Welcome to Dinner Church at Treehouse! We are thrilled you are here. Tonight’s worship mirrors a form of worship known by the earliest Christians. If it is new to you, not to worry! We will guide you through everything. Take a moment in prayer to settle yourself and recognize the presence of God already at your table. Then relax and enjoy this night!
6:15 PM – Welcome, Introductions and Explanation of the Evening
Welcoming Litany…
To long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to the faith.
We welcome you
To all who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts or do not believe.
We welcome you
To people of every age and size, color and culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, and marital status, ability, disability, and challenge.
We welcome you
To believers, non-believers, questioners, and questioning believers.
This is a place where you are welcome to: celebrate and struggle, rejoice and recover.
AMEN
Candle Lighting
There once was a man who said and did such amazing things,
that people followed him wherever he went.
They were curious about who he was,
and why their hearts felt different when they were near him.
One day, when they asked him, he said:
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
So tonight, as we gather at this table,
we light this candle—the light of Christ before us—
a sign that He is present here among us,
and that His light remains with us, now and always.
Gathering Prayer
The Lord be with you!
And also with you.
Let us pray…
Opening Song – Come to Me All Pilgrims thirsty
“Come to me, all pilgrims thirsty;
drink the water I will give.
If you knew what gift I offer,
you would come to me and live.”
Jesus, ever flowing fountain,
give us water from your well.
In the gracious gift you offer
there is joy no tongue can tell.
“Come to me, all trav’lers weary;
come that I may give you rest.
Drink the cup of life I offer;
at this table be my guest.”
Jesus, ever flowing fountain,
give us water from your well.
In the gracious gift you offer
there is joy no tongue can tell.
“Come to me, believers burdened;
find refreshment in this place.
Come, receive the gift I offer,
turn to me and seek my face.”
Jesus, ever flowing fountain,
give us water from your well.
In the gracious gift you offer
there is joy no tongue can tell.
Sharing of the Bread
The greatest promise we have of God’s mercy and forgiveness is found in this meal. Here God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
Know that EVERYONE is welcome at this table.
In the night in which Jesus was betrayed, he gathered together with his friends for dinner. And on that night, he took the bread, broke it, and gave it to his friends saying, “Take and eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
And so tonight, we do the same. We take bread, broken for us, and share it with one another with those sacred words, “The body of Christ given for you.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Bread is passed to your neighbor, saying: “The body of Christ given for you.”
Communion Song – Let Us Break Bread Together
Let us break bread together on our knees;
let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees,
with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Post-Bread Blessing
Be strengthened this night by the presence of Christ made known to you in the bread and in one another. Amen.
We’ll spend the first part of our meal in conversation hearing about our week. You are invited to share stories from your highs and lows from the week as well as where you saw Jesus at work in our world.
6:45 PM – Reading – Luke 5:27-32
They were having their evening meal. The devil had already tempted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. He had urged Judas to hand Jesus over to his enemies. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything under his power. He also knew he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the meal and took off his outer clothes. He wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a large bowl. Then he began to wash his disciples’ feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes. Then he returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You are right. That is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you.
Word of God Word of Life.
Thanks Be to God
Lord’s Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us, remembering that In this prayer God sees and hears all that our hearts need and long for.
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Sharing the Cup
When the dinner had ended that night, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to all saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this as often as you drink in remembrance of me.”
And so tonight, we take the cup of wine, and we drink together, “The blood of Christ shed for you.”
Wine/Juice is passed to your neighbor, saying: “The blood of Christ shed for you.”
Communion Song
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees,
with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Post-Wine Blessing
Now that you have tasted the goodness of God in bread and wine, let us be the body of Christ, blessed and broken for the whole world. Amen.
7:00 PM – Table Discussions: Service Organization Panel
Tonight, we are honored to be joined by several Service Organizations as we come together to explore what it means to wash one another’s feet in our community and beyond.
Connie & Adam – Free Food Friday – Friends Congregational & Peace
Chuck – Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley
Maggie – ELCA – Young Adults in Global Mission
Andy – Bryan College Station Habitat for Humanity
Closing Song – Canticle of the Turning
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
We are the salt of the earth
Called to let the people see
The love of God in you and me
We are the light of the world
Not to be hidden but be seen
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
We are the hands of Christ
Reaching out to those in need
The face of God for all to see
We are the spirit of hope
We are the voice of peace
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
So let your love shine on
Let it shine for all to see
Go make a diff’rence in the world
And the Spirit of Christ
Will be with us as we go
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Go make a diff’rence
We can make a diff’rence
Go make a diff’rence in the world
Steve Angrisano, Tom Tomaszek. CCLI Song #2945945 © 1997 spiritandsong.com
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
7:45 – Blessing and Sending
The God of righteousness,
who gives justice to the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry,
who sets the prisoners free,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God. And Weee Will!