Sunday, August 23rd

Welcome
We are glad to join you in worship today! In this service we see people face big problems and big sins, that they may not even have known they committed, or were responsible for. But we watch as they own it, seek forgiveness, and move beyond it. Its not easy, but it is necessary work.

​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 8/18: 4pm Centering Prayer on live on our Facebook Page
Sunday 8/23: Worship online, and in person at 9am & 10:30am
Don't forget to order your masks!

Joys & Concerns
Today we're going to keep our kids and schools in our prayers. In the video we have a special prayer for them today.

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 comes from Andrea, and she wants to know if you have your own special blanket?

Offering
We're at that crazy time of year when everything is changing, but as we're getting back into new/normal habits. What kind of giving habits can you get into?

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,

God of all creation, as we offer our gifts to you this day, we remember the questions Jesus put to his disciples, “Who do people say that I am? But who so you say that I am?” We pray that we might be ready to answer with our lips, but also with our lives and with our gifts: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” In his holy name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 10:1-8
1I, Paul, make a personal request to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m shy when I’m with you, but I’m bossy when I’m away from you! 2I beg you that when I’m with you in person, I won’t have to boss you around. I’m afraid that I may have to use that kind of behavior with those people who think we live by human standards. 3Although we live in the world, we don’t fight our battles with human methods. 4Our weapons that we fight with aren’t human, but instead they are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They destroy arguments, 5and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6Once your obedience is complete, we are ready to punish any disobedience.
7Look at what is right in front of you! If anyone is sure about belonging to Christ, that person should think again. We belong to Christ just like that person. 8Even if I went on to brag about our authority, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it. The Lord gave us that authority to build you up and not to destroy you.

Liturgist: This is the word of God, for the people of God
Congregations’ Response: Thanks be to God!
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Will you join in singing our next song

Reflection Questions
Where do you get most of your wandering thoughts or distractions?
Where do you need help being obedient and not focusing on perfection?

When you're ready, join in our final song

Benediction
Read this prayer from the end of Jude
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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.