CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Lakeview P.C. pastors are participating with the Circle of Faith pastors in a joint ‘live-streamed’ service which can be viewed via http://facebook.com/circlestpete at 11:00 a.m. and/or http://circle.faith/youtube at a later time. Circle of Faith also streams a Contemporary service with Communion each week and can be viewed at 10:00 am via http://facebook.com/circlestpete
Scriptures which accompany our Gospel reading from today’s lectionary are
Jonah 3:10-4:11; Philippians 1:21-30 and Psalm 145:1-8
If you do not own a Bible, but would like to so that you can read these accompanying passages please contact
Pastor Lois (302-288-6743) or Pastor Phil (727-776-6440)
Question for Reflection
In today’s scripture reading the landlord pays those who work a little amount of time the same as he pays those who have worked all day. What is your reaction to this? If it seems ‘unfair’ to you, do you resent those for whom God forgives a lot when you have tried to live according to the will of God?
Prelude
Opening Words and Call to Worship
Whether we embrace God’s call in our lives or try to avoid it,
God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Whether we are long-timers or latecomers in the life of faith,
God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Whether our lives in Christ are comfortable or bring hardship,
God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
We praise God forever and ever!
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)
There's a wideness in God's mercy, like the wideness
of the sea;
there's a kindness in God’s justice which is more than liberty.
There
is no place where earth's sorrows are more felt than up in heaven:
there is no place where earth's failings have such gracious judgement given.
For the love of God is broader than the measures of our mind;
and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s word;
and our lives reflect thanksgiving for
the goodness of our Lord.
Call to Confession (Philippians 1:27)
Because we do not always live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, we confess before God and one another our sins and shortcomings. In repentance, let us turn toward God’s grace and mercy.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of abundant goodness, we confess that we want your grace for ourselves but often wish punishment or exclusion on others. We judge the efforts and motives of others, while ignoring the faults of our own. Forgive us, we pray, when we let jealousy overtake us. Forgive us, we pray, when we are petty even in the presence of your generosity. Forgive us, we pray, when we feel slighted by you. May we ask once again for your mercy? Will you help us to be more merciful toward one another? We pray in the name of Christ Jesus, by whose grace we are saved. Amen
Declaration of Forgiveness and Assurance
God extends to us mercy beyond our deserving, grace beyond our ability to earn it. God has granted us the privilege of believing in Christ; therefore we will live as grateful and forgiven people! Thanks be to God!
Sermon “It’s Only Fair” The Rev. Lois Robinson Lehman
Scripture Matthew 20:1-16 CEV
As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said:
Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard. After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day’s work, he sent them off to his vineyard.
About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do. He said he would pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. So they went.
At noon and again about three in the afternoon he returned to the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do.
Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? “Because no one has hired us,” they answered. Then he told them to go work in his vineyard.
That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in charge of the workers to call them in and give them their money. He also told the man to begin with the ones who were hired last. When the workers arrived, the ones who had been hired at five in the afternoon were given a full day’s pay. The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others. But when they were given the same, they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. They said, “The ones who were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we worked in the hot sun all day long!”
The owner answered one of them, “Friend, I didn’t cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on. Take your money now and go! What business is it of yours if I want to pay them the same that I paid you? Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Why should you be jealous, if I want to be generous?” Jesus then said, “So it is. Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is last will be first.”
Music Were It Not For Grace by Larnelle Harris sung by Keisha Prime
Time measured out my days
Life carried me along
In my soul I yearned to follow God
But knew I'd never be so strong
I looked hard at this world
To learn how heaven could be gained
Just to end where I began
Where human effort is all in vain
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing the race
Were it not for grace
So here is all my praise
Expressed with all my heart
Offered to the Friend who took my place
And ran a course I could not start
And when He saw in full
Just how much His love would cost
He still went the final mile between me and heaven
So I would not be lost
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing the race
Were it not for grace
Forever running but losing the race
Were it not for grace
Invitation to Giving -- A Response of Gratitude
At whatever station we may find ourselves in life, we have been given gifts by a generous God. Studies have shown that those who live their lives in gratitude are more likely to find happiness. For what are you grateful this day? How do you plan to demonstrate that gratitude?
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Music Be Thou My Vision-Ancient Irish Poem
1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art--
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2 Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise.
Thou my inheritance now and always.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart.
Great God of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
3 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall.
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Charge
Go forth this day practicing God’s strange generosity toward others, sharing the good news with them, and rejoicing in their well-being, that you, too, may be well.
Benediction
May the generous grace of Christ attend you,
the astounding love of God find you,
and the surprising movement of the Holy Spirit guide you,
everywhere and always. Amen
Postlude-Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing