Invocation (unison)
Along with the Psalmist and Isaiah we affirm:
"O Lord, our God, we have cried to you, and you have heard us.
You forgive our sins, you help us fight our diseases.
You heal our broken hearts and bind up our wounds.
With your stripes we are healed."
Come, O Mighty Healer, touch our brokenness and pain. Use this hour to cleanse and
strengthen us. Amen.

Call to Worship

"Healer of Our Every Ill"

377, Hymnal+

Invitation to Give
Giving is one of the secrets to a healthy life; not only or necessarily money, but whatever each of us has of compassion, encouragement, sympathy and support.

Litany

Leader:	We are persons who have experienced pain and rejection.
People:	We are persons who have experienced love and acceptance.
Leader:	We are persons who have shown racism, sexism and exclusion to some who are different from us.
People:	We are persons who have overcome prejudice and have included some who are different from us.
Leader:	We have sometimes been legalistic and put rules above relationships.
People:	We have sometimes overcome legalism and put the concerns for other people above old, unloving rules.
Leader:	We have sometimes excluded the very sinners whom Jesus welcomed into his kingdom.
People:	Sometimes we welcome the outcasts of our society to God's table.
All:	We seek to bring Jesus' love into our congregation and our communities. We seek to be free of physical or verbal abuse. We seek to live in peace.

Message Topic
"Commanded to Love One Another"

Old Testament Readings	Joel 2:12-13,
	Isaiah 58:6-11

New Testament Readings	Luke 6:32-37,
	John 7:16-18

Key Points
1. We do not have consensus on who is right on controversial issues such as pacifism, abortion, tithing, homosexuality and divorce. But, it is utterly clear that we are to love one another.

2. We are to penetrate beyond the legalisms of the Scriptures to observe Jesus' identification with prostitutes, tax collectors, the poor, the ill and other outcasts. It is utterly clear that we are to love one another.

3. Who among us feels unsafe or unwelcome in our congregation? It is utterly clear that we are to love one another.

Benediction
Go now in peace. May the love of God, your family, friends and this faith community surround you everywhere you may go. Amen.

Charles Boyer (Pastor)
La Verne Church of the Brethren
La Verne, California

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*Invocation
Gracious God, we gather this morning in search of healing in our lives: healing of physical illness; healing of broken hearts; healing of separation from you. Help us enter into a time when we are fully aware of the abundance of your healing love. Wrap your grace-filled arms around us as we seek to share ourselves fully with you. O God, come and dwell among us. Amen.

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
(Option: Congregation or choir sings refrain of 519, Hymnal+ between each sharing. You may wish to change the language from singular to plural.)

Pastoral Prayer

Invitation to Give
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy for an hour; take a nap.
If you want to be happy for a day; go fishing.
If you want to be happy for a month; get married.
If you want to be happy for a year; inherit a fortune.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime; help someone else.

Offering and Dedication Prayer

New Testament Reading

Luke 22:39-46

Message
"Get Real"
Luke's description of Jesus' withdrawal to the Mount of Olives reveals to us the real humanity of Jesus. His tears, anguish, and anger suggest that Jesus was in crisis over his impending death. Yes, even Jesus experienced times of struggle!

We too experience times of crisis, withdrawal, and anguish. Such feelings are only human. But, do we as the church allow each other to be honest when we are in pain, doubt or crisis? Do we encourage a fellowship of faith where we are real before God, each other and even ourselves? Or do we avoid, cover up and condemn doubt or struggle?

Often, transformation occurs during painful times in our lives because our broken hearts are uncharacteristically open and vulnerable. God works through our difficult times and feelings of ambivalence. Such times can be viewed as precious and transforming rather than negative and harmful. Psalm 42 is a wonderful example of how one can be real and hopeful before God while struggling with pain, doubt and anger. Most of us (including Jesus) have at times asked God "why have you forgotten me?" What an extraordinary role the church could play if it served as a safe place where questions and pain could be shared and learned from rather than hidden and feared.

*Benediction
May we go forth seeking ways to create safe places where we can be real before God, each other and ourselves. Go in peace.

*Postlude

Kelly Burk (Clinical Pastoral Education)
Washington City Church of the Brethren
Washington, D.C.

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Announcements and Sharing Time

Prelude

*Call to Worship

*Invocation Prayer
Creating and Redeeming God, we know that you are out there, in the majesty and mystery of skies and seas and mountains and valleys. We know that you are in our past, which we remember with thanksgiving, and we know that you are the future in which we have hope. But we know that you are in here too, in the midst of our fellowship and in the hearts and minds of all who have gathered here. And where your dwelling place is, God, there is forgiveness and love and peace. And we know it most keenly through Jesus Christ, through whom we pray.

