Perhaps a moment of music as we begin? VIOLIN
In today’s worship we have leadership from Bill, Laura, Marilyn, Merle, Sheri, Steve and all those worshiping today, including: Garnet, Bev, Bob, Betty, Janet, Lisa, Betsy …
Anyone I missed who is also attending?
MERLE reads Psalm 26:1-8
26:1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
26:2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.
26:3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
26:4 I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
26:5 I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
26:6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O LORD,
26:7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
26:8 O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
BILL – 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 Jeremiah 15:15-21
O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult.
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.
Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.
And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD.
I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
SHERI – 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
STEVE reads – Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
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.
LAURA LEADS: Any reflections we have based on these scripture readings?
STEVE SHARES THIS AUDIO IF WE HAVE AN EXTRA COUPLE MINUTES
STEVE LEADS: Sharing of Joys & Concerns
- Trio of pandemics (COVID-19, racial injustice, income inequality);
- Wisdom/Considerations for restarting the school year;
- Gulf Coast storms of Marco and Laura – all impacted including family of Sheri/Kathy
- HEALTH CONCERNS:
- for Janet and her medical team working to stop the excruciating pain in her back;
- for Betty, who fell and fractured her spine, now rehabbing at The Anderson;
- JOYS:
- in the darkness around the Gulf Coast storms of Marco and Laura comes some light – MWPC’s Sumpter family had a surprise evacuation visit from son Matt whose family lives in N.O.!
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.