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Opening Prayer: God of the tabernacle and temple, buildings can stand only if they are built on a strong foundation. As we study, may our faith be strengthened into an unshakable foundation on which we can build our lives. Amen These two readings discuss Jerusalem at different times in history. In Lamentations, Jerusalem has been destroyed. The people wonder if their faith is lost. they believe the city is lost. Scripture: Lamentations 5:1-22 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. 2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. 3 We have become fatherless, our mothers are widows. 4 We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price. 5 we are weary and find no rest.Those who pursue us are at our heels; 6 We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.7 Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.8 Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to free us from their hands.9 We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert.10 Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger.11 Women have been violated in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah.12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.13 Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood.14 The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.15 Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.16 The crown has fallen from our head.Woe to us, for we have sinned! 17 Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim18 for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.19 You, Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.20 Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? 21 Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old 22 unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure. In verse 1 we notice the use of us and our. Verse 16 & 20 People acknowledge their sin as the source of the situation, and challenge God, demanding to know why God seems absent. Verse 21 communicates despair - that God will have rejected the people once and for all with no opportunity for redemption or renewal Jerusalem is not lost forever, final destruction is decades away. Scripture: Luke 23:26-31 26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” We don’t know who these women are. They might be friends or professional mourners. Jesus tells “them to Weep for yourselves and your city.”
Bruce Springsteen’s song “my City of Ruins” was written to revitalize Asbury Park, New Jersey It has become a song of revitalization for many cities. We have many laments in life. “Some day the Earth will Weep” Trust in the God of hope when we lament over our polluted waters our polluted air, our polluted oceans. We lament over broken families, We lament over events in our lives. No matter if we lament individually or as a group, ALWAYS lament in hope.
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Good morning!
We're so glad you've joined us today!
CHURCH JOYS AND CONCERNS
Birthdays: Gabriel Molla, Butch Ward, Bruce Burnfield, James O’Hara, Bryan Miles, Savannah Hathaway, Gavin Hathaway Anniversary: Dana and Billie Wilson Announcements - Congratulations to Don and Karen Hanes on a new Grandson, Cash Michael Posey born on 2/8/21. Lenten Bible Study: Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament Biblical laments are prayers that can be spoken, sung, painted, or communicated in some other way to God. Lament is a response to a momentous occasion of grief over which we have no control. For Lent this year, we will have a weekly online Bible study centering on prayers of lament, based on the current Horizons Bible Study, Into the Light. Each Wednesday of Lent, starting on February 17, a new lesson will be posted online to the same page that has our Sunday School lessons and worship services. This will be available throughout the day. These will include scripture passages, a lesson, and an opportunity to practice lament. You may share your laments, as you choose. If you have questions, please contact Nellie Baker or Christine Welling. We added Cody Clifford (Lois Miller’s grandson) to our prayer list this week. He was taken by ambulance from the pediatrician’s office to Children’s Hospital with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Please pray for Cody and his family as they learn to live with this new diagnosis. Doug Ward’s infection in his knee is clear doctor wants to wait until May 6th to do a total knee replacement. Roma Grose is home recuperating from her hip replacement. John West’s gallbladder surgery went well. Ed Horne is recuperating from back surgery, please pray this will take care of the pain he has been experiencing in his legs. Remember our continuing prayer list. Roma Grose, Ruth Hampe, Susan Schively, Jimmy Davis, Judy Donaldson, Margo Johnson, Melissa Pedigo, Aaron Blake, Lisa Phillips, Mickey Gubitti, Chip Rogers, Dixie Avoila, Dennis McWreath, Chuck Warlow, Chuck Dicks, Randy Moore, Margaret Knabenshue, Janet Schively, Mary Ann Durila, Patty Nagey, Dr. Craig Fox, Karen Eisiminger, Kelley Gump, Mary Ann McFeeley, Ed Horne, Donna West, June and Keith McGill, Dianna Donaldson, Chuck Montecello, Glenn Miles, Dave Cummings, Doug Ward, Mark Knabenshue, Rick McFeeley, Deron Wood, Susan Alberti, Bryan Dunn, Dana Wilson, Marge McWreath, Tim Knabenshue, Jack Burnfield, Debbie Rugg, Joyce Pastorchalk, Reba Flowers and Jackson Corwin (3 years old). When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns together. Consider your past week, and what joys and concerns you have. These might be for yourself, for someone else, or for a community. If you would like, you can share these in the comments so that we can all pray. The God of the universe invites us to talk with Him at anytime and anywhere about anything and everything (source). When you are ready, pray this prayer below (fromhere), including your requests and those that have been shared.