The Pastoral Prayer

Sermon
"And None Shall Make Them Afraid"
The Psalmist, Isaiah and Paul believe that God's vision is that God's people shall live in harmony and peace and safety. The church, while it is not the fulfillment of that vision, is the embodiment of that vision. The church then is the Body of Christ, the fellowship of believers, where everyone has a place, where all have been given gifts for serving one another, where none are excluded or harmed or made to fear. The responsibility of helping the church to create and nurture an open and welcoming spirit is everyone's responsibility. The church is first and foremost a community of forgiven and recovering sinners, although we have often made the church something other than that. When the church is the kind of community that God intends it to be, then people in it will not fear; not fear harm, not fear self-exposure, not fear failure. When the church is the kind of community that God intends it to be, then people will know that at the center of their life together God is dwelling. Where God is, there is love. Where God is, there is acceptance. Where God is, there is hope.

(The title of the sermon is a quote from Isaiah in a version other than the NRSV, from which the scriptures in the service have been taken. It is an especially forceful way of stating the spirit of the kingdom of God, although it is stated in the negative. Another title can be substituted.)

A Call to Offering
Let our gift-giving grow out of gratitude for that network of others who have given so much to us. Let our offerings be inspired by the blessings we have known. Let our commitment include not only what we have, but who we are.

Offertory

*Benediction
In the freedom of God's love in Christ, go out there to serve, knowing that the promise of a new humanity begins with what we have affirmed in here, where God has made a dwelling place among us, Amen.

Robert E. Faus
Mack Memorial Church of the Brethren
Dayton, Ohio

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Scripture John 8:2-11
"Jesus stood up and said to them, 'Whoever among you has never committed a sin may throw the first stone at her.'"

Theme
In the way Jesus treated the adulterous woman, we see how important it is for the church to reach out to those whom we label as "sinners" with compassion rather than condemnation.

Sermon Outline
A pastor is washing his car in the driveway while his wife and children are gone. Twelve-year-old Robbie rides into the yard on his bicycle and asks to play with the pastor's sons. Although being told they are not home, the neighborhood boy does not seem to be in a hurry to leave. Robbie tells the pastor that he is temporarily living with his aunt, that his father in is prison, that he lived with his mother until she got drunk, and that he is getting poor grades in school. Then Robbie asks, "Knowing all this about me, can I still come over and play with your sons?" Knowing how influential peers are on young people, how would you feel as a parent with your children playing with Robbie?

What should be the Christian's attitude toward persons who get into trouble with the law or live morally questionable lives? How should we relate toward persons who sin?

I would like to address these questions by looking at the scripture which was read a few moments ago. (John 8:2-11) The teachers of the Law and Pharisees bring to Jesus a woman whom they have caught committing adultery. They are trying to trap Jesus. If he suggests leniency, he would be contradicting their laws (which calls for stoning for this offense). If he approves her being stoned, this would contradict his compassionate image.

Jesus masterfully handles this situation by suggesting anyone who has not committed a sin may cast the first stone. This answer takes the focus off the woman and puts it on her accusers. Jesus has granted permission for the woman to be stoned, but puts a qualification on those who would administer the punishment.

Each of her accusers leaves and Jesus says to her, "I do not condemn you either."

What should be our attitude toward those who fall short of living up to Jesus' high moral standards? Jesus suggests that unless one meets the criteria of being sinless that one is not justified in pointing the condemning finger at another.

In a story entitled "The Magic Seeds," a thief is sentenced to be hung for stealing a small package of meat. Before being taken to the gallows, the thief indicates to the king that he is the only person alive who knows how to plant an apple seed that would grow and bear fruit overnight. In order to atone for his crime, he would like to teach that secret to the king's court. The king is intrigued and grants the condemned man his wish. The criminal asks for a shovel, a handful of apple seeds and a maiden who has never been kissed.

The next day the king, his 13-year-old daughter and all his advisors gather. The thief digs a small hole and instructs the king's daughter to pour some water into it. Then the thief announces that the seeds need to be placed in the ground by someone who has never taken a single item, no matter how small or how long ago. Each member of the king's court (the prime minister, treasurer, etc.) are invited to plant the seed, but each confess to having at some time in their lives taken something. Finally the thief asks why he is being hung for having taken a small amount of food when everyone in this court of trusted public servants also has taken something which had not belonged to them.

Do you remember Robbie who came from a broken home, got poor grades and seemed headed for a life of trouble and asked if he could play with the pastor's sons? What if he had also asked for permission to attend Sunday School and church? Would he have felt condemned or accepted by the good church members?

Unfortunately many persons at the time they most need a compassionate fellowship instead experience condemnation from members of the church. Do we meet Jesus' criteria for throwing stones?

Worship Resources

Call to Worship (responsively):

Prayer of Confession (unison)
O God - as the teachers of the Law and Pharisees wanted to stone the adulterous woman to death, we confess we at times also are guilty of condemning those who fail to attain the same standards of goodness as do we. We criticize those who fall short of living true to the demanding ideals of Jesus. Forgive us, O God, when we are more ready to condemn others than to compliment them.

Silent Reflection
Use these moments of silence to reflect upon a time recently when you were critical of another person. What was the wrong or sinful act of which they were guilty? Was there something complimentary or affirming you could have said?

Offertory Thought
We often express our faith as a response to what we have received or experienced. For instance:

We forgive others when we recognize we have been the recipients of God's forgiveness.

We express love when we live in the assurance God's grace.

We share our gifts out of an awareness we have been blessed by God's generosity.

May we now give as our response to what we have undeservingly received.

Benediction
(Each person is given a stone as they enter the sanctuary at the beginning of worship.)

You are now invited to hold in your hand the stone you were given when you entered the sanctuary. Let it represent your desire to condemn or criticize another person. You may want to throw your stone at your spouse, child, parent, boss, fellow employee, neighbor, friend or fellow church member. Before throwing your stone, be sure you are qualified. According to Jesus, only those who have never sinned may do so. If you meet this criteria, then hold on to your stone. If you do not, then you have no need for it. You might as well leave it here. In fact, why not: drop your stone now and let it lay.

(Pastor drops his/her stone and hopes others will follow.)

Did you hear your stone hit the floor? May that sound be a reminder of your failure to qualify to condemn others. Go now with a desire to not sin anymore, but when you do, know God is patient with you as you are expected to be patient with others who sin. Amen

J.D. Glick (Pastor)
First Church of the Brethren
Harrisonburg, Virginia

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Invocation
Dear God, your Son, Jesus, invited us to come to him in our weariness and with our burdens and he would give us rest. We have come and we are here today in your presence. We seek a safe place to confess our sins, lay our burdens down and let go of our weariness. Bless us with the rest you have promised. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Sermon
The Parable of the Difficult Brother, Luke 15:11-32

Introduction: Usually when we preach this passage, the emphasis is on the lost son. This is natural and is also the theme of the two parables that precede this one. However, the context suggests to us that the Pharisees were amazed that Jesus would welcome sinners and eat with them. That being the case, it seems that the main teaching of this triad of parables is that God seeks the lost - deliberately and with a passion. Following the lead of verses 1 and 2, the main character of each of these parables is the seeking shepherd, the searching woman and the waiting and running-out-to-meet-him father. God eagerly seeks the lost and welcomes the repentant one home into the safe abode of his arms. That is the model for the church.

However, there is yet a third character to consider (aside from the lost thing and the seeking one in each parable). In the third parable, the elder son is introduced because he describes the attitude of the Pharisees in verses 1 and 2 and, unfortunately, what is far too often the attitude of the long-time church member toward the wayward one who wishes to come home.

Outline (focus on Luke 15:25-32):
1. Safe churches place the needs of the outsiders, the wayward, the repentant ahead of their own needs.

We fail to make our churches safe places for the repentant when we place our own needs above the needs of others.

The older son felt that just because he had served his father faithfully, he was entitled to special rewards (15:29). Does this describe our heart? Are we more concerned about what we get than about what we give? When the wayward one comes home, do we find ourselves feeling cheated, overlooked, taken for granted? These are the attitudes that breed jealousy, envy and rejection.

2. Safe churches forgive repentant sin, forget the offenses of the forgiven and work at rebuilding one another in Christ.

We fail to make our churches safe places when we are unable to forgive and to let lie buried the forgiven offenses of the past.

The elder son was more concerned about the kind of offenses committed by his brother than he was about his brother's repentant heart and changed mind. (See 15:30 where the elder son accuses the younger son of sexual sin when the earlier part of the story does not specifically mention this.) Churches that are safe places provide atmospheres in which a person can name her or his sin, repent of it, be forgiven and then never have it cast up again, either in public or in the private conversations of the members. This happens when members recall their individual failures and the forgiveness they have received from God and his people and thus are quick to forgive others. Did this elder brother never sin and need forgiveness?

3. Safe churches realize there is much more at stake than merely the bad choices made in this life.

Churches fail to be safe places for persons coming to God from non-Christian lifestyles when we do not recognize that their physical actions are the results of deeper spiritual needs.

