NOTES: Throughout Israel's story of faith that we read in the Old Testament, each generation comes to a moment when it needs to see itself as included in, in fact, a key player in the covenant between God and Israel. It's a moment when the reality of being God's people becomes real and is often marked by a symbolic change or action. In Jeremiah, the new generation finds that the covenant, once written on stone tablets, is now written "on their hearts." In Genesis, Jacob's personal lifelong struggle to trust God rather than make things happen for himself is revealed in a wrestling match that leaves him with a limp and a new name. What can we learn about our own life's work of being God's people? What moments bring us face to face with God? What symbolic items, actions or names express our understanding of our identity and our calling?
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34 & Genesis 32:22-31
Jeremiah 31:27-34
27 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 28 And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no longer say:“The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”
30 But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge.
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,[a] says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
Genesis 32:22-31
22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man[a] said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with humans,[c] and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[d] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
For those who have watched over me,
for those that have protected me,
for those that have shielded me,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
For the roof that shades me from the sun,
for the walls that shield me from the storm,
for the bed that warms me in the night,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
To the one who keeps me from evil,
to the one who preserves my life,
to the one who watches over my coming and going,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/churches/prayer/church-seasons.aspx
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn #2 "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" (verses 1 & 4)
Call to Worship
Leader: We gather here in anticipation,
People: seeking an encounter with our Holy God,
Leader: who comes among us when we least expect it,
People: who invites us to wrestle with our questions and doubts,
Leader: who richly blesses us, and calls us each by name.
People: Let’s worship God together!
-Christine Longhurst. https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/07/call-to-worship-genesis-32.html
Invocation
Holy One, dwell within us.
Whisper in our ears;
Glimmer in our vision;
Write upon our hearts.
We wait
with open ears, open eyes, open hearts.
Amen
~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/2012/01/18/wednesday-worship-piece-isaiah/
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn#628 "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (all verses)
Praying Together
For those who have watched over me,
for those that have protected me,
for those that have shielded me,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
For the roof that shades me from the sun,
for the walls that shield me from the storm,
for the bed that warms me in the night,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
To the one who keeps me from evil,
to the one who preserves my life,
to the one who watches over my coming and going,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/churches/prayer/church-seasons.aspx
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn #452 "Here I Am, Lord" (verses 1 & 3)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn#556 "Trust and Obey" (verses 1 &4)
Blessing
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Leader: We gather here in anticipation,
People: seeking an encounter with our Holy God,
Leader: who comes among us when we least expect it,
People: who invites us to wrestle with our questions and doubts,
Leader: who richly blesses us, and calls us each by name.
People: Let’s worship God together!
-Christine Longhurst. https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/07/call-to-worship-genesis-32.html
Praise Hymn#2 "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" (verses 1 & 4)
Lighting of the Candles
Invocation
Holy One, dwell within us.
Whisper in our ears;
Glimmer in our vision;
Write upon our hearts.
We wait
with open ears, open eyes, open hearts.
Amen
~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/2012/01/18/wednesday-worship-piece-isaiah/
Passing of the Peace
Faith Hymn#113 "Jesus Loves Me" (all verses)
We Contemplate God's Word
Presentation of Bibles
Scripture
Choir Anthem
Children's Sermon
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn#628 "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (all verses)
Praying Together
For those who have watched over me,
for those that have protected me,
for those that have shielded me,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
For the roof that shades me from the sun,
for the walls that shield me from the storm,
for the bed that warms me in the night,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
To the one who keeps me from evil,
to the one who preserves my life,
to the one who watches over my coming and going,
thanks be to the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/churches/prayer/church-seasons.aspx
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn#452 "Here I Am, Lord" (verses 1 & 3)
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn#556 "Trust and Obey" (verses 1 &4)
Blessing
Closing Hymn #439 "God, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing" (verse 2)
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