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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. 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
Introit: We Have Come Into His House Choir ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: What commandment is first of all? People: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Leader: What is the second great commandment? People: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Leader: Praise the Lord! People: The Lord's name be praised.
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Good morning! We're so glad you decided to join us today! When we meet together in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other before we focus on our Sunday school lesson. Right now think about your needs and all the things for which you are thankful. If you like, you can share them in the comments. This quarter we have been looking at scriptures that show how people have praised God or that call us to praise God. The psalms are probably the ultimate example of the latter. The lesson for today includes two psalms that call God’s people to praise. The following prayer was written by Jeffrey A. Nelson and posted on the Philosophy Over Coffee website. When we offer our praise, what don’t you already know? What haven’t you already heard? What poetry or prose would be new or impressive or exceptional to you? What music has not yet moved upward and outward into the vastness of your being? We praise from within white walls, polished oak, and stained glass; We praise alongside lakes, on beaches, through treetops and from grassy fields. We remind you of what you’ve done, are doing, and will do as if you aren’t already aware; we beautify our language— speaking of “worth” and offering flattery to the Source of Life as if it will gain us an extraordinary audience. These acts of naming sacred ground and of offering our best words are as much for us as it is for you. We struggle to describe what you are doing so that it makes more sense to us. We name your deeds and attributes so that we may even begin to understand your being and your doing. We have received breath, and by that same breath, we strive to understand its Giver. Transform our praise. Make it more than feeble attempts at divine manipulation or rote obligation. Spirit away ambitions that are selfish or self-aware. By what is nameless and indescribable, move us beyond words and notes to illuminating connection and inner renovation. It is in thanksgiving for your actions and in craving your continued presence that we praise. What we offer, you already know and have already heard. We seek your movement, and to move as you move. This week's lesson is on Psalm 149:1-5 and Psalm 150.
Introduction and lesson context The unexpected beauty of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” moved many in the crowd above to tears. Whether they knew it or not, they were hearing the repetition of “Praise the Lord!” It is an oft-repeated phrase in the psalms and a fitting conclusion to the book of Psalms. The Sunday school lesson for today features the last two psalms in the book, which call on God’s people to “Praise the Lord!” In Hebrew, the phrase is a combination of two words “hallelu” (meaning to praise) and a shortened form of the word for Yahweh, “jah”. Earlier lessons have reviewed the five divisions of “books” that some scholars see within the book of Psalms. They include Psalm 1-41, which focuses on the Davidic dynasty; Psalm 42-72, which focuses on the flourishing of that dynasty; Psalm 73-89, which focuses on the failure of the dynasty; Psalm 90-106, which focuses on the fact that God is ultimately the king and that God reigns; and Psalm 107-150, which celebrates the fact that, in that role, God will one day make all things right. 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
Prelude ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times; God's praise shall continually be in my mouth. People: My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Leader: O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God's name together. People: I sought the Lord, who answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Leader: O taste and see that the Lord is good; People: Happy are those who take refuge in God. INVOCATION Rev. Mason Good morning! We're so glad you decided to join us today! When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns together. If you have any you would like to share, you can add them in the comments. This week's lesson is Psalm 84.
Lesson Context Psalm 84 is in Book III of the Psalter. A total of 11 Psalms are written "of the Sons of Korah." Our book says this could mean either that the songs were written by those descendants of Korah, or that the songs were written for them. The song may have been written for a pilgrimage to the temple, maybe for a new-year festival. However, this is based on Psalm 84:5, and is quite speculative. Today’s guest speaker is Pat Cook. 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
Prelude Lord, everywhere we look we see the imprint of your creative love. The wondrous works of nature show your majesty. As we gather today to celebrate your love and creation, keep us mindful that we are part of that created order, meant to be stewards and not destroyers. Prepare us to work for you in ministries of peace and justice. AMEN. Introit Choir ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP: L: Power and might and majesty belong to God who created and is creating. P: Thanks be to God for God’s mighty wonders. L: Like the image of the powerful wind, and heavens as a garment, God’s majesty is revealed in all creation. P: We look around us at the wonders and marvel and the infinite variety and beauty which God has created. L: Who are we, that God should pay attention to us? P: We are God’s beloved children, the stewards whom God has selected to care for God’s world. AMEN. Good morning! We're so happy you're joining us today! When we meet together, we share our joys and concerns. Take some time to consider your last week. What worries did you have? What caused you joy? If you have any prayer requests, you can add them as a comment to this post. When you are ready, you can get started with this prayer (source): Father, we praise You for the delicate way You powerfully align our lives to Your creation. Thank You for the waters and mountains that remind us of You. Forgive us for overlooking Your presence in every aspect of our lives, and bless us to notice and give glory to You, for You are our healer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. This week's lesson is on Psalm 107:1-9, 39-43.
Today’s guest speaker is C.R.E. Jack Snodgrass. 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
Prelude Introit Choir ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP: Responsive Reading From Psalm 40: 3-5 3 He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them,They are more than can be numbered PRAYER OF INVOCATION Good morning! We're so glad you are joining us today! When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns together. Take some time to consider your past week, and any prayer requests you might have. If you have anything you would like us to pray for, you can add it as a comment to this post. When you are ready, get started with a word of prayer (source): Heavenly Father, we believe and trust your Word, we want to grow in you more each day and to understand your promises for us. We commit our time together to you and ask that you heal and restore us as we dive into your Word. We want a deeper faith. We want to meet with you and know you better. So today, we say "yes" to what you want to show us as we read Scripture. Amen. This week's lesson is on Psalm 9:1-12.
Today’s guest speaker is 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
Prelude Introit Choir ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: We gather as a community of compassion and hope. People: Jesus calls us to care for each other tenderly and willingly. Leader: By this caring and sharing we will be known as followers of Jesus. People: By our example others may be led to lives of peace. Leader: Lord, open our hearts and minds this day to your word. People: Teach us to serve you with all our gifts and talents. Amen. Good morning! We're so glad you've decided to join us today! When we meet together in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other before we focus on our Sunday school lesson. Think about your needs and concerns right now, and if you like, you can share them in the comments. Today’s lesson is Psalm 100. It is a brief psalm that calls the earth all its people to offer God unbridled worship, praise and thanksgiving for God’s faithful and unending care and love. Our Sunday school and church is now open so that we can join to worship God, to learn about God’s word and to encourage each other in person. We are grateful to be back together, but we continue to pray for those who not yet able to participate in person or who do not yet feel comfortable participating in person. We are glad that those who cannot be with us physically are able to learn and worship with us here online. The following prayer was written by Deb Wolf and posted on her website, “Counting My Blessings at the Intersection of Faith and Life.” More of her prayers and blog posts can be found at her site, How to Be Prepared & Stand Strong When It's Hard to Follow Jesus - CMB. Let’s pray together. Father, we thank You and praise You. You alone are God. You are the Creator of everything. We lift Your name high and worship Your holy name. Help us to serve You with joy. Help us to love You with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Help us to love ourselves as You love us. Help us to love others as we love ourselves. Help us to live humbly as we follow You, our Shepherd. You are good and full of mercy. You are faithful always. Your grace and love cover each generation with forgiveness and hope. You are Lord of all. You are Father, Son, and Spirit…. forever and ever and always. We worship You. We praise You. Amen. This week's lesson is on Psalm 100.
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