Life is a Test, At Least At Times It Seems That's the Case

All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.

Hymn: Wonderful Words of Life

Call to Worship
Here we are Lord, your creatures standing before you. Gathered together to praise you and worship you. Help us to remember that each day is a blessing and gift from you. This is your day, Father, and we thank you for all that it shares with us. Be with us in the midst of these uncertain times that bring many questions. Hold us close to you each day as we journey through life together. 

Prayer of Confession
Dear God in heaven, we come this Sabbath morning bringing both our joys and concerns for each of us and this world that seems to be in such chaos. 
We confess to you, Oh God, the reality of our lives, knowing that we are loved and forgiven already. We confess that when we look honestly at our lives that we are your disciples, but not always the most committed ones. We are not centered in our lives and we listening to the voices of the world and are misled into trying to become something we are not. We do our best to try and please you in our actions in order to receive your love and we already have it. Forgive us and so fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may truly believe in your love and grace, and open our lives to you. We ask all those things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Time of Personal Reflection
 
Assurance of Pardon
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Jesus Christ, there is new life.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
 
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, dead and buried.
      On the third day he arose from the dead.
      He ascended into heaven
      and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
Children's Sermon
 
Hymn: Till the Storm Passes By
 
Prayer of Illumination
 
Scripture Lesson
​Genesis 22:1-19

Abraham Tested
​22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

Sermon: Life is a Test, At Least At Times It Seems That's the Case
 
Hymn: Reach Out to Jesus
​
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give God thanks and praise
 
Church Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or concern to share that is not listed below, and you feel comfortable doing so, you may share it in the comments.

• ​Donna has returned to the hospital
• Mike is continuing to do well at home, as well as Debbie while she cares for him
• Ron's surgery has been postponed again
• Pray for all of us as we begin the process of reopening the physical church

Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
 
Charge and Benediction
​
Hymn:​ Let There Be Peace on Earth

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As we transition to meeting in person, the online service will still be available. It will be recorded during Sunday morning worship, and posted here later in the afternoon. As this is a learning process, we are not sure exactly when it will be available during the afternoon.

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July Birthdays

  1  Ed Horne
  2  Michael Neal
  4  Kathy Gibson
  6  Bob Moore, Donna West
  8  Rosemary Cole
10  Allen Bershok
11. Sadie Molla
13  Caitlen Marton, Nelson Huffman
16  Sky Waltz
18  Karen Blackhurst
19  Kenneth Phillips
20  Marlene Huffman
22  Evelyn Herschell, Hope Diedier, 
      Holly Hore, Tom Waltz  
23  Ben Hathaway 
26  Betty Fisher, Colston Phillips 
27  Bill Stough, Scooter Liggett
28  Victoria Bershok
29  Ken Jackson

July Anniversaries

  3  Dave and Ina Henderson
  6  April and Tom Waltz 
10  Jean and Ron Westfall

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As we continue to have physical distance, take some time to reach out to friends, loved ones, or church family. Send a card or a text message, or make a phone call. If you need anything during this time, please contact Pastor Gary or a session member. If you have a prayer request for the prayer chain, please contact Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry, please contact Becky Phillips.