July 25, 2021 WWWW Online

 Worship, Witness, Word and Welcome
Online Worship with First Christian Church  (Disciples of Christ) Berea, KY
July 25, 2021

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. We are beginning a summer series on Wisdom this week. Include something in your worship center that reminds you of wisdom - it could be a quote, a book, a lamp, a symbol, etc.

Worship
Invocation We begin with prayer.
O God,  from whom every good and perfect gift comes we gather to worship you this day. You are an awesome God,  greater than we can begin to understand. You are beyond any word we could ever use to describe you. And yet, through Jesus, we know the intimacy of your vast love. We come to you in thanksgiving and praise, to know that you are God and to place our lives anew into your perspective. May your guide us and your Spirit dwell in this congregation now, and forevermore. In Jesus we pray. Amen.
~ adapted from a prayer finspired by James 1 posted on My Redeemer Lives website. http://www.myredeemerlives.com/prayers.html


Call to Worship
Voice One: Who among you is seeking the wisdom of God?
Voice Two: We long to live lives of holiness and light.
Voice One: God grants God’s wisdom generously to all who ask.
Voice Two: Come near, people of God! Let us worship in wisdom and truth.
Voice One: We light these candles today,
Voice Two: Because God is with us in this time and in all these places!    
~ first four lines posted on Literature & Liturgy. https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/

Lighting the Candles  We light our candles or lights.

Witness
Morning Prayer
God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath that sustains life,
for the food of this earth that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends
without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty that the eye can see,
for the joy that the ear may hear,
for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities:
for families who nurture our becoming,
for friends who love us by choice,
for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding,
for children who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day:
for life and one more day to love,
for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace,
for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom be loved,
for your grace and one more experience of your presence,
for your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.

For these, and all blessings, we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

~ adapted from "Prayers of Our Hearts" © 1991 Vienna Cobb Anderson. Posted on BeliefNet.com


Word
Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12
My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    as a father the son he delights in.
-New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Meditation

Challenge for Discipleship

Welcome- The Lord's Supper

Invitation to the Table
All are welcome to partake in the bread and cup at the table of God's love. It is Christ who is our host. When you hear the Words of Institution, partake of the elements.

Prayer of Communion Elders this month are Kyle Sowers and Ele Workman.

Words of Institution 

Prayer of Response
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.

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.   And we abide in peace. Amen.