September 19, 2021 Online Text

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

September 19, 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. If you knew a friend was about to set out on a journey today, what would you give them to take along? Add something to your worship center that symbolizes your spiritual journey.

Worship

Invocation We begin with prayer.

Holy God, before time you named us
Through time you redeem us
You call us, precious in your sight

Through the turbulent waters
Make us steady, your hands
Holding strong the fragile and weak

May the fruits of our lives
be food for the hungry, bread
clothing, shelter, fire, water, Word

Remove the chaff
Of our lives that keep us from
Hearing, following, Your call

Loving God, take this day our fears our
Worries, distractions, and all
Turn them into wheat, heart food
Amen

~ adapted from a prayer written by Terri and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Call to Worship
Voice One: This the message from God who made you; the One who got you started on this journey:
Voice Two: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine."
Voice One: When we are in in over our heads, God will be there with us.
Voice Two: When we are in rough waters, we will not go down.
-adapted from Isaiah 433:1-7, The Message Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Lighting the Candles  We light our candles or lights.

Voice One: We light these candles today,
Voice Two: Because God is with us in this time and in all these places!


Witness 

Morning Prayer
In the dry wildernesses of our lives,
in the days of heat and thirst,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.

When we begin to doubt your presence,
and grumble that your love is unreliable,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.

When life’s regrets and the bad choices we have made
leave us feeling excluded and unworthy,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.

When circumstances, or the inhumanity of others,
have left us alone and wounded,
you offer us living water,
Thank you, gracious and generous God.

Here now the prayers of our heart for -
Our world...
Our community...
Our neighborhood.....
Our family.....
Ourselves.......
May we bear witness to your living water pouring into all these places and situations.
Thank you, gracious and generous God.

We are grateful that how ever we may thirst,
what ever we may need to satisfy our souls,
you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ;
So we drink deep of the living water
and, as we draw from your wells,
we seek to pass the cup to others
who, like us, are thirsty for your grace.

Amen

— Copyright © John van de Laar, on his excellent website Sacredise.com.  Visit there for more other great worship resources.


    

Word

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord,
    he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
    and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
    and to the south, “Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
    and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

-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 Kathy Sharp 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.