6/28/20 Online Worship

Today is a day that we weren’t sure is going to happen. If you are watching online, you're watching a message that will be a part of the community service later today. We are gathering, outside, as a community for a time of worship. Normally we would be surrounded by carnival rides, but we won’t be this year. We are able to worship, and give thanks to God, even if it isn't as we expect.

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
Sunday: Online Worship & 10:30am Worship only (sleep in after the July 4th Holiday)
We're on an odd schedule for a few weeks, but we'll settle into a normal routine eventually.

​Will you join in singing our first song this morning

Joys & Concerns
It is a joy to gather with the community today for worship (hopefully the rain doesn’t keep us away) and it is a joy to be celebrating the upcoming holiday. 
Please keep in your prayers, the Covid-19 hotspot and our nation as we continue to struggle with this virus. I would ask that you pray for patience as folks are working on vaccines and figuring out responses to what is happening. Pray for wisdom on the part of the folks doing the work, to do the best that they can. Especially pray for strength, encouragement, and healing for those who have gotten sick, continue to be sick, are quarantining, or who are watching over others who are suffering. Also, say a special prayer for those who have died due to this pandemic. 

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.
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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 Time
This week is all about prayer! Take a moment after watching the video to pray on of those types of prayer with your kids. ​

Offering
As we are finishing the first half of this year I invite you to consider what you are giving. This includes what you give to the church, and also the other ways that we give. We are entering into a longer time when we will need to act together as neighbors and as a community to support one another. How can you best give of yourself to make that happen?
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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,
Gracious God, your hospitality has surrounded us and welcomed us, even when we only grudgingly extended hospitality to sisters and brothers who are also your children. May we grow each day in our willingness to be welcoming disciples, not just to those who look like us, talk like us, or think like us. May our offering this morning be received not just in gratitude for your hospitality, but as our way to extend comfort and welcome to those for whom your love is a mystery. We pray in Christ’s holy name. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Ezra 3:10-13
And the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, and they set up the priests in their vestments with trumpets and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals to praise the Lord, as David king of Israel had prescribed. And they called out in praise and in acclamation to the Lord, that he was good, that  His kindness to Israel was forever, and all the people raised a great shout in praise to the Lord for the laying of the foundation of the house of the Lord. And many of the priests and the Levites and the elderly patriarchal chiefs who had seen the first house on its foundation, this house, with their own eyes, were weeping loudly, and many raised their voices with shouts and rejoicing. And the people could not distinguish between the sound of the joyous shouting and the sound of the people's weeping, for the people were raising a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
 
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 in prayer about how you are feeling right now. Remember that God provides and we have hope for what is still to come. Ask God what your part is in the recovery and rebuilding.

​When you are ready, I invite you to join in the 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.