NOTES: Israel's experience of thirst in the wilderness stands in stark contrast to the model that the Romans offers us for dealing with troubled times. Complaining and grumbling are human nature when we feel miserable or experience the pain and discomfort of hunger, thirst, weariness, loneliness, anger, physical stress. But Paul gives us a challenge. He argues that touch times are like a good work out for patience. And from a patient perspective, we can learn a whole lot about what God is doing in the world. This new view, this hopeful perspective, is possible because God didn't wait for us to be perfectly patient or miraculously strong or wonderfully trusting. Rather, God sent Jesus Christ in when we were still weak and miserable and grumbling, asking that old, old question "Is God with us or not?"
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 5:1-11
Exodus 17:1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"
But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?"
So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me."
The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
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# 16 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" ALL
Call to Worship
Leader: Come, all who thirst!
People: Come to the water!
Leader: You who long for the water of life.
People: Come and drink!
Leader: Dip your soul in the river of God’s goodness;
People: Quench your thirst at God’s well of grace.
Leader: For God is here among us,
People: Offering living water to all!
Leader: Let’s worship God together!
Invocation Unison O God, our Creator, in the dry wildernesses of our lives,
you offer us living water. How ever we may thirst,
what ever we may need to satisfy our souls,
you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ;
So we drink deep of the living water
and, as we draw from your wells,
we seek to pass the cup to others
who, like us, are thirsty for your grace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture:
Sermon/Meditation
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn: CH#555 Through It All
Praying Together
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn: CH#351 "Fill My Cup, Lord" ALL
Communion Hymn: CH#351 "Fill My Cup, Lord" 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#556 "Trust and Obey" sts. 1,2 &4
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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# 16 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" ALL
Invocation Unison
O God, our Creator, in the dry wildernesses of our lives,
Passing of the Peace
Call to Offering
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
Leader: Come, all who thirst!
People: Come to the water!
Leader: You who long for the water of life.
People: Come and drink!
Leader: Dip your soul in the river of God’s goodness;
People: Quench your thirst at God’s well of grace.
Leader: For God is here among us,
People: Offering living water to all!
Leader: Let’s worship God together!
Hymn of Praise:CH# 16 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" ALL
The Acolytes light the Christ candles.
Invocation Unison
O God, our Creator, in the dry wildernesses of our lives,
you offer us living water. How ever we may thirst,
what ever we may need to satisfy our souls,
you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ;
So we drink deep of the living water
and, as we draw from your wells,
we seek to pass the cup to others
who, like us, are thirsty for your grace. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith: CH# 714 "For the Fruit of All Creation" sts. 1&2
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#555 Through It All
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#351 "Fill My Cup, Lord" 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#556 "Trust and Obey" sts. 1,2 &4
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#556 "Trust and Obey" sts. 1,2 &4
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song: CH#560 "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" st. 1
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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