Call to Celebration
Both And God, you have called us to model your example.
You have the capacity to hold justice and mercy.
You see us in our present and our future.
You offer tough love and tenderness.
You call us to resistance and assistance.
A commitment to beloved community requires full immersion.
When the soil is dry and the laborers are weary…
…may we look to the Living Water who replenishes soil and laborers.
Amen
Offertory
God, may the gifts we bring before you today renew our joy and hope in the work that we have been commissioned to do. May the words we offer be a balm of healing for those who have been forgotten. May our presence be a reminder that God is present in all space, for all peoples, in all times.
Amen
Service March 20
Scripture Lesson
Luke 13:1-9 NIV
Repent or Perish
13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”