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Today’s guest speaker is Rev. Dave Mason.
All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. Birthdays, anniversaries, the prayer list and announcements can be found at the bottom of this service
Gathering Around the Word
Prelude Music Director Robert Senay ANNOUNCEMENTS CHORAL INTROIT “Gather Us In” CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Just a taste of something wonderful, People: Only a glimpse of something magnificent, Leader: Just a glimmer of something holy in something so ordinary. People: Yet, enough to know we are in the presence of God, Leader: Enough to cause us to stop and stare in awe, People: Enough to stir our hearts in wonder, Leader: Enough to set our feet to dancing People: And to prompt our voices to protest and praise.
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Good morning! We're so glad you decided to join us today! When we meet in person, we take some time to share our joys and concerns. If you have any prayer requests, you can share them with us in the comment section of this post. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started. Dear God, the world seems so dark and foreboding. Where are the signs of hope? What are you calling us to do? Wars, uprisings, displacements, hunger, poverty, and disease continue to claim victims by the millions around the world each year. Our ears do not want to hear their stories and our eyes do not want to see their plight because the suffering and destruction is so massive and cruel. In our hearts and minds there is a desire to help somehow, but the crisis seem so overwhelming that we shake our heads in dismay and we wonder what the point is for us even to attempt to be witnesses for healing and hope in this hellish morass. We beg with the song writer to open our eyes that we may see glimpses of truth you have for us. Help us to follow the path of Jesus, the Suffering Servant. Give us the courage to be willing to walk the path of depression and pain with the victims of injustice here at home as well as abroad. Help us to seek ways to light candles of hope, however small, through our words, our deeds, and our prayers, to encourage our sisters and brothers to hold onto the faith in spite of the pain and suffering they are facing. And help those of us who are among the fortunate ones, who have enough bread to eat, good health, and who live in relative peace, to open our heart to learn from our sisters and brothers who are living lives of grace and forgiveness in the horrid circumstances which surround them. O God, help us to light one candle rather than to curse the darkness. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who knows what being a light in this dark world is all about. Amen. This week's lesson is on Job 42:1-6, 10-17.
Today’s guest speaker is Nellie Baker, CRE.
All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. All joys and concerns that we know, as well as our continuing prayer list is within the Joys and Concerns. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.
Prelude Music Director Robert Senay ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHORAL INTROIT CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: I will praise the Lord at all times. Praise for God is always on my lips. People: My whole being praises the Lord. The poor will hear and be glad. Leader: Glorify the Lord with me and let us praise God’s name together. People: I asked the Lord for help and God answered me, saving me from all that I feared. Leader: The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear God and God saves them. People: Examine and see how good the Lord is. Happy is The person who trusts God. Good morning! We're so happy you decided to join us today! When we meet together in person, we share our joys and concerns before we focus on our Sunday school lesson. Think about your needs and concerns right now and think about those who are struggling with sickness and loss. If you like, you can share them in the comments. Today’s lesson is from the Old Testament book of Job. It is about the times that suffering and tragedy come into our lives and what we should say and think about God during those times. It is also about how best to be a friend to those who are going through such times. The following prayer is from the Presbyterian Church (USA) website: Holy One, you are our comfort and strength in times of sudden disaster, crisis, or chaos. Surround us now with your grace and peace through storm or earthquake, fire or flood. By your Spirit, lift up those who have fallen, sustain those who work to rescue or rebuild, and fill us with the hope of your new creation; through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer. Amen. This week's lesson is on Job 8:1-10, 20-22.
Today’s guest speaker is Rev. Dave Mason.
All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. All joys and concerns that we know, as well as our continuing prayer list is within the Joys and Concerns. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.
Gathering Around the Word
Music Director Robert Senay Prelude ANNOUNCEMENTS CHORAL INTROIT CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Now is the moment of grace People: This is the hour of blessing. Leader: Today is the day of salvation. People: Here is the path to new life. Leader: Already joy is abounding. People: And love is flowing. Leader: For this is the day God is making. People: Let us rejoice and sing. Good morning! We're so glad you chose to join us today! Last week, many of us were not able to meet together because of the winter storm and power outages. This week, consider what you have to be thankful for. If you have prayer requests, joys or concerns, you can share them as a comment to this post. When you are ready, you can get started with this prayer of thanksgiving from Xavier University. For the expanding grandeur of creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations: We give thanks this day. For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons: We give thanks this day. For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements: We give thanks this day. For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression: We give thanks this day. For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared: We give thanks this day. For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom: We give thanks this day. For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose: We give thanks this day. We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds. We give thanks this day. Amen. Today's lesson is on Ezra 7:1-10, 23-26.
Today’s guest speaker is Rev. Renny Domske.
All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. All joys and concerns that we know, as well as our continuing prayer list is within the Joys and Concerns. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.
Gathering Around the Word
Music Director Robert Senay Prelude ANNOUNCEMENTS CHORAL INTROIT CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. People: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on the Lord’s law she meditates day and night. Leader: He or she is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he or she does prosper. People: Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Leader: Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgement, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. People: For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. INVOCATION Dr. Domske Good morning! We're so happy you chose to join us today! We have been meeting in person for a while now, and we would love for you to join us if you feel comfortable doing so. When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns. You can share your prayer requests as a comment to this post. When you are ready to get started, you can use the prayer below. Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts. And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace. This week's lesson is on 2 Samuel 12:1-9, 13-15. The story of King Davie and Bathsheba is one we are familiar with. She is pregnant with David’s child. David tries to persuade her husband to take time to be with his wife, Uriah is so loyal to his King that he refuses. David goes to plan B. He sends Uriah to the front lines where he is killed. David then marries the widow Bathsheba. God is not pleased and sends the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan is fearful that the Lord is sending him on a potentially suicidal mission. He delivers his news in the form of a parable. The story of how a rich man takes unfair advantage of a poor man infuriates David. The punishment that David recommends is the penalty for stealing a sheep recorded in Exodus 22:1. Nathan then says to David,”YOU ARE THE MAN!” Scripture tells us that God holds humans accountable. Sin must be confronted, especially when committed by those in powerful positions. David took a wife who was not his to take. David offered no excuse, he confessed. Confession allows the heart to once again be fully devoted to the Lord. The path to forgiveness for David and for us can be found in 1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. David’s story warns us that sins have consequences in others’ lives. The baby died. It also warns us that: Sins we ignore instead of confess harden our hearts to other sins, making us complicit in the wickedness of others. Prayer Father, give us the boldness to speak truth to power and the humility to recognize our need for accountability. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen Thought to Remember Confess your sins and turn to the Lord. Next week's lesson will be on Ezra 7:1-10, 23-26.
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