We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Sana and Tonkawa peoples. It is also important to acknowledge that we are here today due to the exclusion and erasure of many indigenous people from their native land, including the land on which we stand today. We honor with gratitude the land itself and its original people.
Taizé Worship
Welcome to worship at Treehouse. Tonight we will worship in the style of the Taize Community in France, an ecumenical monastic community committed to peace. This style of worship is quiet and contemplative, with a “grand silence” in the middle for your own prayer, meditation, or reflection. Allow your spirits to settle into the mystery and stillness of this worship. God welcomes you here tonight.
PSALM: Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord! Bless his name!
Share the news of his saving work every single day!
3 Declare God’s glory among the nations;
declare his wondrous works among all people
4 because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise.
He is awesome beyond all other gods
5 because all the gods of the nations are just idols,
but it is the Lord who created heaven!
6 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Give to the Lord, all families of the nations—
give to the Lord glory and power!
8 Give to the Lord the glory due his name!
Bring gifts!
Enter his courtyards!
9 Bow down to the Lord in his holy splendor!
Tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Tell the nations, “The Lord rules!
Yes, he set the world firmly in place;
it won’t be shaken.
He will judge all people fairly.”
11 Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it roar!
12 Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate!
Then all the trees of the forest too
will shout out joyfully
13 before the Lord because he is coming!
He is coming to establish justice on the earth!
He will establish justice in the world rightly.
He will establish justice among all people fairly.
GOSPEL: Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked.
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.
The Grand Silence
You are invited to enter into a time of silence, prayer, and contemplation. If you are unsure how to do this, you might a) try speaking to God as if speaking to a friend; b) quiet your mind by slowly repeat a phrase from one of the songs or readings from tonight; or c) allow your mind to wander back over your day, asking yourself where you felt most full of life and where you felt most drained, then considering how God was present in both of those experiences.
Prayers
Companion God,
we praise you for the grace which is always on the move,
from death to life, desolation to hope, famine to feasting.
As we travel this road of pain and rejoicing,
we give thanks that you go with us as our guardian and friend:
that you have taken us by the hand and led us,
giving guidance and support.
Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.
– that you have strengthened us for the work of faith,
the labour of love, the steadfastness of hope.
Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.
– that you have made us imitators of your saints and disciples,
and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.
– that as we have received your Word with joy,
even in the midst of our suffering,
you have revealed to us your ways.
Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.
– that we belong to you and you have shown us your glory.
Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.
– that through our example others have been encouraged and
inspired.
Your presence travels with us: You will give us rest.
Almighty God, ruler of the ends of the earth,
we pray for those to whom you have entrusted
power and responsibility.
We think first of our own country
and those elected to office as Members of Parliament—
those who serve in government,
whether in cabinet office, junior posts
or on backbench committees;
those in opposition with their mandate
to challenge and debate government policies and decisions;
and especially we pray for our Prime Minister
and the leaders of all other parties.
Almighty God,
grant them wisdom,
insight,
patience,
dedication,
integrity,
open-mindedness,
and humility,
that each may be equipped
to honour the trust placed in them.
We pray for those in local government,
entrusted with representing the interests
of local people in their communities,
taking decisions which will directly influence their lives,
wrestling with limited resources and numerous demands.
Give to them the qualities they need to serve faithfully,
staying true to their convictions
yet putting people before party.
We pray for those in authority in other lands,
leaders of nations large and small,
super-powers and tiny states,
shaping the lives of millions or relatively few.
Grant them also the guidance and the gifts they need
to govern wisely,
that they may work for the good of all their people,
and strive to promote justice,
freedom of speech and opportunity,
inner harmony and international peace.
Finally we pray for those nations
affected by an abuse of power,
divided by rival factions,
oppressed by military dictatorships,
exploited by corrupt regimes,
suppressed by totalitarian authorities.
Support those who suffer under such government,
and strengthen those who struggle
to bring justice to those places,
so that the time may come
when truth and justice prevail.
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sending Prayer
Let us pray that the Lord may guide our world.
(pause)
Lord, mighty God,
you lead the world and all humanity to their destiny in you.
Give to the leaders of the world and of our country
a vision of the future that is both imaginative and realistic,
and respectful of human rights and dignity.
Help us to bear witness in everyday life
to the values of the gospel
and to be involved in the work
of freedom, integrity and justice.
May we thus build up a community
that foreshadows our heavenly homeland.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