The younger son and been "lost" but was now "found," "dead" spiritually but now very much "alive" (15:32). There was much more at stake here than squandered finances and loose living. A soul had fallen away from God and now had returned. Because of this, it was party time in heaven. (By the way, the only time scripture records a party in heaven is when a lost one comes home to the Father.) The elder brother somehow could not see past the physical situation. When we can't see past the physical, failing to recognize the spiritual battle that is raging for the souls of people, then we fail to offer a safe place for the ones returning home.

Conclusion:
Families ought to be safe places. Had it been up to the elder brother, this family would not have been a safe place for the younger one to come home to. Churches are the family of God. Ultimately, the church ought to be the safest place on earth. When attitudes like those of the elder brother creep into our churches through the lives of our people, then we miss the opportunity to be a safe place for the fallen.

(Here, depending on your church's custom, an appeal for people to look deeply into their own hearts, even responding by coming to the front of the church for prayer, would be appropriate.)

Benediction

Having found the rest Jesus offers, go now determined, by his grace and the power of his Spirit, to provide a restful, safe place for others who seek God's salvation. To the honor and glory of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Galen R. Hackman (Pastor)
Conewago Church of the Brethren
Hershey, Pennsylvania

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A Call To Worship
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

- Words by Elisha A. Hoffman in the hymn
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"

Invocation
We gather, O God, as your people in this place called "sanctuary." We gather aware that for some this is a place of safety and peace and comfort. We gather knowing that for others, this is a place that has been found to be dangerous. It is our heartfelt desire, as followers of your son Jesus, to have in this place, a true sanctuary. Begin to grow that seed of safety in our hearts so that it will blossom into every corner of our lives together. Amen.

Suggested Scripture Readings
A vision of a world safe in God's arms:
Deuteronomy 33: 26-29
Israel, no other god is like ours,
The clouds are God's chariot as God rides across the skies to come and help us.
The eternal God is our hiding place; and we are carried in God's arms.
When God tells you to destroy your enemies, God will make them run.
Israel, you will live in safety; your enemies will be gone.
The dew will fall from the sky, and you will have plenty of grain and wine.
The Lord has rescued you and given you more blessings than any other nation.
The Lord protects you like a shield and is your majestic sword.
Your enemies will bow in fear, and you will trample on their backs.

- Contemporary English Version

A second possible scripture:
John 14:1
Set your troubled hearts at rest. Trust in God always; trust also in me.

Matthew 11: 28-29
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Prayer of Confession
With eyes downcast, we come to you, Lord Jesus, knowing that there are those who are not with us this morning because we have failed to make your church a loving and safe place. We ask your forgiveness for the hearts we have broken, for the trusts we have betrayed, for harsh and judgmental words that have turned others from you. We pray not only for a larger vision of grace but also for tender hearts and gracious tongues that are quick to speak the words of love we all long to hear.

The Words of Assurance
We live our lives with the example of Jesus Christ before us. At times we are truly a reflection of Christ to the world. At other times we fail miserably in our faith journey. Always the good news for us is that as we ask to be forgiven, forgiveness is given to us. Thanks be to God.

Service of Giving
Because the love of Jesus for us was so great that he was willing to die for us, no longer do we bring our offerings to pay for past sins. We are a forgiven people who bring offerings "'with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean ... and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22) In this spirit, let us bring our gifts and offerings.

The Doxology
Praise God from whom all life is come
Praise God from whom all hope is sprung
These gifts we bring are love's increase
God grant to us the gift of peace. Amen.

(Sung to the traditional tune "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow." I first heard these words used at First Church of the Brethren, Chicago. They are a nice alternative, wrapping a safety net around many who have found themselves unsafe because of abusive situations.)

Benediction (from Zechariah 8)
From the final book in the Old Testament comes God's vision for Jerusalem. Let it be a vision for us - a congregation that is a safe place for all God's children:

Very old people with walking sticks will once again sit around in Jerusalem while boys and girls play in the streets. This may seem impossible for my people ¼ but it isn't impossible for me, the Lord All-Powerful. So don't give up. I will make sure that your crops are planted in peace and your vineyards are fruitful, that your fields are fertile and the dew falls from the sky. I will save you and make you a blessing, so don't be afraid or lose courage. Go in peace. Amen.

A Sermon Idea
I like to use visual images whenever I can.
I position two images against each other:

1.	The wild west: A lot of scary things - no fences or boundaries, snakes, strange insects, taking the law into your own hands, high mountains impossible to climb, dry. A dangerous place where no one can be trusted, including God.

What should we do?

Separate ourselves? Build a big stone tower like Rapunzel? We Brethren have tried that. Some people still do today - separate themselves from the church. But couldn't we be safe in community?

Marilyn Lerch Scott (Pastor)
Naperville Church of the Brethren
Naperville, Illinois

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