Invitation to Worship:
Welcome! Welcome to those who are here in person and welcome to those who are listening on our web-site. The Spirit moved over the water and life emerged from the deep.
We are drawn to the well-spring, drawn to the water of life.
May we who are gathered to worship drink deeply from the lifegiving river of God. We gather in this place to be refreshed and renewed.
     (Seasons of the Spirit ,SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation Pentecost 2 2014 page 72)

Opening Hymn: “Shall We Gather at the River” # 710 VU

1. Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod;
with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain:
Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God.

2. Ere we reach the shining river, lay we every burden down;
grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and crown.
Refrain:

3. Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease,
soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace.
Refrain:

A Reading from the book of Revelation: 32: 1 - 5
The River of Life
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Time with the Young & the Young at Heart:

Hymn: ““Spirit Dancing” # 388 VU

1. Spirit dancing on the waters, sun reflecting song of grace calling life
to all the creatures, giving life to human race.

2. Spirit dancing on the waters, naming moment they should part,
giving freedom to the peoples, signed for all in dancer's art.

3. Spirit dancing on the waters, paradox of womb and grave, welcome
now the Word child's coming, no one prisoner, no one slave.

4. Spirit dancing on the waters, can the dance by cross be stilled?
Earth be shaken! Dead awaken! What was emptied shall be filled.

5. Spirit dancing on the waters, give your people their new birth,
healing, loving one another in community with earth.

6. Spirit dancing on the waters, we would come and dance with you
'til our world is filled with music and in Christ all things are new.

A Bidding Prayer of Confession:
May we be filled //when we are empty.
May we be washed clean//when we are careless..
When we are selfish //spill over our edges.
May the ripple of gentle ponds//calm us when we are frightened.
May it rain in our hearts//when we are dry.
May the rocks that bind and block our faithfulness//be rolled away..
When we are asleep//may we be awakened by crystal clear droplets..
When we have forgotten or no longer hear the call// may healing water once again flow in and through us..
     (Seasons of the Spirit ,SeasonsFUSION Season of Creation Pentecost 2 2014 page 73 adapted)

Words of Affirmation:
Friends the One who calls us into life and new life sends the Spirit to renew the Earth. We are surrounded by love and grace. Live in thankfulness and praise.

Halle, Halle, Halle: Sing Twice  # 958 VU {Please Stand}
HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUYAH, HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUYAH
HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH, HALLELUYAH.

A Responsive Reading from the Psalms: 104: Part 2: 24 - 35
Refrain:
Bless, O my soul, the Almighty, who rules all creation.

O God, how manifold are your works!
With Wisdom at your side you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Refrain

There lies the great and mighty Sea, teeming with living things both great and small.
Upon it sail the ships, and there is Leviathan, the monster you made to play in it.
All these look to you, to give them their food in due season.
What you give them they gather up. When you open your hand, you fill them with good things.
But when you hide your face they despair. When you take away their breath, they die, and return to dust.
But when you send out your spirit, they live again, and you renew the face of the earth. Refrain

May your glory, O God, endure forever.
May you rejoice, O God, in your works.
When you look at the earth it trembles,
when you touch the mountains they smoke.
I will sing to God as long as I live.
I will praise my God while I have being.  Refrain

A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew: 28: 1 - 10.
The Resurrection of Jesus
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Message:  “A River Runs Through It”

Hymn: “I See a New Heaven” # 713 VU
Refrain: I see a new heaven, I see a new earth as the old one will pass away, where the fountain of life flows and without price goes to all people who abide in the land.

1. There, there on the banks of a river bright and free,
yielding her fruit, firm in her root, The Tree of Life will be.
Refrain

2. There, there where death dies and our lives are born again, body and soul, struggling but whole like flowers after the rain.
Refrain

3. There, there where the darkness brings visions from above.
There where the night, bearing new light, reveals the promise of love.
Refrain

4. There, there where we work with the love of healing hands.
Labour we must, true to our trust to build a promised new land.
Refrain

Invitation to Offering:
There is “Good News”. God is love and loves us and the whole of creation, with a love that is without boundaries or limits. God invites us to respond in faith, to be good stewards of great resources, to live responsibly and responsively, to share love and grace. So, let us make our offering this day including the offering of hands, hearts and lives.
     (based on an invitation written by Beth W. Johnston. Gathering, Pentecost 1, 2020 page 42 Used with permission.)

Doxology: “Grant Us, God, the Grace” (Tune # 540 VU)
Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.

Prayer:
God of transformation, we give thanks for your continued promise to care for and sustain all of creation. May we follow your example and along with the offering of ourselves and our gifts, give expression, by what we say and do, to our concerns and care for one another and all of creation. Amen.
     (Seasons of the Spirit SeasonsFussio2020 , Season of Creation Pentecost 2 page 68 adapted)

Sharing our Joys and Concerns  (if the joy or concern you wish to bring is not your own please seek the agreement of the person to whom it belongs before bringing it on their behalf )

Prayers of the People: (# 400 VU Lord Listen to Your Children Praying)
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
send us love, send us power, send us grace!

God, you are the source of life, you offer us your love and healing so that we help to repair all that which is broken in our world and in our lives. Hear our prayers for healing. Amen.

Closing Hymn: “I've Got Peace like a River” #577 VU

1. I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in-a my soul.

2. I've got joy like a fountain, I've got joy like a fountain,
I've got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.

3. I've got love like an ocean, I've got love like an ocean,
I've got love like an ocean, in-a my soul.

*Commissioning - Benediction - Choral Amen: # 967 VU
We are a sacred part of God's creation. God cares for us and is with us in times of abundance and scarcity. Just as water flows endlessly from the river of life may we go from this time and share God's great love to all of creation, especially our rivers, lakes and oceans.
     (Seasons of the Spirit SeasonsFussio2020 , Season of Creation Pentecost 2 page 68 adapted)

Threefold Amens:  #967 VU (We ask that people remain standing (those that are able) until the Christ Candle is extinguished.)

Lectionary Reading for Next Sunday, October 4, 2020  Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost:  Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20;  Psalm 19;  Philippians 3:4b-14;  Matthew 21:33-46.

September 27, 2020