Good morning!
We're so glad you've joined us today!
When we met in person, we shared our joys and concerns together. Take some time to think on the past week. What were you thankful for? What brought you joy? What is worrying you? If you would like, you can share any of these things in the comments below, and we can all pray for them. When you are ready, you can pray the prayer below (from here), and include your own prayers as well.
Good morning!
We're so happy you've joined us today!
When we met together in person, we shared our joys and concerns with each other. Consider the past week. We certainly have a lot to pray for! If you have joys or concerns you would like to share, please feel free to put them in the comments so that everyone can also pray for your concern.
When you are ready, use the prayer below to begin. It is drawn from the St. Augustine's Confessions.
Good morning!
Happy New Year!
Epiphany, the end of the Christmas season in the church, is this Wednesday. According to the Presbyterian Mission Agency:
"Epiphany is the celebration of God’s manifestation or self-revelation to the world in Jesus Christ. In particular, we celebrate the revelation of God’s promise and purpose to the nations of the world, as the magi came from the East to worship to the Christ child, and God’s covenant of grace is extended to all who believe the good news of Christ Jesus. The symbolism of light is important: not only because of the star that guided the magi, but as it relates to the bright dawning of God’s self-revelation in Christ."
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns together. Take a moment to consider your past week, especially as we have started a new year. What joys and concerns do you have? Who do you need to pray for? Feel free to share your prayer requests with us in the comments. When you are ready, pray the prayer below:
Welcome to our Christmas Eve Service this year.
Luke 2
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.
Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Call to Worship In the midst of our waiting, God sends an invitation. The rough places are made smooth; the soft flutter of angel wings is heard. God keeps the promise; the signs are everywhere. A twinkle of light from a stable, a new bright herald star. Deep in our hearts, we must journey to Bethlehem, and kneel in worship and join our voices with the angelic chorus singing: "Glory to God."
The church is currently closed for worship. Pastor Gary is not able to preach at this time. This Sunday, our worship service was recorded at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. Don Herschell, a member of our session, preached there today. The joys and concerns for this week are written beneath the video.
Scripture Lesson
Luke 17:11-19 Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy
Joys and Concerns
Birthdays
Nov. 23rd Debbie Durila 29th. Jim Gregg, Connor Diesel SYMPATHY: The Family of June Saint The Family of Robert Arnold Added to our prayer chain this week was Pastor Gary and John O’Hara. Doug Ward got home from the hospital on Tuesday under the care of Nurse Marilyn. Dana Wilson will have a biopsy tomorrow the 23rd, please pray for a negative result. Continued prayers for Roma Grose, Ruth Hampe, Dave Burt, Susan Schively, Jimmy Davis, Judy Donaldson, Margo Johnson, Melissa Pedigo, Aaron Blake, Lisa Phillips, Mickey Gubitti, Chip Rogers, Dixie Avoila, Virginia Coffield, Dennis McWreath, Chuck Warlow, Chuck Dicks, Randy Moore, Margaret Knabenshue, Janet Schively, Mary Ann Durila, Patty Nagey, Dr. Craig Fox, Karen Eisiminger, Kelley Gump, Mary Ann McFeeley, Ron Westfall, Ed Horne, DonnaWest, June and Keith McGill, Dianna Donaldson, Jessica Duke, Chuck Montecello, April Hincy, 3 yr. old Hayden Dijean, Glenn Miles, Dave Cummings, Ken Jackson, Doug Ward, Mark Knabenshue, Rick McFeeley, Dick McFeeley, Ricky Amos, Alex Kelley, Deron Wood, Susan Alberti, Bryan Dunn, Beverly Selvaggi and Megan Isley.
Good morning!
Or good afternoon! We're so glad that you've decided to join us.
When we meet together on Sunday mornings, we share our joys and concerns. Think back over your past week to your own joys and concerns. If you would like, you can share them in the comment section below. The prayer below comes from this website. When you are ready, pray the prayer below, including your own prayer requests.
Good morning!
We're so happy you decided to join us today!
As we seem to be in this for the long haul, all of the adult Sunday School teachers will be rotating doing the weekly lesson.
When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns. Take some time to reflect on your week, and the person prayers you have. If you have any you would like to share, you can do that in the comments at the bottom. When you are ready, pray the prayer below.
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