March 29, 2020

March 29, 2020            Morning Worship Text

Before we begin, gather a candle or small light, your Bible, a piece of bread and a cup of juice or water. Place them at the center of a calm area in your home and gather comfortable seating for all who will join you. Place your phone, tablet  or computer where you can see and hear it. You may want to connect a charger, rather than rely on battery. Add a piece of purple cloth, a cross or something from your "Lent in a Bag" Family Resource Bag or to complete your worship center.

Focus

Lighting the Christ Candles      We light our candles or lights.
Voice One: In the beginning, God said,
Voice Two: "Let there be light, and there was light,"
Voice One:  We light these candles because God is with us at this time and in all these places.

Call to Worship    We read together responsively.
Voice 1: Lift up your voice and call out to God.
Voice 2: We cry out, believing that God hears us.
Voice 1: Come together and wait for God.
Voice 2: We come together, trusting that God is still speaking.
Voice 1: Surely God’s presence is here with us now.
Voice 2: We wait in hope, for God’s steadfast love lifts our hearts.
Voice 1:Come, worship the Lord.
Voice 2: We celebrate the power of God that restores us.

~ written by Rev. Nancy J., and posted on her wonderings through life and other such nonsense. http://ruminari.wordpress.com/

Invocation    We pray together in unison.
All Voices: 
Loving God, we are yours.
We come as we are, with our cares and concerns.
We long to touch you and find healing in your embrace.
Strengthen our faith and heal our brokenness,
that we may worship you with joy.  Amen.

— adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009, © 2008 Abingdon Press.  Posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Scripture:  Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”


4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.


9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.


11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

Children's Moment

Sermon

Invitation to the Table

Musical Offering:
As piano plays the bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.

Prayer of Communion

Words of Institution We break the bread and lift the cup as the words are spoken.

The Lord's Supper

Prayer of Thanksgiving: "The Lord's Prayer"

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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

***Joys & Concerns
***Because we are connecting on a public internet forum, the Revs. will not be sharing Joys and Concerns aloud. Please share these within your Care Group and watch your weekly email bulletin for a prayer list. If you do not have a Care Group Assignment by Wednesday, March 25, please let the church office know.

Morning Prayer
God of mercy and compassion, we praise you for this day on which you raised Jesus from the depths of the earth when his time of suffering was ended.  Because of the love you have shown us in him, we turn to you and pray:  Lord, bless your people.
-You created a world of goodness and beauty; help us to cherish the work of your hands, and make us wise in the use of your gifts.
-Jesus is our good shepherd.  Through His love keep us united in faith, and restore the oneness of your people; especially during these days of isolation when we rely on email, facebook, cell phones, and live streaming for our contacts and interactions with one another.
-You poured out your spirit upon the apostles; create a new spirit within us, and sent us to announce the Goods news of your love and grace.
-You are our source of living water.  Cleanse us from our sin, and restore us to fullness of life in our spirit.
-You have a special place in your heart for the poor and the lowly; set free the oppressed, and shelter them from harm.
-With your healing spirit embrace those who are sick or ill.  Heal those who suffer from the corona virus.  Heal us.  Heal our nations.  Heal our world.
-Bless us love and patience so we too may be a force of healing to our family, friends, neighbors, and world.
-You offer life to all who trust in you; grant eternal life to all who have died and especially those whom we remember today.  May they rest in peace.
On the morning of this new day, we come into your presence, Lord God.  Are spirits gather together from our living rooms, dorm rooms, nursing home rooms, kitchen tables, and many different spaces.  Your spirit mingles our lives, hearts and minds into one body of Christ.  Our attention is fixed on Christ our Lord who leads in faith and enriches the love we have for you O God, and the love we have for neighbor.   AMEN.
(The prayer is adapted from "Benedictine Daily Prayer-A Short Breviary" 2nd edition, copyright 2015, Liturgical Press, Minnesota,  Page1411) 

Challenge for Discipleship

Blessing     We speak in unison.
All Voices: 
The Light that was in one place and at one time, is now in all places and all times, for God has placed the light in us.  We abide in peace!  Amen.