8/16/20 Online Service

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
Monday 8/17: 3pm-5pm The Food Pantry will be open in the Fellowship Hall
Tuesday 8/18: 4pm Centering Prayer on live on our Facebook Page
Sunday 8/23: Worship online, and in person at 9am & 10:30am

Watch for more info about our Fall Lineup

​Will you join in singing our first song

Joys & Concerns
For our time of prayer today, keep our elected officials, and those who work in official capacities in your prayers. This is a challenging time, even for the best of them.

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.

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 Eleanor Raves and talks about God's spaces.

After the video, find a space that you can use to worship God.

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,

Forgiving God, the first offering you ask for is the giving of ourselves, loving you and others boldly, refusing to let our fear of the storms around us keep us from taking risks. Forgive us for times when you have called us to leave our places of comfort, and we’ve ignored the call. Forgive us when our giving has not grown beyond our safety zone, but you blessed our gifts and us anyway. For those times when we dared to put our foot outside the boat and then sank up to our knees, thank you for not taking your hand away. For all this, we give thanks in the holy name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Ezra 9:1-4
1When these tasks were finished, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites haven’t kept themselves separate from the peoples of the neighboring lands with their detestable practices; namely, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2They’ve taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and the holy descendants have become mixed with the neighboring peoples. Moreover, the officials and leaders have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”
3When I heard this, I tore my clothes and cloak, pulled out hair from my head and beard, and sat down in shock. 4Then all those who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me on account of the transgression of the returned exiles while I remained sitting in shock until the evening sacrifice.

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
​What communal problems do we face?
How can we repent of them and go forward?
What makes that difficult?

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.