Confirmation leadership this Sunday!

[Janet Katari]

Thanks to you all. It's been so great to have the confirmation students
leading worship - people mention it to me all the time. I hope they tell
you about it, too!

Here's a new way to signup
<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4CA9AA2BA75-47888412-confirmation#/>
for all our confirmation things. Please let me know when you're going to be
helping and when your students are coming!

This week, here's what's happening:

Max is acolyte; Josie is helping with Thanksgiving for Baptism; Maddie is
doing the first reading; Neal is leading the Psalm; Frances is leading the
prayers. Please arrive at 9:30.

Thank you! Reach out with any questions.

Thanksgiving for Baptism

Pastor (at Font):

Pastor: Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and mighty,

You are the river of life, you are the everlasting wellspring,

You are the fire of rebirth.

Josie (at Communion Table):

Josie (from Communion table): Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for rivers
and streams.

Honor to you for cloud and rain, for dew and snow.

Your waters are below us, around us, above us: our life is born in you.

You are the fountain of resurrection.

Praise to you for your saving waters:

Pastor:

Noah and the animals survive the flood,

Hagar discovers your well.

The Israelites escape through the sea, and they drink from your gushing
rock.

Naaman washes his leprosy away,

And the Samaritan woman will never be thirsty again.



Josie


Josie: At this font, holy God, we pray:

Praise to you for the water of baptism

And for your Word that saves us in this water.

Breathe your Spirit into all of us gathered here and into all creation.

Illumine our days. Enliven our bones. Dry our tears.

Wash away the sin within us and drown the evil around us.

Satisfy all our thirst with your living water, Jesus Christ, our Savior,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

The First Reading                                      2 Kings 2:1-12

Maddie:


Maddie: A reading from the Second Book of Kings:

1Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind,
Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha,
“Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said,
“As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So
they went down to Bethel. 3The company of prophets who were in Bethel came
out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take
your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to
Jericho.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I
will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The company of prophets who
were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that
today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes,
I know; be silent.” 6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has
sent me to the Jordan.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you
yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7Fifty
men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from
them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his
mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the
one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for
you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a
double share of your spirit.” 10He responded, “You have asked a hard thing;
yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if
not, it will not.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of
fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a
whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father,
father! The chariots of Israel and its drivers!” But when Elisha could no
longer see Elijah, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

The Epiphany of God.                                  *Thanks be to God.*



Psalm 50:1-6 read responsively

Neal:

Neal:

1The mighty one, God the Lord, has spoken;
calling the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2*Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty,*
*God shines forth in glory.*
3Our God will come and will not keep silence;
with a consuming flame before, and round about a raging storm.
4*God calls the heavens and the earth from above*
*to witness the judgment of the people.*
5“Gather before me my loyal followers,
those who have made a covenant with me and sealed it with sacrifice.”
6*The heavens declare the rightness of God’s cause,*
*for it is God who is judge.*


The Prayers of the People

Frances:

Frances:

O God who welcomes all in love, let us pray for the good of the church and
the concerns of those in need.



*Pause for a moment*



We pray for the church, that the transformational power of God enters the
hearts of all people. May its leaders serve as examples of your grace and
healing across time and space. God of grace,

*receive our prayer.*

We pray for the creation, that we will humbly observe the swirl of wind and
the heat of the bright sun. Teach us to honor all you have made and to care
for the animals, plants, air, and bodies of water of this planet. God of
grace,

*receive our prayer.*

We pray for those charged with leadership, lawmaking, and governance of our
towns, states, and countries, that they will strive for goodness and
justice all the days of their lives and callings. God of grace,

*receive our prayer.*

We pray for any who are sick and suffering, especially those we name now.
Guide us to offer hospitality, shelter, friendship, and care to any in
need. God of grace,

*receive our prayer.*

We pray for this congregation and its ministry in the wider community. May
we share the transforming beauty and love of God in ways that honor the
dignity of all whom we encounter. God of grace,

*receive our prayer.*

Trusting that all the saints, prophets, and those who die in faith are held
in your care, we remember in thanksgiving those who have died. Grant us
your gift of salvation as we await your coming again in glory. God of grace,

*receive our prayer.*

God of every land and nation, you have created all people, and you dwell
among us in Jesus Christ. Listen to the cries of those who pray to you, and
grant that all people will know the power of love at work in the world. We
ask this through Christ our Lord.  *Amen.*

Janet Katari (she/her)
Pastor, Christ Church, Lutheran, San Francisco
seniorpastor at christchurchlutheran.org
415-215-1576
Justice, therefore, represents the peace of God. This peace is freedom from
the violence that distorts the human person. It is the elimination, in
other words, of systems, constructs, and all actualities of violence. God's
peace thus requires a radical restructuring of a political, social, and
economic order that is sustained by and thus creates 'crucified classes of
people.' *Kelly Brown Douglas, Stand Your Ground, p. 195*
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