“A FATHER’S SIMPLE FAITH”

by Rev. Terry Martinson

PRELUDE

MEDITATION PRAYER^♦♦♦

Rejoice, for God is among us.  Give thanks, for in Christ we are a new people.  Sing praise, for we come to worship God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO CONTEMPLATION*

CALL TO WORSHIP ^♦♦

A gift of a new day,

Unlived, untried, ready to be opened.

A new day with surprising miracles;

With love to be given.

Kindness to be shared,

And peace to be enjoyed.

A gift of a new day,

God’s gift to us.

Let us receive it with joy,

And live it in expectation.

HYMN

PRAYER OF INVOCATION ^♦♦

Eternal and loving God, we come remembering that all our days and years are gifts from you.  As we center our thoughts upon your goodness, we are prompted to glorify you with our  hearts, souls, mind, and strength. Receive then, all expressions of our love and reverence.  May we truly realize that this day we have been with you. In the name of our Master, Jesus the   Christ. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING    Luke 15:11-24

The Parable of the Lost Son

(Please turn to page 4)

SERMON       A Father’s Simple Faith

By Rev. Terry Martinson

HYMN    

MUSICAL REFLECTION

OFFERTORY INVITATION    (Matthew 6:19-21)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and  where thieves break in and steal;  but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes  and where thieves break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

A TIME OF SILENT PRAYER

PASTOTAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

MUSICAL RESPONSE

HYMN    

BEENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

CREDITS: ♦Words for Worship,  ♦♦Sourcebook of Worship Resources, ♦♦♦Chalice Worship

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

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