Call to Worship

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Our help is in the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 13:14
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen.

Song

Prayer of Invocation

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open
and all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hid:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Service of Confession & Assurance

Call to Confession Exodus 20:1-3

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery; 
you shall have no other gods before me.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and loving God,
we confess
that we put our trust in other gods.
We honor these gods
alongside of you and in place of you.
By the Holy Spirit’s power,
help us to know you,
the only true God,
as you have revealed
yourself in your Word,
to trust in you alone,
to look to you for every good thing,
humbly and patiently,
and to love, fear, and honor you with all our hearts.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Text: adapted from Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 94, 95 

Assurance of Pardon Romans 8:1, 34

Hear the good news!

Who is in a position to condemn?
Only Christ, and Christ died for us,
Christ rose for us,
Christ reigns in power for us,
Christ prays for us.

Believe the good news:
In Christ, there is no condemnation. 

The Peace

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

Song

For God alone, I wait in silence;
My soul is still before the Lord.
He is my rock and my salvation,
My fortress strong; I trust in Him.

Chorus
I’ll not be shaken! I’ll not be shaken,
For all my hope is in His love.
From God alone comes my salvation;
I wait and trust His steadfast love!

Put not your hope in gain of riches;
Seek not your rest in empty wealth.
The rich are weak; the poor are mighty,
Who turn to God alone for help. Chorus

Pour out your heart to God our refuge
And trust in Him to hear you cry.
No other hope will never fail you;
No other love will not run dry. Chorus

Text: Wendell Kimbrough, ©2015. Used by permission, CCLI# 220360

Affirmation of Faith

Together with the church around the world and through the ages, let’s confess our faith using the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of Illumination

Calm us now, O Lord,
into a quietness that heals and listens.
Open wounded hearts to the balm of your Word.
Speak to us in clear tones
so that we might feel our spirits leap for joy and skip with hope
as witnesses to the Light of the world.
Amen.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 4:23-25

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Luke 7:36-50

7 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Wasteful Love, Extravagant Forgiveness

Song

Prayers of the People

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”
—Ephesians 6:18

"A Service of Morning Prayer”
Lift Up Your Hearts 373

…In the life of our world,
your kingdom come, your will be done.

…In the life of our land,
your kingdom come, your will be done.

…In the lives of those in need,
your kingdom come, your will be done.

…In the lives of those we love,
your kingdom come, your will be done. 

…In the life of your church,
your kingdom come, your will be done.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation 
But deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.

Offering

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Blessing

Go as a forgiven people, and because you have been forgiven much, may you love much.
And go with this blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you
and give you peace.
Amen.

Song