Redeemer Parked Car Worship | October 11, 2020

19th Sunday after Pentecost 
Blessing of Animals and Pets + Conversation with Seminary Graduates 
Christine Belfry-Johnson & Kendrick Hall

Worship Leaders: 
The Rev. Dr. Sharon Kelly, interim pastor
Alyssa Schwitzer & Steven Hobert, musicians
Jason Hoard, Reader
Dave Scharnhorst, audio engineer; Amy Koopman, videographer

                            19th Sunday after Pentecost 
                                                   October 11, 2020 

9:15 a.m. PRELUDE (Distributing Holy Communion + Receiving Offerings) 
9:30 a.m. WELCOME 

LITANY OF REPENTANCE & LONGING (Congregation joins in bold)
In the beginning, the Spirit over the deep; new life daily unfolding at God’s call. Darkness and light: Good. Skies, lands, and seas: Good. The earth and all that fills it—plants and rocks, the finned, the feathered, the furry: Good. At the last, humankind in God’s image: Very good. Yet we have failed to draw from that goodness in care for God’s creation. Forgive us, God, for the ways we have exploited earth and its creatures. We have misunderstood our calling to be protectors of God’s creation. Forgive us, God, for the ways we have exploited earth and its creatures. We long for new relationships with God’s creation that has been entrusted to us. Help us, God, to make a new community with all that lives alongside us. May the merciful God who calls us to tend earth and all its creatures, deepen our knowledge of creation’s interweaving, so that our lives are shaped in wholeness and peace with all living things; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Greeting and Prayer: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

Let us pray: Holy God, we thank you for the gift of life. Recalling Francis who celebrated your love for all creation, today we embrace our connectedness to all: to wind, sea, and sky; to earthworm, giraffe, and chicken; to fish and puppy, to cats of the jungle and in our homes. Deepen our care for all that lives; in the name of Jesus, our teacher, savior, and friend. Amen.

Blessing of Animals
Holy God, we thank you for the gift of (speak your pet’s name) in the life of  (say your name). Through this animal you have brought many blessings. Today we pause to name our gratitude, and to pray a blessing on (speak your pet’s name). For the companionship of our pets we say thanks. Bless this animal’s life in our care; may each know love through all her/his/its days. Amen.

Animal/Pet Parade (Masked and keep 6 feet of physical distance!)
Gracious and loving God, you place all living things into the care of humankind. We pray that companionship with household pets will deepen our care for animals everywhere. Help us to balance our needs with theirs, and lead us in ways of life together that will be sustainable for all. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HYMN: God Is So Good (TFF 275)

PRAYER OF THE DAY
We pray: Lord of the feast, you have prepared a table before all peoples and poured out your life with abundance. Call us again to your banquet. Strengthen us by what is honorable, just, and pure, and transform us into a people of righteousness and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

THE WORD
First Reading: Isaiah 25:1-9
1O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 2For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. 3Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. 4For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, 5the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled. 6On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; 8he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God.
 
Psalm 23 (Speak in unison)
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. 2The Lord makes me lie down in green pasture and leads me beside still waters. 3You restore my soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake. 4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Second Reading: Philippians 4:1-9
  1My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
L: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises  (TFF 158)
Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises; All our hearts are filled with gladness. (4x)

The Holy Gospel According to Matthew 22:1-14
C: Glory to you, O Lord
     1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen”.
P: The Gospel of the Lord  C: Praise to you, O Christ

Seminarians in Conversation: Kendrick Hall and Christine Belfry-Johnson

HYMN: What a Mighty God We Serve (TFF 295)

​THE MEAL
SHARING OF THE PEACE: (Distanced! Wave, air-hugs, bow,or blow kisses)
P: The Peace of Christ be with you always! C: And also with you.

OFFERING PRAYER:
We pray: Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. You have set before us these gifts of your good creation. Prepare us for your heavenly banquet,
nourish us with this rich food and drink, and send us forth to set tables in the midst of a suffering world, through the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION for Thanksgiving of the Sacrament of Holy Communion: . . . Do this for the remembrance of me.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (traditional)
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; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Receiving the promise: The body and blood of Christ given and shed for you. Eat the bread and wine. (Discard the package at your homes).

PRAYER AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
We pray: We give you thanks, gracious God, that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare, the body and blood of Christ. Lead us from this place, nourished and forgiven, into your beloved vineyard to wipe away the tears of all who hunger and thirst, guided by the example of the same Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

BLESSING: Mothering God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you and lead you into the way of truth and life. Amen.

SENDING
May God’s peace be with you ‘til we meet again (2x)  
‘Til we reach that distant shore, and we shed a tear no more,
May God give you strength to endure 
‘Til we meet again (2x)

DISMISSAL: L: Go in peace. Remember the poor. C: Thanks be to God