Ordinary Time - A Season for Spiritual Growth
Before
we begin, gather a candle or small light, your Bible, a cross, 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 green fabric or a plant to remind us of growth in this
season of Ordinary Time.
Musical Meditation
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 today,
Voice Two: Because God is with s in this time and in all these places!
Call to Worship
(Psalm 139:7-12)
Voice 1; Where can I go from your Spirit?
Voice 2: Where can I flee from your presence?
Voice 1; If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Voice 2: If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Voice 1: If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”even the darkness will not be dark to you;
UNISON: the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you, O God.
Invocation We pray together in unison.
Reassure us all today,That the same God who opened heaven
To a rascal like Jacob
Leans in to hear our whispered prayers.
Thank you God, for loving us in spite of who we have been and who we are
Thank you for seeing in us the people that we could become.
Thank you for unrelenting love
That pursues us
Apprehends us
And, If we let it,
Transforms us.
We are awed when we consider...the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. AMEN
.
Scripture:
Genesis 28:10-19a28:10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.
28:11 He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.
28:12 And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
28:13 And the LORD stood beside him and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring;
28:14 and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.
28:15 Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
28:16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it!"
28:17 And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."
28:18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
28:19a He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Sermon
Invitation to the Table The bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.
Day
by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke
bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising
God and having the goodwill of all the people
.
Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Judy Halstead and Dennis Blackburn.
Words of Institution We break the bread and lift the cup as the words are spoken.
The Lord's Supper We share in the bread and cup as we hear the music.
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.
Prayers of the People
Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.
God we gather in these moments and in this space to rest and in the rest honor your name.
LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS...
God we pray for the strength, the courage and the knowledge to live in this world in a way where our thoughts and behaviors when blessed by your grace, transforms our living into the reality of your kingdom; a kingdom where our loving reflects your will.
LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS...
Thank you Lord for the daily bread we share with family, friends, neighbors and with strangers.
LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS...
Because of your grace, love and understanding we have the courage to face our own sins and wrongs. Your understanding and redeeming grace is our example. May we love all the world with the same forgiveness which you forgive us.
LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS....
May your spirit continue to bless us with hope, peace, love, joy, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, patience, and self-control. With such graces your spirit will lead us away from temptation and deeper into the fullness of your love and grace.
LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS...
and through the ministry of your Son
free us from the grip of the tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.
Challenge for Discipleship
Blessing We speak in unison.
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!
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