Luke 15:1-3a, Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable:

"There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'

So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God!

Leaving home is much more than an historical event bound to time and place. It is a denial of the spiritual reality that I belong to God with every part of my being, that God holds me safe in an eternal embrace, that I am indeed carved in the palms of Gods hands and hidden in their shadows…Leaving home is living as though I do not yet have a home and must look far and wide to find one.

There is something in us humans that keeps us clinging to our sins and prevents us from letting God erase our past and offer us a completely new beginning. Sometimes it even seems as though I want to prove to God that my darkness is too great to overcome. While God wants to restore me to the full dignity of sonship, I keep insisting that I will settle for being a hired servant. But do I truly want to be restored to the full responsibility of the son? Do I truly want to be so totally forgiven that a completely new way of living becomes possible?...Receiving forgiveness requires a total willingness to let God be God and do all the healing, restoring, and renewing. As long as I want to do even a part of that myself, I end up with partial solutions, such as becoming a hired servant.

Responsive Prayer of Confession Leader: People: God, there are times when we lose our way on the journey of life. Days when we simply get confused which way we should go and make a poor choice.

Leader: People: God there are times when we intentionally leave the Way you would have us follow. Days when we turn our back on the wisdom you offer. Days when we demand our entitlement and use it for our own selfish pleasures and purposes.

Leader: People: God, there are times when find ourselves hiding in a corner somewhere. Days when we are convinced that we are not worth finding. Days when we wonder why you would look for us.

Leader: People: God, for all the times we get lost, when we take the wrong turn in life, Forgive us and draw us back to The Way.

Assurance of Pardon Leader: People: The Psalmist writes Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven. The Gospel reminds us that God is always happy to find the lost, that God is always welcoming us back home with open arms. We are forgiven and loved. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Majesty Smith / Garrard Here I am, humbled by your majesty, Covered by your grace so free. Here I am, knowing Im the sinful one Covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Now Ive found The greatest love of all is mine Since you laid down your life, The greatest sacrifice. Majesty, majesty; Your grace has found me just as I am: Empty handed, but alive in your hands.

Here I am, humbled by the love that you give, Forgiven so that I can forgive. Here I stand, knowing that Im your desire, Sanctified by glory and fire.

Now Ive found The greatest love of all is mine Since you laid down your life, The greatest sacrifice. Majesty, majesty; Your grace has found me just as I am: Empty handed, but alive in your hands.

Majesty, majesty; Your grace has found me just as I am: Empty handed, but alive in your hands. Majesty, majesty; Forever I am changed by your love, In the presence of your majesty, In the presence of your majesty, Majesty. © 2003 Curious? Music UK CCLI #67736

Often we think about lostness in terms of actions that are quite visible, even spectacular…The lostness of the older son, however, is much harder to identify. After all, he did all the right things…But when confronted by his fathers joy at the return of his younger brother, a dark power erupts in him and boils to the surface. Suddenly, there becomes glaringly visible a resentful, proud, unkind, selfish person, one that had remained deeply hidden, even though it had been growing stronger and more powerful over the years.

Responsive Prayer Leader: People: Holy One, The space between us is too great– this agonizing expanse between you and us:

Leader: People: The rift we have created by demanding our share. The distance we have put between us as we flee to a far country.

Leader: People: The resentment we hold when things dont seem fair. Our refusal to join your gracious party.

Leader: People: Leader: People: Forgive each selfish request each step away each bitter thought each joyless rejection.

Leader: People: Forgive us and run toward us with open arms. Amen.

Draw Me Close Kelly Carpenter Draw me close to You, never let me go I lay it all down again To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire, no one else will do 'Cause nothing else could take Your place To feel the warmth of Your embrace Help me find the way, bring me back to You. Chorus You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed; You're all I want. Help me know You are near.

Draw me close to You, never let me go I lay it all down again To hear You say that I'm Your friend You are my desire, no one else will do 'Cause nothing else could take Your place To feel the warmth of Your embrace Help me find the way, bring me back to You.

Chorus You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed; You're all I want. Help me know You are near. You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed; You're all I want. Help me know You are near, Help me know You are near, Help me know You are near. © 1994 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing CCLI #67736

As soon as I recognized the difference between the two hands of the father, a new world of meaning opened up to me. The Father is not simply a great patriarch. He is mother as well as father. He touches the son with a masculine hand and a feminine hand. He is mother as well as father. He holds, and she caresses. He confirms and she consoles. He is, indeed, God, in whom both manhood and womanhood, fatherhood and motherhood, are fully present. That gentle caressing right hand echoes for me the words of the prophet Isaiah: Can a woman forget the baby at the breast, feel no pity for the child she has borne? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you. Look, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand.