September 13, 2020

Morning Worship Text: September 13, 2020

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. Do you have a Bible or devotional book that you return to again and again? Or maybe a card or picture of some words of wisdom that you keep where you can see it? Add these to your worship center today.

Welcome

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 us in this time and in all these places!


Call to Worship  
Leader: As we live in these times, and make our history,

People:  Lord, will you establish your sanctuary in us?

Leader:  When you Lord, dwell among us, we do not panic or be afraid.

People:  We sings songs of praise, and tell the stories of Your grace and love.

Leader:   And like the Israelites journeying into the Promised Land, 

People:   We move into the fullness of God's love, grace and justice.

                                                                                                    (Based on Psalm 114)

Invocation    We pray together in unison.
Dear Lord, we look to our right and to our left, and you are there.  We look behind us and before us, and you are there.  We open our hearts to you, and find you have already arrived, swept your dwelling place clean and you abide in the depths of our own being.  We are happy that you are with us Lord.  We love you.  Together we share this moment of worship, song, prayer, praise, and Your Word.  AMEN. 

Scripture:  

Exodus 14:19-31
14:19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.
14:20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided.
14:22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
14:23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.
14:24 At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic.
14:25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."
14:26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers."
14:27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea.
14:28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.
14:29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
14:31 Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Psalm 114
114:1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
114:2 Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
114:3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.
114:4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.
114:5 Why is it, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?
114:6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?
114:7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
114:8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.

Isaiah 52: 12                                                                                                                                                For you shall not go out in haste,
    and you shall not go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,
    and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Sermon


Invitation to the Table The bread and cup and placed on the table for the Lord’s Supper.


Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Will Bondurant and Judy Halstead.


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
Dear God, we thank you for the dawning light which wakes us morning by morning , and for Jesus Christ, the true light which enlightens all who come into the world, in his name we ask you:  Lord, Show us your love.

Open our eyes to the wonders of your creation and help us respect the world you have given us.  Lord, Show us your love.

Let our humble thanks for each new day be joined with prayer and work until your kingdom come.  Lord, Show us your love.

Lead all peoples estranged by hatred, prejudice, misunderstanding and war be reconciled in peace and love.Lord, Show us your love.

Brighten the days of the aged and infirm and grant them your peace.Lord, Show us your love.

Bless with your healing love and care all who are sick and in pain.    Lord, Show us your love.

Lord Jesus, eternal splendor, on this day which is given us by the Creator's love, do not let us lose sight of you but always bring us back to the light of your face, for you reign forever and ever.  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!