NOTES: As they gaze across the remains of a battlefield, God asks Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?"Ezekiel, sensing something is up, despite the despair before him replies, "O God, you know!" Seeds, cocoons, dry deserts.....we can think of so many ways the natural world shows us that what seems dried up and done for can carry tremendous potential for new life. Here, God breathes that potential into an even more desperate situation. With the Psalmist, we too can cry out to God, even from the depths of human experience. We can offer hope to others because God does, indeed, know all about new life. And we do not have to understand or fully comprehend what the breath of God can do to enjoy and be restored by the breeze!
Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14 & Psalm 130
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."
So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."
I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act," says the LORD.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
8:30 AM Order of Service
The Gathering
Welcome
Prelude
We Gather in The Light of Christ
Lighting the Christ Candles
Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!
Hymn of Praise: CH#66 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ALL
Call to Worship
Leader: The prophet asks: Can our
soul-weary bones live again?
People: O God, you know!
Leader: We ask: Can we dance again
after mourning, loss and grief?
People: O God, you know!
Leader: The gift is sure and
unmistakable:
People: God’s breath poured out as
new life for weary souls!
Leader: Let us celebrate the gift
of God’s new life,
People: And come to worship God in
laughter and dancing! Invocation Unison
Compassionate
God,
the
wind of your Spirit is the very sign of life
for
all who long for you.
One
breath from you and we are rescued
and
filled with holy hope.
Let
our whole lives be filled with the life-breath of your Spirit,
that
what has lain dormant may burst into bloom,
and
what looks to us to be death
may
be revealed as new life in waiting. Amen.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture:
Sermon/Meditation
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn: CH #586 "Open My Eyes, That I May See sts. 1 & 2Praying Together
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn:CH#628 "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" ALL
Communion Hymn:CH#628 "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" ALL
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#354 "Seek Ye First" ALL
Blessing
Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
10:40AM Service
Welcome
Prelude
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Hymn of Praise: CH#66 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ALL
Invocation Unison
Passing of the Peace
Call to Offering
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
Leader: The prophet asks: Can our
soul-weary bones live again?
People: O God, you know!
Leader: We ask: Can we dance again
after mourning, loss and grief?
People: O God, you know!
Leader: The gift is sure and
unmistakable:
People: God’s breath poured out as
new life for weary souls!
Leader: Let us celebrate the gift
of God’s new life,
People: And come to worship God in
laughter and dancing! Hymn of Praise: CH#66 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ALL
The Acolytes light the Christ candles.
Invocation Unison
Compassionate
God,
the
wind of your Spirit is the very sign of life
for
all who long for you.
One
breath from you and we are rescued
and
filled with holy hope.
Let
our whole lives be filled with the life-breath of your Spirit,
that
what has lain dormant may burst into bloom,
and
what looks to us to be death
may
be revealed as new life in waiting. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith: CH#354 "Seek Ye First" ALL
We Offer Our Hearts to God
Call to Offering
The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon/Meditation
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn: CH #586 "Open My Eyes, That I May See sts. 1 & 2
Praying Together
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to Communion
Christians of all denominations
and backgrounds are welcome to share in communion. Please hold each
element as we partake in unison.
Communion Hymn:CH#628 "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" ALL
Prayers for Bread & Cup and Words of Institution
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#453 "Called As Partners in Christ's Service" sts. 1 & 2
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#453 "Called As Partners in Christ's Service" sts. 1 & 2
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song: CH#453 "Called As Partners in Christ's Service" st. 4
Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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