Renounce

“Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world,
and repent of your sin?”

ENTRANCE

Enter in silence. No prelude. No video. No opening hymn or other music. Invite congregation simply to listen, to enter the soundscape of a desert: https://archive.org/details/aporee_28172_32458 or https://archive.org/details/aporee_30865_35494

At an appropriate time, signal the congregation to rise for the reading of the gospel, facing the back of the congregation, where the readers and the pastor or deacon stand by the font, filled with sand.

WORD AND RESPONSE

Matthew 4:1-11 Translation by Taylor Burton-Edwards

Reader 1: Narrator
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He had fasted forty days and forty nights. After all that, he was hungry.

The tempter said as he came toward him:

Reader 2: Tempter
If you are son of God, just speak the word so these stones may become loaves of bread.

Reader 1:
But replying, he said,

Congregation:
It is written: A person lives not by bread alone, but from every word proceeding from the mouth of God.

Reader 1:
Then the devil takes him into the holy city, and stood him on the peak of the temple, and says to him:

Reader 2:
If you are son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, “He has given commands to his angels about you, and they will bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against stone.”

Congregation:
Again, it is written, “You shall not test the Lord your God.”

Reader 1:
Again the devil takes him onto a very high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he says to him:

Reader 2:
I will give all of these to you, if you’d but take the knee and worship me.”

Reader 1:
Then Jesus says to him:

Congregation:
Get out of here, Satan. For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and to him alone shall you give your service.”

Reader 1:
Then the devil leaves him be, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Silence.

Pastor: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?

All:
We do,
and with God’s help
we will continue to live out
our renunciation, rejection, and repentance
by doing no harm,
and by avoiding evil of every kind.

The readers return to their seats. The pastor walks to the front of the worship space. The people turn facing front.

Sermon “Renounce”

Living the Call: Renounce, Reject, Repent
Invite all people to identify one spiritual force of wickedness they have renounced or now pledge to renounce, at least one evil power of this world they reject and pledge to continue to reject, and one sinful pattern of their lives they commit to turn from. Invite them to make two copies of these items, and give one copy to one other person with whom they will check in during the coming week to share progress and offer mutual support. As they live the call this week, ask them to document times when they’ve successfully persevered in each area, as well as times when they’ve failed and needed to ask for more help. Midweek formation groups will be another opportunity to check in, pray for one another, and encourage one another.

The choir or band may offer a solo piece or anthem during this time of response.

“Desert Song” CCLI # 5060793 OR
“Jesus, Tempted in the Desert” TFWS 2105

When all have completed and exchanged their papers, a deacon or lay minister may lead the congregation in prayer and confession of sin.

Prayers of the People

Renouncing all allegiance to spiritual forces of wickedness, we pray for the deliverance and protection of all who have come under their sway:
For all persons kept in poverty or slavery,
all who are in fear from abusers, terrorists, and oppressors,
all who face addiction of any kind,
and all who are targeted for unjust treatment because of who they are;

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Rejecting evil powers of this world, we pray for all who seek to use their power for the common good:
For leaders in religious, political, economic, and social life;
for our families, friends, and neighbors;
and for all who work to sustain and protect our lives
as military, civilian workers, and first responders;

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Repenting of our sin, we turn to you to lead us in the ways of love, healing, righteousness, and peace, and we pray:
for all who need your healing power, and for all who offer healing through their skill and presence; and for all who have harmed us, and all whom we have harmed by our action or inaction;
Silence

Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Pastor:
Receive the prayers of your people, most merciful God.
In your compassion, forgive our sins,
and free us for lives of joyful obedience
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Silence

Pastor:
In the name of Jesus, you are forgiven.

People:
In the name of Jesus, you are forgiven.

All: Glory to God! Amen!

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Pastor:
Forgiven and free, offer the peace of Christ to one another and your gifts to God.

The peace is exchanged as the offering is collected.

Offertory Music

The Great Thanksgiving BOW 60-61 or

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
To you alone, O God, is our allegiance!

Bless the Lord!
God’s holy name be praised!

Praised in heaven, praised in earth,
praised throughout your creation
is your name, Holy Triune God.

The trees of the field rejoice in your salvation,
and clap their hands.

The stars shine out your glory,
and the earth trembles at your presence.

Winds and waters scatter at the sound of your voice,
and we, with all creation, cry “Holy!”

Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is Christ who comes in your name!
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed are you, Jesus Christ,
Word made flesh,
Deliverer from evil.
Led into the desert by the Holy Spirit,
broken and strengthened by your fast,
you have shown us the way
to live by God’s word,
to reject the lure of glory,
and to give our worship and our service
to God alone.

Blessed are you, Jesus Christ.

Blessed are you for coming among us
and for offering yourself to us
in this holy meal
to fill our hungry souls,
to reveal your glory from a crucifix,
and to empower us to break free from sin’s hold
and walk humbly with God and neighbor.

With your first disciples, on the night of your betrayal into death,
you took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it, saying:
Take and eat this, my body given for you.

Then you took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it, saying:
Drink this, my blood of the new covenant for you.

Even so,
here and now,
come, Holy Spirit.
Come, Holy Spirit.

Come upon these gifts
and upon us.
Make them be for us
Christ’s body and blood,
that we who receive them may be for all
the body of Christ enlivened by his blood.

Come, Holy Spirit.
Make us one.

Come, Holy Spirit.
Unite us with you.

Come, Holy Spirit.
Revive us!

Make us whole and holy on this day,
as we await that day
when we shall feast with Christ
in the new creation.

To Christ, to you, and to the All-Merciful Creator,
One God, living and true,
be all praise, and honor, and glory
now and forever.
Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread and Distribution

Music during Communion
“Beautiful Things” CCLI # 5665521
“I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” UMH 521

Thanksgiving after Communion

Pastor and People:
Jesus, thank you!
You have fed us with yourself
that we may be bound to you in love,
and overcome every temptation
to bind ourselves again to any other power.
In the power of the Holy Spirit,
keep these bonds strong,
and send us forth to set others free
from evil’s dominion. Amen.

SENDING FORTH

Invite the congregation to face the back of the sanctuary, toward the exits.

Hymn/Song
“Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” UMH 269
(Tune: House of the Rising Sun, W&S 3072)

Deacon or Lay Leader (from the back of the worship space)
Keep telling the devil, “Get out of here!”
We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness.
Keep working with compassion for justice for every person.
We reject the evil powers of this world.
Keep building good habits of heart.
We repent of our sin.

Pastor
Go then, with the blessing of our Triune God.
We go to live our baptismal calling. Amen.

Postlude Variations on House of the Rising Sun (ad. lib.)