August 2, 2020
Please note, we are attempting to develop this online system, if there were technical issues please let us know and we can work towards a solution. Thank you for your understanding in this time.
We will continue to use Zoom for joining the service via audio only.
Dial: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 991 631 5530
We Gather Together to Worship
Welcome
Call to Worship (Responsive)
The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.Our eyes look to you, for you give us food in every season.
The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth.
You open your hand, O God, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord fulfils the desire of all who fear him and watches over all who love him,
So our mouths will speak the praise of the Lord, and God’s holy name for ever and ever.
*Hymn of Praise “Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet”
Call to Reconciliation
Gracious and merciful God, as we gather to worship, we are aware that we have fallen short of the life you desire for us. So we confess together:Prayer of Confession (Unison)
Through Christ you have shown us the way of compassion, generosity and forgiveness, yet we neglect the suffering of others. We blame and judge in the very moments you call us to act with kindness and mercy. We cling to what we own rather than share our blessings with others. Free us from greed and from grievances. Open our hearts so that we may embody the teachings of your Son, our Saviour.Silent Prayer ………..
Assurance of Pardon
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Friends in Christ, know that you are forgiven.Forgive one another, and be at peace with God, with yourself and with each other.
Proclaim God’s Word
Prayer for Understanding ( Unison)
Holy God, your Word is bread for our journey. Send your Spirit upon us now so that we would taste your wisdom and be strengthened to live it out for the sake of Christ, your living Word. AmenFirst Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 55: 1-5
1“Come, all you who are thirsty,come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Creed From “A Brief Statement of Faith” (Unison)
“We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.Passing of the Peace
(There is no need to shake hands or touch one another. Merely turn to one another and offer the “Peace of Christ” to one another.)Second Scripture Lesson: Matthew 14: 13-21
13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.Sermon -Rev. Russ Roth
*Hymn #369 “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”
Give Thanks to God
Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Bless and use our offerings for your glory. Give us the courage to offer ourselves fully to you, trusting that you will guide us on our journeys of faith, wherever we go. Amen.Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
O God, we give you thanks for your goodness in all the times of our lives. Even in the uncertainties of this present moment, we are grateful for the strength and courage we find, knowing you are fight beside us. Give us the wisdom and patience we need to face a future filled with many questions and challenges.Aware of our own needs today, we are reminded by Christ’s compassion that so many others nearby and much further away experience even greater struggles. And so we lift up our prayers for the world, seeking your guidance so that we may do our part to bring comfort, healing and hope.
We pray for all who are sick or in pain, that they may have the medical assistance they need and the gift of healing in body, mind, and spirit. We pray for those who are grieving, that they may know the comfort of your presence and find hope in your promises. Especially we remember those whose lives have been changed by COVID-19 and ask that you will support their recovery and heal relationships affected by this disease.
We pray for those who are hungry or homeless, and all those experiencing the stress of poverty and economic uncertainty. Give those with more resources the confidence to share generously. We pray for leaders in our communities and in our nation, as they seek ways to recover well-being in the face of the global pandemic. Give them wisdom and courage to make decisions for the well-being of the most vulnerable.
We pray for those who seek to show hospitality to others in their homes, in their workplaces, in the church and the community, that their generosity will inspire others to open their hearts so that your goodness at work in the world will be multiplied. We pray for prisoners and those who work in prisons, especially for chaplains and volunteers who bring your word of love and grace to the incarcerated. After long weeks and months deprived of familiar contact, help us all understand the stress of being imprisoned. May those who represent the face of Christ in these environments find strength and wisdom in your companionship and offer ministry of reconciliation and renewal that you desire for everyone.
Lord Jesus Christ, you walk with us through all the days of challenge and celebration. Be our Bread for the journey of life, to sustain us and encourage us, whatever the week ahead holds for us.
Thank you for printing the words of the scripture readings in the online bulletin. It was very helpful. It would also be helpful to print the words to hymns which are inserts. I have no idea what was sung in the first hymn.
ReplyDeleteSince we are now doing creeds, how about the Apostle's Creed. We haven't done that one in a long time. Also, what about singing the Doxology after the offering prayer?
The video was better this week though still not sharp. The audio was somewhat better but still choppy and at one point cut out completely. Unfortunately, the noise of the children (who are supposed to be in the parlor) also interferes with the sound. I caught about 85% of the sermon.
Please note that the Parlor is so that parents who feel their kids are being too disruptive or who want a place where their kids can be more free to roam in this time of no child care can move to at their discretion. It is in no way a place to which kids are meant to be banished and it would be rude to ask anyone to move there. Children are a reminder that there is life and vibrancy in the church, a small snapshot of the church's future. Christ himself reminds us not be a hindrance to their formation as Christians we should be glad and rejoice for the children God has blessed our small congregation with.
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