freedom and peace.
 
*HYMN                  Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord                                               #392                                                                                                               (You may be seated.)
 
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.
 

​ 
 
July 9, 2023
4th Sunday after Pentecost
 
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
·  Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of  fellowship.
· Join us for a time to help make our church building shine.  We gather Wednesday, July 12 from 9:00 to 11:00 to do some cleaning that is above and beyond the scope of our weekly custodial expectations.  Please bring rags, pails and a vacuum as you are able.
· Ladies Lunch Bunch will meet at Great Revivalist Brewery at 11:30 on Wednesday, July 12.  Ladies, come to clean, change and join the group for lunch.
· School Supply Drive.  See more information about this United Way effort to provide school supplies to all the elementary students in Clinton County.  A box has been placed in the hall outside the sanctuary.
· Your Help is Needed!  We need Hostesses for The Gathering Place.  Come to play a couple games and enjoy an afternoon with some of our neighbors. If this effort is going to be sustainable, we need 8-12 people who can contribute up to 3 hours per month.  Please speak to Pastor Joyce to sign up for a Thursday in the near future.
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
 
· JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems.
· Arlene Pawlik who is recovering from a broken leg.
· Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
 
PRELUDE
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP
No one knows the Son except the Father.
 
No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
 
 Let us give thanks that we have been offered the awareness and knowledge of both Father and the Son.
 
Let us worship and praise for we are the enlightened and beloved people of Jesus Christ.  Amen
 
*GATHERING PRAYER
 
Lord God,  We seek the joy of living with your hand leading us along the way.  Meet us this morning as we offer to you our worship and praise.  We offer our hearts and our souls into your care for you are the calm in the storm, the path through the chaos, the hope for our world.  Amen.
 
 
*HYMN                           Come Christians, Join to Sing                                         #150     (You may be seated.)
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
Our world is a place of chaos and suffering.  How frantic and busy we are, and yet we seldom seem to find the peace that we seek.  How frantic and busy we are, seldom finding the peace that we seek. .  Amen.
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Lord, We often find ourselves in agreement with Paul. We do not understand our own actions.  For we do the very things that we do not want.  The evil that we attempt to contain sneaks out and causes pain and chaos.  We seek, but fail to find your paths of righteousness because this sin dwells so deeply within us.  Forgive our faulty reliance upon the law to keep that sin in check.  Rather, Lord, help us to lean on your Spirit and grace to lead us forward in truth and in love.  Amen.
 
Assurance of Pardon
“Come to me,” Jesus says.  “I will give you rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  With this invitation God’s grace is offered to us. Our failings are wiped away and new life is offered.  Let us receive this gift and know the joy of walking beside our Lord.
 
SONG OF PRAISE  Gloria Patri  #579
 
PASSING THE PEACE 
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.  Let us connect our lives to this source of power and goodness.  Let the words of scripture spoken this day ease our hearts and minds into Christ’s pathway of hope.  Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS   
  Romans 7:15- 25a
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature
 
  Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
 
SERMON     Wearing the Yoke of Christ
 
Do you think that, at least in some ways our society has become a bit more gentle and compassionate in regard to a person’s problems than before? That person whom we used to call an alcoholic or maybe even a drunk, is today referred to as one who suffers from Alcohol Use Disorder. We’ve always known that addictions can be quite powerful, but today there is a whole avenue of thought around this being a medical condition that is truly beyond the individual’s ability to control.  Overuse of drugs is Opiod Use Disorder.  Obesity, once seen as a personal failing—just don’t eat so much—is now seen as a medical condition to be treated with drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, or maybe bariatric surgery.  Doctors say these are diseases just like diabetes or Multiple Sclerosis.  We shouldn’t shame someone for these disorders, just like we wouldn’t assign blame to that person who has cancer or Parkinson’s Disease.
I think to remove the stigma is probably a really important step towards managing these things and finding help.  It think it likely makes us a healthier society.  It’s always good to look at your neighbor’s problem with some compassion.
But I’m also seeing some of this same sense of “I-can’t-control-this-thing” in the words of Paul.  “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”  Can’t you hear someone with an addictive issue saying that?  But wait, it also sounds like any of us when we respond with anger (once again) to our spouse or child.  We justify it that they drive us nuts, but we promised ourselves we wouldn’t do that, but there we go.  Those words snuck out of our mouth before our brain could stop them.  It’s sort of like when the doctor thumps our knee with that rubber mallet.  It doesn’t matter how many times we say we’re not going to move our leg, there it goes!
Or how about the time when, once again, we are late.  We promised ourselves that we would be on time.  Or when we lost that important slip of paper that had the phone number we needed.  We put it carefully away. Now where was that safe place so we wouldn’t lose it?
We stretched the truth so we wouldn’t look bad—again.
We promised our child we would be at their game, but we just got called to go to work.
We retold that racist joke when we promised ourselves we wouldn’t repeat it.
We were unkind to our annoying neighbor.
Is this what it means to be human?  “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate.”  Paul is actually making an argument that the law is totally insufficient to curb those human behaviors that God frowns upon.  The law says that we must not lie, but telling untruths comes pretty easy.  Sometimes they are what my mom called bold faced lies.  Did you eat the cookies?  “No,”  you say, as you quickly swallow the last one.  White lies.  The fibs you tell so you don’t have to hurt someone’s feelings.  Self-deceptive lies—those whoppers you tell yourself (and others) because you can’t face the truth.  Lies of omission, exaggerations, stretching things a cover-up for what you don’t want to admit.
We know that to lie is damaging in so many ways.  We know that truth is always the right thing—even when it hurts or embarrasses us.  But those lies slip out so easily!
And that’s just one example. Paul says that the law is insufficient to contain these bad behaviors.  But he’s not ready to just throw in the towel.  “Wretched man that I am!” Who will rescue me from this body of death?”  The answer—“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
If we read further we hear this, “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do:  by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin…those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
This might not tell us exactly HOW God constrains our human capacity for sin.  It might not show us the mechanism at work that gives us the power to behave more in accord to God’s desire for life, but it points the way.  In Jesus Christ we are given that elixir that helps us to do what we, on our own, cannot do.
Maybe it has something to do with being so completely understood and accepted and loved.  That’s our understanding of Christ’s love and compassion for us.  But it seems the authorities of his day could only see the ways he didn’t fit the bill of a messiah.  They criticize that he didn’t fast like they thought he should.  They didn’t like his association with sinners and tax collectors.
Jesus’ response was to declare that God allowed every day people to see and understand his amazing love that was poured out in his ministry.  “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
It’s the same concept.  We can’t know God on our own.  We know God through God’s Son.  We can’t control our own negative behaviors on our own, but in Jesus Christ we are given a new power by which our negative impulses and thoughts are put more in live with God’s hope for us.
Jesus is the key. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the power for health and for life and for healing.  As we open ourselves to recognize Jesus in our life, these other things fall into place.
Matthew share what is called Jesus’ Great Invitation.  It’s one that all of us surely lean on.  “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus isn’t inviting us to just crawl into bed and bid the world to go away.  He isn’t suggesting that we turn away from our responsibilities or quit working to be the very best person we can possibly be.  What he’s doing is asking us to tackle the problem of our own human capacity for sin in a new way.
Forget the white knuckled will power approach.  It doesn’t work.  It doesn’t work against addictions. Do you know what they call someone who has poured all the beer or booze down the drain, but who hasn’t done any other work on his or her sobriety?  They call them a dry drunk. It’s just a matter of time before that person goes to the liquor store or bar.  It’s just a matter of time before they resume behaviors that got them in a jam in the first place.  They can’t help themselves because they haven’t done the work on their own heart and mind.
To truly do battle against the urges and the need for that drink, working on the underlying issues is important.  Doing so in a place of acceptance and assistance is important.  That’s why AA is so helpful.
Maybe we should think of Jesus (and by extension, Jesus’ church as the AA for putting our lives back into God’s design.
The church offers acceptance and companionship.
The church helps us to know that we are valued and loved—not just by God, but also by our brothers and sisters in the faith.
The church reminds us of what is right and good and loving.
The church offers us activities and mission opportunities by which we can feel like a part of God’s healing that is poured into our world.
The church walks with us in our celebrations and our sorrows.
It is the yoke of Christ.  A yoke distributes the weight of the load.  It allows the two to move together to better accomplish the task.  It reminds the workers that it is now time to pull—no laying down on the job.  It protects them from pulling in ways that strain muscles and joints.
Think about taking your struggles and your desire to do better to Jesus.  Think about Jesus saying, “I understand.  It’s not your fault.  I’m sorry you’ve been struggling.  Let me help.  We can do this together.”  And then think of the extra power that Jesus brings to your issues.  The relief that comes as things start to get better.
We all need that yoke of Jesus because we can’t do it on our own. It doesn’t matter whether the problem is an addiction that is out of control or our own self-doubts that keep us from tackling our issues.  We need the yoke of Jesus.  We need other people in our life who will assist us and accept us and allow us to share their yoke as they also share ours.
It’s a good thing that we, as a society can begin to recognize that certain behaviors and addictions are too big and too powerful to be tackled on our own.  It’s a good thing that we can recognize that all of us have issues with which we struggle and we all need help.  It’s a good thing when we can take a deep breath and release it , knowing that there are answers that come in the grace of God.
The yoke of Christ is offered to you.  It is God’s amazing gift for life. May we, as a congregation be a part of that gift for one another and for our hurting world out there.
Thank you, Lord,  that you have provided what we, on our own, cannot.  Your Spirit of Grace, the yoke of Christ.  Amen/
 
 
 
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 GIFTS TO GOD
 
 
*DOXOLOGY  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow  #592
 
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
 
*HYMN          Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ                                                #514
                               (you may be seated.)
 
 INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Lord Jesus Christ: Around your table we celebrate our communion with fellow Christians everywhere.
 
We praise you for the people who have quietly lived your faith into our world.
 
Thank you,  God of Life, for  calling us to this table where we can share your
abundance poured out for all the world.
 
Thank you for equipping us and feeding us so that we might become your hands and feet, proclaiming your love with the very fabric of our lives.
 As the bread is broken this day, remind us that none have found perfection.
 
As the cup is poured, help us to claim our own need of you, your grace and goodness, your forgiveness and love.
 
Our lives have become rich and our cups are filled to overflowing with your abundant goodness.
 
We reach our hands to you, Gracious Lord.   Take our lives and use us to speak your truth to a hurting world.  May your Spirit spill forth from us to bring the dawn of hope to those locked in prisons of despair
 
As we approach your table, Lord, we are needy, and we are hungry.
 
Thank you for receiving us.  Thank you for giving us this food for life, this cup of salvation.   Amen.
 
RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
 
COMMUNION PRAYER.
  
 
*HYMN       God  Be with You Till We Meet Again                                                   #540                            
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.