Perhaps just a moment of cello as we begin?
In today’s worship we have leadership from Laura, Marilyn, Merle, Sheri Steve and all those worshiping today, including: Garnet, Bev, Bob, Betty, Janet, Lisa …
Who have I not included in that list of people who is also attending?
MERLE reads Psalm 128
128:1 Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways.
128:2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
128:4 Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
128:5 The LORD bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
128:6 May you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
SHERI – leads us in a Prayer of Adoration
I am weak, but Thou art strong, Jesus, keep me from all wrong
I’ll be satisfied as long….. as I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Through this world of toils and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares
Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be
When my feeble life is o’er, time for me will be no more
then guide me gently, safely o’er, to Thy shore, dear Lord, to Thy shore
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be
MARILYN reads Romans 8:26-39
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.
And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
STEVE – shares a Prayer of Confession
I was sinking deep in sin Far from that peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within Sinking to rise no more
But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me Now safe am I
Love lifted me love lifted me
When nothing else could help love lifted me
Love lifted me love lifted me
When nothing else could help love lifted me
All my heart to Him I give, Ever to him I’ll cling
In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing
Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs
Faithful loving service too To Him be—longs
Love lifted me love lifted me
When nothing else could help love lifted me
Love lifted me love lifted me
When nothing else could help love lifted me
Souls in danger look above Jesus completely saves
He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves
He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will o-bey
He your Savior wants to be – Be saved today.
Love lifted me love lifted me
When nothing else could help love lifted me
Love lifted me love lifted me
When nothing else could help love lifted me
LAURA reads – Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;
it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;
on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;
when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.”
And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
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
STEVE LEADS: Any reflections we have based on these scripture readings?
STEVE LEADS: Sharing of Joys & Concerns
- Trio of pandemics (COVID-19, racial injustice, income inequality);
- Wisdom/Considerations for restarting the school year;
Prayer – concluding with The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus loves me, this I know For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong They are weak, but He is strong
REFRAIN
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so
Jesus loves me, this I know As He loved so long ago
Taking children on His knee, Saying, “Let them come to Me.”
REFRAIN
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so