August 26, 2018! Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost Message: There is No Going Back!! Rev. Steve Torrence

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1 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Matthew 7:18 August 26, 2018! Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost Message: There is No Going Back!! Rev. Steve Torrence

2 Opening Thought The quiet will come, when all the noise fades away, when the others have all had their say, and only the passing breeze drifts by on its way to find the sea. Then you can have time to think, to let your thoughts sort themselves out, until the image of an answer stands before you like an old friend from childhood. So do not be anxious that you don't know which way to turn, for the way forward will become clear, just as it always has, in this life of twists and turns, of noise and too much talking, where we wait for the quiet to come. And it always does GATHERING SONG All Are Welcome by Marty Haugen Let us build a house where love can dwell And all can safely live A place where saints and children tell How hearts learn to forgive Built of hopes and dreams and visions Rock of Faith and vault of Grace Here the love of Christ shall end divisions All are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING HYMN GREETING ONE ANOTHER IN COMMUNITY WE FOCUS IN PRAYER As The Deer Panteth For the Water, by Martin Nystrom As the deer panteth for the water So my soul longeth after Thee You alone are my heart s desire And I long to worship Thee You alone are my strength, my shield To You alone may my spirit yield You alone are my heart s desire And I long to worship Thee Come Live in the Light (opposite) FIRST READING: Psalm 130, with adaptation by Barbara Gibson Suzanne Atkyns GOSPEL: Matthew 7:15-20 SUNG RESPONSE: Lead Us from Death to Life (#581, chorus only) Lead us from death to life, from false-hood to truth, from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace; Let peace fill our hearts, Let peace fill our world, Let peace fill our universe. HYMN OF PREPARATION Bring Us Home (p. 6) Message: There is No Going Back!! M q my soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning Rev. Steve Torrence 2

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4 N A Time of Prayer THE CANDLE OF HOPE The Candle of Hope is lit each week for those challenged by HIV/AIDS, cancer and all illnesses, and for all who are suffering and in need of hope. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: We pray for those on our prayer list and for those we hold silently in our hearts. Steve Mason Sylvia Kelley Jonathan Jacox Peggy Parker Doug Mayberry Kelly Summers Laurie Bresmon Sharon Dunham Shannon Libbey Lenet Peggy Ward-Grant George Meshew OFFERING Joan Higgs PRAYER OF PERSONAL REFLECTION One: Rabbi Jesus, we acknowledge that we have listened to other teachings because we found them more palatable. Giving up our possessions is too hard. Loving our neighbors is too hard. Seeking justice makes us uncomfortable. We d rather live a life that is comfortable for us because life is too short. Forgive us for our excuses. Forgive us for not listening to You. Forgive us for not always being Your disciples, Your students. Help us to follow You, to tune our hearts to Your words and Your ways. All: Rabbi Jesus, teach us again what it means to have hearts that love and forgive. Teach us how to love one another, to serve You by serving others, to live in the reign of God on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. BLESSING AND ASSURANCE Though we may have gone astray, God is waiting for us, and God is everywhere. God s presence knows no bounds. Wherever we are, we are at home with God. Turn and know that God is with you. Turn away from chaos and toward the loving forgiveness of God. Turn to the teachings of God, and leave the ways of this world behind. Know that we are beloved of God, and God is with each and every one of us, right now. Amen SURSUM CORDA (We Lift Up Our Hearts) One: God is with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to God. One: Let us give thanks to God Most High. All: It is right to give God thanks and praise. 5 Celebration of Holy Communion One: Eternal God, we thank you for making us in your own image, forgiving our errors in thought word and deed, and for keeping us in your steadfast care. We rejoice in Jesus Christ, the great example of living as a child of God, and may we follow that blessed example. We take courage, O God, from the abiding presence of your holy Spirit in our midst. And we offer you our praise for women and men of faith in every age who stand as witnesses to your love and justice. With prophets and poets, sages and saints, and all the company of heaven we glorify you singing: HYMN OF PRAISE Sanctus (#793) Holy, Holy, Holy, My heart, my heart adores you! My Heart knows how to say to you: Holy are you, Lord! Santo, santo, santo, mi corazón te adora Mi corazón te sabe decir, santo eres Dios. 4

