8/2/20 Online Worship

Welcome
We're glad you're joining us in worship today! In this service we see that God is all powerful, and he never gives up on us. Our response is important. We turn to him, and even if we struggle with that, he is always working with us to get there.

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 8/3: 3pm-5pm The Food Pantry will be open in the Fellowship Hall
Tuesday 8/5: 4pm Centering Prayer on live on our Facebook Page
Sunday 8/2: Worship online, and in person at 9am & 10:30am

Watch this week for our August Newsletter and for more information on new opportunities to grow in faith this fall.

​Will you join in singing our first song

Joys & Concerns
For our time of prayer today, keep our churches and all churches in your prayers. We are all looking at how we can continue to grow in faith and reach out to others. It is more challenging to do that than it has been in the past.

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.
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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.
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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's message is a reminder of God's story. After you watch it, ask your kids what they remember most of God's story.

Offering
This is a good time to take a look at how and what you give. Focus on how you give through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness. As we get closer to the end of summer and the beginning of fall, take a look at how you can give.

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,

Gracious God, we bring our gifts to your altar, asking you to dedicate them to do the work of love and compassion in the world. We learned from Jesus, who had compassion on the crowds who gathered to hear him teach, that putting what we have in the hands of Jesus can bring abundance. Multiply these gifts with the love in which they are offered, that they might bring hope to those in need and might glorify and celebrate your love for all your children. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.​

Scripture Reading Zechariah 7:8-14
8The LORD’s word came to Zechariah:
9The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims:
Make just and faithful decisions; show kindness and compassion to each other! 10Don’t oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; don’t plan evil against each other! 11But they refused to pay attention. They turned a cold shoulder and stopped listening.
12They steeled their hearts against hearing the Instruction and the words that the LORD of heavenly forces sent by his spirit through the earlier prophets. As a result, the LORD of heavenly forces became enraged.
13So just as he called and they didn’t listen, when they called, I didn’t listen, says the LORD of heavenly forces. 14I scattered them throughout the nations whom they didn’t know. The land was devastated behind them, with no one leaving or returning. They turned a delightful land into a wasteland.

​​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 Questions
Don't forget that if you can be at worship for communion, we'll have our first Drive Up Communion on Sunday 8/9 at 10am

Where do you struggle to turn towards God?
​What makes that hard?

When you're ready, join in our final song

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.