Call to Worship

Come! Now is the time to worship!
We come to worship God who provides!

When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, God provided manna and quail.
God provides in unexpected ways.

Jesus tells a story of vineyard workers, some who work all day and some who work mere hours, yet the generous landowner paid all of them equally.
God provides in unexpected ways.

God does provide in unexpected ways, yet manna, quail, and grapes need gathering and harvesting.
We respond to God’s provision by gathering and harvesting all that God provides.

Come! Now is the time to worship!
We come to worship and partner with God who provides for the long haul!

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, April 2023.

Prayer for the Day

The First Shall be Last, and the Last Shall be First
(Matthew 20:1-16)

One: Come, let us give an account of our lives to God.
Many: The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

One: Let us give an account of our stewardship, everything we have done since we said yes to Jesus.
Many: The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

One: We must work while it is day because when night comes, none of us will be able to work.
Many: The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

Moments of silent reflection.

One: Come, give an account of your stewardship, everything you have done since you said yes to Jesus.
Many: The last shall be first, and the first shall be last; for many are called, but few chosen. Amen.

Written by Eugene Blair, The Africana Worship Book, Year A (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2006), 120-121.

Prayer of Confession

Lord, many laborers are underpaid. They have to pay back their debts. Money lenders are exploiting them. They are in debt and they are leading a debt-driven life.

Lord, we confess that we never shared our resources with these workers and hoarded our money.

Lord, we believe that you are here to provide daily bread to all of us. But the masters of this world are not interested in the bread of their laborers.

Lord, we confess that on many occasions we sided with the masters of this world and accepted their favor.

Absolution: God of Justice, may you pardon our sins and lead us in the life path of justice, peace, and the grace of God.

From Liturgies from Below: Praying with People at the Ends of the World (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2020), 267.

Benediction

Commission & Benediction
(based on Exodus 16:2-15, Matthew 20:1-16)

Go out from here
as workers in God’s upside-down kingdom,
where the last are first and the first are last,
where needs are met in miraculous ways,
and there is grace enough for all!

And may the blessing of God,
the love of Jesus Christ,
and the presence of the Holy Spirit
surround you and sustain you in the coming days.
Amen.

“Benediction: The Upside-Down Kingdom,” re:Worship, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/09/benediction-upside-down-kingdom.html.