Sermon Tone Analysis

Response

     Say, we bring death to our spirits when we refuse to forgive.

So,let's sing this stanza to the tune, "I'm Gonna Sing":  "I'm gonna live when the Spirit says live." Sing it several  times; sing it as a round, as different age groups.

~* OPENING HYMN                           Majesty   # 4

Invitation to the Celebration

     In the Name of the vibrant Christ, welcome!

What do we need more than anything to give us a refreshing and cleansing way to begin a new day, a day anew?

A new relationship, a relationship anew?

A new experience, an experience anew?

Especially when the day, relationship, experience become broken and alienated?

What do we need most when that happens in our home, with close friends, in the church with people we thought were on our side?

(Wait a few seconds; ask if anyone wants to respond.

If no one  responds, invite them to think about forgiveness for a few moments in silence.)

My guess is: What we need is forgiveness, the greatest healer of all time.

~* INVOCATION AND LORD'S PRAYER                     Gracious and Holy God, we thank you for creating us as your children, with all its joys, despite its risks.

We praise you that you are here with us, and were here long before we arrived today, with love and justice and forgiveness, so that we may draw near to you with childlike openness to receive you.

Today, give us some new insights and resolve into forgiveness.

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.

SCRIPTURE READING                                             Exodus 14:19-31

14:19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.

14:20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel.

And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.

The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided.

14:22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

14:23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.

14:24 At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic.

14:25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty.

The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

14:26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the  Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers."

14:27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth.

As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea.

14:28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.

14:29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

14:31 Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians.

So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.READER

OFFERING                 Remembering Our Reason For Being The Church

Stewardship Challenge

     Stewardship of Forgiveness: "Pride and fear, which keep us from forgiving, are the same pride and fear which keep us from accepting forgiveness; and will you, God, please help us to do something about it?

What are we willing to let God do about it, before and after we offer our gifts this morning?"

~* DOXOLOGY

~* PRAYER OF DEDICATION          

CHILDREN'S STORY TIME

CHORAL ANTHEM

PRAYER                     Facing Up To Ourselves

Introduction to Our Reluctance to Forgive      Slowly and deliberately: Where and with whom do we experience our "living off-center"?

Between us and someone in the congregation?

(Pause.)

In our home?

(Pause.)

In our job or at school?

(Pause.)

In our neighborhood?

(Pause.)

Name those persons silently.

(Pause.)

Notice if we picked someone on whom we lay the blame; or, do we recognize the barrier in ourself?

(Pause.)

La Rochefoucauld has said, "Almost all your faults are more pardonable than the methods you think up to hide them."

Forgive us, O God, for the wrongs we have done; for the judgment we have rendered about others; for the petty remarks which have sprung to our lips; for the tales we have told which did not build someone up; for the selfish prayers we have spoken to you.

Have mercy upon us, and enable us to follow a better way.

The Act of Receiving Forgiveness

     Only God knows the extent of our dishonesty; for God alone has paid the price for such knowledge.

God has done what God can do about the broken relationship; what will we do about it?

Forgiveness begins with ourself, not the other.

P: The Word of Christ is Good News!

M: God's love never changes.

Against all who oppose God, or ignore God, or patronize God, God expresses love in wrath.

In that same love, God took on judgment and death in Jesus the Christ, to bring forgiveness, liberation, and new life.

P: I declare to you who mean business with God, that in the Name of Jesus the Christ, you are forgiven.

Do you hear that?

Do you believe that?

Do you practice that?

~* PREPARATIONAL HYMN                        Bless His Holy Name   # 102

SCRIPTURE TEXT                 Matthew 18:21-35

18:21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive?

As many as seven times?" 18:22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

18:23 "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

18:24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 18:25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his  possessions, and payment to be made.

18:26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 18:27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.

18:28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' 18:29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 18:30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt.

18:31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.

18:32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave!

I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

18:33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' 18:34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt.

18:35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

SERMON                                            The Need Of Forgiveness

     From the beginning, it seemed, Ludovicio Gadda was destined for greatness.

He was born in a small Italian town, like many of the popes, all from Italy, who have occupied the Chair of Saint  Peter since the time of the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century.

It seemed that Ludovico was destined for ministry and priesthood from his earliest days.

He was ordained and lived a very traditional life as a parish priest.

He lived by the canons and doctrines of the Faith.