Lighting of the Christ Candle Ariana Everett and Alicia Mitchell
Gathering Praise “Oceans” Hillsong
Call to Worship based on Psalm 106:1-5 Alicia Mitchell One: Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; All: God’s steadfast love endures forever. One: Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord, or declare all God’s praise? All: We gather to remember God’s goodness and to give thanks. One: Blessed are those who observe justice, who practice righteousness at all times. All: Teach us, O God, to live faithfully and to seek what is right. One: Remember us, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; All: Gather us into the joy of your presence. One: That we may see the prosperity of your chosen ones and rejoice in the gladness of your people. All: Let us worship the God whose steadfast love endures forever! Amen.
Congregational Hymn #52 “O Worship the King” LYONS
Invocation and Lord’s Prayer Rev. Bill Wolfe Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Musical Offering “Yet” Maverick City
Scripture Reading Matthew 22:1-14 (NRSV) Rev. Bill Wolfe Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Sermon “RSVP-ing the King” Rev. Bill Wolfe
Moment of Reflection
Hymn of Response #486 “ Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult” RESTORATION