Perhaps a moment of music as we begin? ORGAN
We’ll spotlight video for those participating in today’s worship: Bill, Laura, Marilyn, Sheri, Steve L. plus Steve V. and all NEC residents in the Theater Room worshiping today, including: Garnet, Bev, Bob, Betty, Janet, Lisa, Fern H., Anne, Betsy, Mike, …
MARILYN reads Psalm 95:1-7a
O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
SHERI – leads us in a Prayer of Adoration
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
Each little flow’r that opens, each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colors, he made their tiny wings.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
The purple-headed mountains, The river running by,
The sunset and the morning That brightens up the sky.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
LAURA READS – Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?
And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’
Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
LAURA – shares a Prayer of Confession
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed
Through many dangers toils and snares, I have already come
Tis grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home
The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life en – dures
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first be – gun
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see
BILL reads – Ephesians 1:15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,
so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
There shall be show-ers of bless-ing, This is the prom-ise of love,
There shall be sea-sons re-fresh-ing, Sent from the Sav-ior a-bove,
Show-ers of bless-ing, Show-ers of Bless-ing we need,
Mer-cy drops round us are fall-ing, But for the show-ers we plead.
There shall be show-ers of bless-ing, Pre-cious re-viv-ing a-gain,
O-ver the hills and the val-leys, Sound of a-bun-dance of rain.
Show-ers of bless-ing, Show-ers of Bless-ing we need,
Mer-cy drops round us are fall-ing, But for the show-ers we plead.
There shall be show-ers of bless-ing, Send them up-on us, O Lord,
Grant to us now a re-fresh-ing, Come, and now hon-or thy Word.
Show-ers of bless-ing, Show-ers of Bless-ing we need,
Mer-cy drops round us are fall-ing, But for the show-ers we plead.
There shall be show-ers of bless-ing, Oh, that to-day they might fall,
Now as to God we’re con-fess-ing, Now as on Je-sus we call!
Show-ers of bless-ing, Show-ers of Bless-ing we need,
Mer-cy drops round us are fall-ing, But for the show-ers we plead.
STEVE LEADS: Any reflections we want to share based on these scripture readings, songs and prayers?
STEVE LEADS: Sharing of Joys & Concerns
- Confluence of pandemics (COVID-19, racial injustice, income inequality, climate);
- CONCERNS:
- Garnet – update on Joe?
- OTHER UPDATES?
- OTHER CONCERNS?
- JOYS:
- OTHER JOYS?
Prayer – concluding with The Lord’s Prayer
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
REPEAT
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.