NEC Sunday Worship – 4 PM on 2020-07-19


Perhaps just a moment of organ music as we begin? ORGAN


In today’s worship we have leadership from Bill, Laura, Marilyn, Merle, Steve and all those worshiping, including: Garnet, Bev, Bob, Betty, Janet, Lisa …

Who have I not included in that list of people who is also attending?


MARILYN reads  Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
O LORD, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.



BILL – leads us in a Prayer of Adoration


Let Us Break Bread Together – Page 8


Let Us Break Bread Together

Let us      break       bread   together  on our  knees,

Let us      break       bread together         on our     knees.

When I fall on my  knees with my face to the rising sun,

Oh,  Lord,       have        mercy      on          me.

Let us drink wine together on our          knees,

Let us drink wine together on our         knees.

When I fall on my  knees with my face to the rising sun,

Oh,  Lord,       have        mercy      on          me.

Let us praise God together on our          knees,

Let us praise God together on our         knees.

When I fall on my  knees with my face to the rising sun,

Oh,  Lord,       have        mercy      on          me.


MERLE reads Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43


13:24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;

13:25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.

13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.

13:27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’

13:28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’

13:29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.

13:30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'”

13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”

13:37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;

13:38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,

13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

13:40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,

13:42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!


STEVE – shares a Prayer of Confession


WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS – Page 10

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS  (Joseph Scriven)

What a friend we have in Je – sus,      All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to car – ry                  Ev’ry – thing to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit;   Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not car – ry             Ev’ry – thing to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations          Is there trouble anywhere

We should never be discouraged        Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful?        Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness         Take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

Are we weak and heavy-la – den;        Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our re – fuge –   Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in Prayer!

In his arms he’ll take and shield thee,    Thou wilt find a solace there.


LAURA reads – Romans 8:12-25

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh —

for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”

it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ–if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God;

for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;

and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.


I Love to Tell the Story- Page 5

SONG – I Love to Tell the Story     by Kate Hankey and Wm G Fischer

I love to tell the story of unseen things above

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love

I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true

It satisfies my longings, as nothing else can do

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat

What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God’s own holy word

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love

I love to tell the story; for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest

When, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song

‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love


LAURA LEADS: Any reflections we have based on these scripture readings?

After hearing this sermon this morning, this commentary seems worth sharing!


STEVE LEADS: Sharing of Joys & Concerns

  • COVID-19 concerns abound – Impact around the world;
  • Wisdom/Considerations for restarting the school year – prayers of strength, support & wisdom for administrators, teachers, students, parents, grandparents, child care providers and more!
  • Travel mercies for Sheri and her family (and Bill, Steve and their families upcoming…)
  • Lisa’s g-grandson, Kevin, is back on American soil

 

Prayer – concluding with The Lord’s Prayer


Blest Be the Tie That Binds – Page 7

Blest be the tie that binds      

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.

 

Before our Father’s throne    

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,

Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,    

Our mutual burdens bear,

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear

 

Blest be the tie that binds      

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.


STEVE – AS WE CLOSE… (in unison:) 

Friends,

Life is short

and there is precious little time

to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us…

So make haste to be kind,

and be swift to love,

because in every act of love and kindness, the God who first formed us,

reforms and transforms us

again and again.

And certainly for these blessings,

all of God’s people say. 

AMEN!