5 WORDS OF INSTITUTION PRAYER OF CONSECRATION INVITATION TO THE FEAST MCC Key West celebrates an open communion. We understand the sharing of the bread and the cup in Jesus name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God s feast for all peoples. We don t require you to be a member of this church, or any church, to participate with us in this feast of grace. Simply come forward, alone or with friends and loved ones, following the ushers direction. Your server will dip a piece of bread in the grape juice, place it on your tongue, and offer a brief blessing. If you prefer only the blessing, or only the elements, just let your server know. DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS SONG AFTER COMMUNION: I Will Change Your Name by D. J. Butler I will change your name; you shall no longer be called Wounded, Outcast, Lonely or Afraid. I will change your name; your new name shall be Confidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming One, Faithfulness, Friend of God, One Who Seeks My Face. CLOSING HYMN It is Well with My Soul (#438) Our Worship has ended; Let our Service begin! Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Psalm 130 adapted by Barbara Gibson Out of the depths we cry to you, source of all! Beloved, hear our voices! Our Readings for Today 5 Let your ears be open to the sound of our prayers! We wait for your presence; our souls wait, and we hope for a comforting word. Our souls wait for the beloved one more than those who watch all night for the morning more than those who wait for the sun to rise. O people let us put our hope in the source! For there we will find wisdom and compassion and the power of renewal and change. From the course of all, the people will find the help we need in these terrible times. Gospel Matthew 7: Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them Our Worship Leaders Today Message: Rev. Steve Torrence Liturgist: Cathy Stentzel Ruth Cahoon, Suzanne Atkyns, Joan Higgs, Lenny Whitley Music: Allison Millwood

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7 News Announcements Events August Birthdays John Brady, 8/6; Christine Connelly, 8/10; Ginny Bello, 8/14; John Hernandez, 8/14; Sylvia Kelley, 8/22; Anne Allen, 8/31 Anniversaries Ruth & Franz Cahoon, 8/5; Stephen Kitsakos & John Dewald, 8/5; Jo Ane LePierce & Michael Mailey, 8/11; Cathy & Jim Stentzel, 8/21; Amy & Will Soto, 8/23 John & Martha Nell Havenstrite, 8/2 Message and Music This Month DATE August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 SPEAKER Rev. Steve Torrence Rev. Steve Torrence Christy Haussler Rev. Steve Torrence LITURGIST Lenny Whitley Carl Stevens Jarrett Nyschick Cathy Stentzel MUSIC Allison Millwood Allison Millwood Allison Millwood Allison Millwood THANK YOU TO ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING COOKING WITH LOVE Our Outreach Programs Cooking With Love serves about 300 hot, home-cooked meals to seniors and the homebound every Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. Volunteer to help cooking, delivering or cleaning up, or Sponsor a week for $250 by calling Cherre Marchak, Mutter Hubbard s Cupboard/Miss Kitty s Pantry provides about 80 grocery bags per week to Cooking With Love clients and others who have cooking facilities but limited resources to purchase or shop for food. You may bring nonperishable foods to the church on Saturday and Sunday mornings. KISS AA meets in our Social Hall daily Tai Chi for seniors meets in our social hall Sunday, 5:30 PM; Monday through Saturday, 8 PM Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall 7 Year to date over 10,200 Year to date over 2,920

8 A Different Kind of Church That Makes a Difference MCC Key West is a uniquely progressive Church. We are culturally Christian but spiritually unlimited. That means while we are inheritors of the Christian tradition and scriptures, and we look to Jesus of Nazareth as our primary model of faithful living, we are open to insights from Science, Psychology, the Arts, Nature, and the various noble Religions of the world. We celebrate the sacraments, but Communion is presented as a feast of unconditional painting by William Welch love that is open to all people regardless of belief or church membership, and baptism is presented as being immersed in the life of the community, which one may or may not choose to celebrate with a public water ritual. We practice positive thinking, we lift up LBGT people and their allies, and we teach that no one is ever excluded from divine Love for any reason. We declare that all people have sacred value. We are a non-dogmatic, inclusive, spiritual community. We are progressive, positive, and practical. MCC Key West is a different kind of church where what happens here changes our world. Welcome home! MCC Key West s Mission Statement: As the island s home for liberating spirituality, MCC Key West s mission is to witness God s inclusive and transforming love in the world. Our Leadership Pastor: Rev. Steve Torrence, pastorstevemcckw@gmail.com Board of Directors Volunteer Team Leaders Steve Torrence Moderator Joan Higgs Outreach Services Joan Higgs Vice-moderator Cherre Marchak Cooking With Love Scott Fuhriman Secretary Sheri Lohr Communications seastorypress@gmail.com Jan Marie Treasurer; Allison Music Ministry ahmillwood@aol.com Weatherhead Lay Delegate Millwood John Holder Member-at-large Gail Hinand Worship Team; ghinand@gmail.com John Johnson Member-at-large Steve Mason Office Admin. (305) Sylvia Kelley Member-at-large Stephen Aubé Member-at-large Metropolitan Community Church Key West 1215 Petronia St., Key West, FL Website: MCC Global Website: Phone: Fax: mcckeywest@gmail.com or pastorstevemcckw@gmail.com