Worship, Witness, Word and Welcome
Online Worship with First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Berea, KY
August 15, 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.
Worship
Invocation We begin with prayer.
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/
Call to Worship
Voice One: Come, listen to the One
Voice Two: Who speaks and summons the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Voice One: Come, see the One
Voice Two: Who shines forth in the perfection of beauty.
Voice One: Come, bring thanksgiving, the sacrifice that honors the One
Voice Two: who shows the salvation of God.
Voice One: We light these candles today,
Voice Two: Because God is with us in this time and in all these places.
~ written by James E. Janecek, and posted on the Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
Lighting the Candles We light our candles or lights.
Witness
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/
Word
Scripture: Psalm 49
Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
both low and high, rich and poor together.
My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. Selah
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home.
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.Selah
Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
-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 Judy Halstead and Mark 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.
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