6/14/20 Online Worsip

We are beginning the journey back into the Sanctuary for worship. Starting next Sunday (6/21) we will be back inside. We will still be having two services, one at 9am, and the other at 10:30am. We will also continue to do online services as well. I’m also asking that you continue to wear masks while we worship together. I am very glad that we are taking this next step.

Small groups can start, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. And at our first Sunday back we will celebrate communion. You can find more information by clicking: Back in the Sanctuary!

You can follow along in this bulletin for the service. If you are on a computer, phone, or other mobile device, then you can click on each of the videos as they come up. If you  have a smart tv or streaming device connected to your tv, go to our YouTube channel and then go to playlists. Every Sunday We’ll have a new playlist set up with prayers, songs, and a message. As you come to each of those in the service you can play that video. With a playlist, as soon as one finishes, the next video starts so that all you have to do is hit pause until you’re ready to play again.

​My prayer is that even in this format, we can worship together, and still see God at work.

Peace,
Pastor John

​The video that comes next is a welcome, has a few announcements, and an opening prayer.

Announcements
Monday: Food Pantry is open from 3pm-5pm
Tuesday: Centering Prayer at 4pm on our church Facebook Page

Will you join us in our first song today, 

Joys & Concerns
Take a moment to share your joys and concerns. Check the bottom of this devotion each week for new ones. If you have any that you would like to add, please contact Pastor John.

As we move into Phase 2 and things begin to open back up more completely, we need to keep each other in prayer, that we support and encourage one another as we navigate these trying times.

​We will continue to share our joys and concerns, as well as our prayer requests. Simply follow the link below and fill out the form. If you need to add more, you can fill the form out again. These will be shared with the congregation via email on Monday morning.
Share a joy, concern, and/or prayer request

Prayer
Start the next video, and enter into a time of prayer.
When directed, take a few moments of silent prayer. Please lift up our community as we continue in our cancellations, shut downs, and the challenges they bring. There will be a pastoral prayer, then you are invited to join in the Lord's Prayer which is below.
​
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen

​Children’s Time
Take a look at who Josiah is. He was a great king who worked hard to get God’s people to follow God again. And he started doing this when he was a kid! This is a great reminder for our kids that they can still have a big impact, and adults it’s a reminder that our kids can teach us things.

Offering & Scripture
One of the gifts that we can give, is the gift of listening and changing. Jesus calls on us to listen as others tell us stories of who they are and what has taken place in their lives. We can give that gift of listening and changing in response.

Thank you for your continued offerings to the church, and to the many other places around us that you’ve been giving of your time and your money. Remember that you can mail in your offerings, or you can give online. Your gifts and commitment to your faith help us reach out and tell Jesus’ story in so many different ways.  Will you pray with me,

Let us pray,
Almighty God, we offer our gifts in gratitude this morning – not just for what you do in our lives, but for who you are in our lives. You are with us in the person of the Father, the God above us. You come to meet us as the Son, as God beside us. You empower us to do the work of kingdom-building by the Holy Spirit, God within us, providing strength and boldness that we would never find on our own. May these gifts be tools that make the transformation of the world a reality. We pray in the name of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

SCRIPTURE READING  Ezra 1:1-4
1In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia’s rule, to fulfill the LORD’s word spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Persia’s King Cyrus. The king issued a proclamation throughout his kingdom (it was also in writing) that stated: 2Persia’s King Cyrus says: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has commanded me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3If there are any of you who are from his people, may their God be with them! They may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4And as for all those who remain in the various places where they are living, let the people of those places supply them with silver and gold, and with goods and livestock, together with spontaneous gifts for God’s house in Jerusalem.

Liturgist: This is the word of God, for the people of God
Congregations’ Response: Thanks be to God!

​Will you join in singing our next song

Reflection
Take a few moments to reflect on where we've been in this message, and on the last couple of weeks and the things that have been going on.
What do we need to hold onto?
What do we need to change?
​What is good every once in a while?

When you're finished, join in singing our final song for today.

Benediction
Read this prayer from the end of Jude

To the one who is able to protect you from falling,
and to present you blameless and rejoicing before his glorious presence,
to the only God our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
belong glory, majesty, power, and authority,
before all time, now and forever. Amen.