Onsite Bulletin August 15, 2021

 Today's Worship
August 15, 2021




Welcome

Opening Song

Lighting the Christ Candles 
One Voice: In the beginning, God said,
Many Voices: Let there be light,
     and there was light!
One Voice: We light these candles today, 

Many Voices: Because God is with us
    in this time and in this place!

Call to Worship
One Voice: Come, listen to the One
Many Voices: Who speaks and summons the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.

One Voice: Come, see the One
Many Voices: Who shines forth in the perfection of beauty.

One Voice: Come, bring thanksgiving, the sacrifice that honors the One
Many Voices: Who shows the salvation of God.

~ written by James E. Janecek, and posted on the Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

Invocation
O God,  make us ready to hear the Words spoken to our hearts this morning.  Call us to hear your wisdom and grant us the courage to respond. In Jesus' name, we pray,  Amen.
~ posted on Literature & Liturgy. https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/

Scripture: Psalm 49

Meditation

Invitation to the Lord's Table

Communion

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

Morning Prayer
O Lord our God, as we sit in quietness our thoughts are far from quiet.
 Calm our hearts.  Whisper your word. Shine your light.

We are wrestling with doubts and fears. We are looking for answers.  We are hoping against hope.
We are seeking strength. We are hungry.
Calm our hearts.

We long for warm sunshine, for cool breezes, for healed bodies, for rest from tears.
Your word says the hungry will be filled.  And we ask today for you to fill us.
Whisper your word.


Fill us with the breath of life, Fill us with thankful hearts Fill us with calmness, courage and most of all, with the knowledge of your presence.
Shine your light.

There are folks we know and love who are ill and we ask you, O God, to surround them
with your healing presence. Grant wisdom to those who need answers to difficult questions.  Grant hope to those who despair and friendship to those who feel lonely.
Calm their hearts, and ours.

We look to you O God to be present in our communities and in our world.
Continue to show us how we at (name of local congregation)
can be part of your work in the world.
Teach us how we can grow into faith,
and become more and more like Jesus.
Whisper your  word.

O Lord God, may we know the great love with you have for each one. You know the hairs on our head. You count each beat of our heart. You knit us together when we were being formed. You know our getting up and our lying down.  You are familiar with all our ways. There is no place we can hide from you. You were there at our beginning  and you will be with us through to the end.  May we not lose sight of your constant care.
Shine your light.

We also ask O Lord that you would bless the work of our hands. Bless all that we offer today –
not only what we give of our money, but the offerings of our time and our talents. And now we gather all our prayers together.
Calm our hearts. Whisper your word.  Shine your light.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
— excerpted from a longer prayer by Lois Siemens, and posted on the website of the Superb Mennonite Church. http://www.superbmennonite.org/

Challenge to Discipleship

Closing Song 

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 go forth in peace!