7/26/20 Online Worship

Welcome
We're glad to join you in worship today. Today we're reminded that God promises us a lot, but for that to work we have to be different. Our being different is what enables us to see what God is doing.

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 7/28: 4pm Centering Prayer on live on our Facebook Page
Wednesday 7/29: 6:30pm Church Council meeting in the Fellowship Hall
Sunday 8/2: Worship online, and in person at 9am & 10:30am

Will you join in singing our first song

Joys & Concerns
For our time of prayer today, keep the folks who are making decisions for our schools, communities, churches, and other things that involve large numbers of people. They are in a hard place, and need our prayers and support.

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'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
As we look at the ways we can give we'll be looking at new ways that we can be engaged in our church life. Not all of the details are worked out yet, but there will be opportunities for small groups, service, and kids programs. Over the next couple of weeks, ask yourself how you can give as either a participant or a leader in one of these opportunities.

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 grace and mercy: we offer our gifts to you this day, knowing that is your love and presence that have sustained us through all our difficult days. We know there have been days when fear and anxiety have gotten the better of us, and we have needed the reminder Paul gave in the Epistle to the Romans, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Help us to live as Christ calls us, to share what we have and show love and compassion, as Christ taught us. We boldly pray, in the name of Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

Scripture Reading Zechariah 1:1-6
1In the eighth month in the second year of Darius, the LORD’s word came to Zechariah the prophet, Berechiah’s son and Iddo’s grandson:
2The LORD was terribly angry with your ancestors.
3But you must say to the people, The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: Return to me, says the LORD of heavenly forces, and I will return to you, says the LORD of heavenly forces.
4Don’t be like your ancestors to whom the former prophets preached: The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds.
But they didn’t listen; they didn’t draw near to me.
5So where are your ancestors?
Do the prophets live forever?
6In fact, didn’t my words and laws, which I gave to my servants, the prophets,
pursue your ancestors?
And then the people changed their hearts, and they said, The LORD of heavenly forces has treated us according to what we have done, exactly as he planned.

​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
Take a few moments and make a list of the big issues that you don't want to deal with. How have you tried to handle them in the past?
How did that work?
How can you do that differently going forward?

​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.