Gathering Song: “He’s got the whole world in his hands…”
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the sun and the rain in His hands,
He's got the moon and the stars in His hands,
He's got the wind and the clouds in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,
He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands,
He's got you and he's got me in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the sun and the rain in His hands,
He's got the moon and the stars in His hands,
He's got the wind and the clouds in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,
He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands,
He's got you and he's got me in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
Leader: Loving God, you have opened your hands to invite and receive us.
People: We give you thanks.
Leader: Welcoming God, you have embraced us so that we might embrace others.
People: We give you thanks.
Leader: May God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ you opened your hands of love upon the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace. So clothe us in your Spirit, that we reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you, for your tender mercies’ sake. AMEN.
Scriptural Reflection — Mark 10:13-16The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Questions for Reflection
Welcome and Embrace…. A process… Invitation, Welcome, Orientation, Incorporation, Sending…
To evangelize is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that people shall come to put their trust in God through him, to accept him as their Savior, and serve him as their King in the fellowship of the church.
— Archbishop William Temple
Now is our time to go. To go into the world to share the good news of God and Jesus Christ. To go into the world and help to be agents and instruments of God’s reconciliation. To go into the world, let the world know that there is a God who loves us, a God who will not let us go, and that that love can set us all free.
— Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Leader: Will you proclaim by word and example, the Good News of God in Christ?
People: I will with God’s help.
A Litany
Leader: Gracious God, you sent your Son Jesus to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to captives, and the embrace of redemption to all people, open your arms to receive us and all whom you invite to your love. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to open our hands as healing balm to the poor and release for the oppressed. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to proclaim the Good News of your restoring and renewing love and to invite all people to your open arms and heart. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to announce and to live joy and gladness in a world of division, uncertainty, and distrust. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to tell this world, that all are invited, all are welcome, and all have a seat at the table of your sovereign love and the feast of your Kingdom. Faithful God.
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Faithful God, you do embrace us in your love and welcome us as your beloved children. May we open our hands and our hearts to announce Good News and to embrace those we see and meet with invitation and hope. AMEN.
People: We give you thanks.
Leader: Welcoming God, you have embraced us so that we might embrace others.
People: We give you thanks.
Leader: May God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ you opened your hands of love upon the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace. So clothe us in your Spirit, that we reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you, for your tender mercies’ sake. AMEN.
Scriptural Reflection — Mark 10:13-16The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Questions for Reflection
- What words, phrases or images come to your mind and heart as you hear this passage?
- When have you felt particularly welcomed and embraced by God?
- How does your congregation welcome and embrace others?
Welcome and Embrace…. A process… Invitation, Welcome, Orientation, Incorporation, Sending…
To evangelize is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that people shall come to put their trust in God through him, to accept him as their Savior, and serve him as their King in the fellowship of the church.
— Archbishop William Temple
Now is our time to go. To go into the world to share the good news of God and Jesus Christ. To go into the world and help to be agents and instruments of God’s reconciliation. To go into the world, let the world know that there is a God who loves us, a God who will not let us go, and that that love can set us all free.
— Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Leader: Will you proclaim by word and example, the Good News of God in Christ?
People: I will with God’s help.
A Litany
Leader: Gracious God, you sent your Son Jesus to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to captives, and the embrace of redemption to all people, open your arms to receive us and all whom you invite to your love. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to open our hands as healing balm to the poor and release for the oppressed. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to proclaim the Good News of your restoring and renewing love and to invite all people to your open arms and heart. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to announce and to live joy and gladness in a world of division, uncertainty, and distrust. Faithful God,
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Send us to tell this world, that all are invited, all are welcome, and all have a seat at the table of your sovereign love and the feast of your Kingdom. Faithful God.
People: Embrace us in your love.
Leader: Faithful God, you do embrace us in your love and welcome us as your beloved children. May we open our hands and our hearts to announce Good News and to embrace those we see and meet with invitation and hope. AMEN.
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