6/7/20 Online Worship

Welcome
I hope that your start of Summer has been going well! The heat is here and it is feeling more like it. My prayer for you is that together we can have a good Summer, even if different than others we have experienced in the past.

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
Tuesday: Centering Prayer at 4pm on our church Facebook Page
Wednesday: 10:30am Orpha Circle at Bristol Manor. Contact Zoe Tolliver for more info

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.

This has been a hard week for our nation. Lift up all those that have been a part of the protests: protesters, law enforcement, government officials, first responders, those of us at home watching, and so many others. Now is a time we need to be in prayer for everyone.​

​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 Message
Today is a quick review of Pentecost and what that means for us. The important part is to be able to remind our kids (and us) that Jesus never leaves us alone, and that he sends the Holy Spirit to help

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   Mark 9:33-40
33They entered Capernaum. When they had come into a house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?” 34They didn’t respond, since on the way they had been debating with each other about who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.” 36Jesus reached for a little child, placed him among the Twelve, and embraced him. Then he said, 37“Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me isn’t actually welcoming me but rather the one who sent me.”
38John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” 39Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him. No one who does powerful acts in my name can quickly turn around and curse me. 40Whoever isn’t against us is for us.

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 is most challenging about what you've been seeing?
Don't go with just your first response either. 

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.