Sunday, Sept 20th

Welcome
We are glad to join you in worship today! Have you ever been on a journey? Especially a long one? There's a lot to learn there, and a lot that can change us. Today we start the long journey of God's promise.

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
Sunday 9/20: Going Away reception for the Bonds after the 10:30 service
Monday 9/21: Food Pantry open from 3pm-5pm
Tuesday 9/22: 4pm Centering Prayer on live on our Facebook Page
Sunday 9/27: Worship online, and in person at 9am & 10:30am
This is your last chance to order mask. Contact [link]Pastor John to place your order.

​Will you join in singing our first song

Joys & Concerns
Today I invite you to pray for our communities, for its people, leaders, organizations, and institutions. Pray that we continue to grow, help, and support one another.

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 Mary Beth Switzer, and she's got a couple of rocks with her, but there's no rolling here.​

Offering
As you give today, give knowing that you don't give on your own. Giving is part of the journey that we are on, and God goes with us. That's a special kind of freedom that helps us to see God, and his world in new ways.

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 compassion, as we offer our tithes and offerings this morning, we remember the lessons in your providing the Israelites with manna in the wilderness. First lesson: you took care of their needs. Second lesson: you gave enough to meet the needs of the day and instructed them to look out for the weak and needy. Finally, you made clear that accumulating more than they needed would not end well. Help us to learn from these lessons in what you have given to us by your goodness. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
1Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
2But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

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
What makes it hard to follow God's promise?
If we follow, what becomes easier in our life?

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.