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AUGUST 23, 2020 ORANGETHORPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) PASTORAL PRAYER MOST GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD WE HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING THAT YOU LOOK UPON US WITH MERCY AND HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE TO BE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL. HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF COMPASSION TO LOOK UPON ALL OF NEIGHBORS WITH THE HEART OF MERCY AS DID THE SAMARITAN ON THE ROAD. LET US NOT LAY BLAME UPON THE BLAMELESS. LET US NOT BE DRIVEN BY LIES THAT PROMISE TO EASE OUR OWN PERSONAL BURDENS. HELP US TO BE THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST WE PROMISED TO BE WHEN WERE TOOK ON THE MANTLE OF DISCIPLESHIP AT THE HOUR OF OUR BAPTISM. SPEAK TO US IN THAT STILL SMALL VOICE THAT DARED ELIJAH TO BE YOUR PROPHET. SPEAK TO US THROUGH THE WISDOM OF THOSE WHO SEEK TO HEAL US NOT BREAK US. ALL THIS WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF THE CHRIST. AMEN SERMON TITLE: "PHARAOHCHIOUS PARANOIA"

TEXT OF MY PRAYER FOR YOU ON MY LAST SUNDAY AT PSUMC

June 24, 2018 MY PRAYER FOR YOU

AFFIRMATION OF PROMISE
We believe in God the creator of the universe,
and loving Abba Father who breathed life into us and gave the earth into our care.
We believe that Jesus is the incarnate word of God, messiah and man,
who lived and died for our sakes.
When Jesus was crucified, he spoke words of forgiveness just before his death.
God raised him from the dead as promised calling all
who follow to believe in the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus first loved us, we carry him in our hearts, and his name is ever on our lips.
This loving savior promised we would not be left orphaned and alone.
We receive the Holy Spirit as the companion he promised, our counselor of truth and our advocate.
We believe that the Spirit speaks the language of redemption to our souls.
As the body of Christ, we gather spiritual strength from our unfettered worship
of the Abba Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Refreshed and renewed, we work out our salvation, side by side,
united in heart, body, and mind, ministering in Jesus’ name to all the world.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious God, you have been guiding each of us along our individual paths from the moment of our birth and somehow you brought all of us together as a congregation to be a worshiping community. A dozen years ago we couldn’t have imagined who we would become, but we began to see your handiwork as we stepped up and took a risk with our hearts and spirits, making daring commitments to “feed your lambs,” “tend your sheep,” and “feed your sheep,” in the name of Jesus. We know the work of the church is never complete, and though we have accomplished much, there is no resting on our laurels. Give us courageous spirits ready and willing to grow and flourish as we welcome newcomers and mentor them as leaders for the sake and life of the body. All this we pray in the name of the one whose love is over all, Jesus Christ, our savior, friend, and Lord. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Like our own alphabet there is a first and last letter in the Greek Alphabet: Alpha — Α α — is the first letter, its meaning recognized as the primary force. The Omega — Ω ω — is the last, its meaning recognized as the ultimate limit of a set. The small alpha and the capital Omega, which is transcribed “o” in the modern Greek alphabet, are closed letters, circular in appearance denoting, perhaps a continuity between endings and beginnings. Let the spirit that has united us be a circle unbroken, ever-widening to include all people continuous in our mission and commitment as we strive to live up to our role as disciples of Jesus Christ.

June 10, 2018 "JESUS MELTDOWN"

A PENTECOST AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
In the beginning, the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters,
and brought the world into being.
That same Spirit breathes life into us.
The Spirit of God conceived a Messiah, the Son and beloved One who would be the revelation of God’s steadfast love and mercy.
Throughout his life, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.
When he died on the cross he commended his spirit into God’s keeping,
and God raised him from the dead.
This Spirit is THE VOICE that speaks to us in our present, moving ever onward
as the enlightened body of Christ into our future.
The Spirit teaches us to speak the language of salvation and empowers us to tell the stories of Jesus and his love.
The Spirit compels us to be at our spiciest when things look bleak, to be the light in someone’s darkness, and to dance even when we are weary.
The Spirit urges us to be resilient and steadfast in our witness, while we have life and breath, proclaiming the Good News to and for all!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Most awesome and loving Creator God, we lift a triumphant prayer of thanks and praise as we ponder all of the blessings you have bestowed upon us. This glorious sanctuary has been home to this worshiping community for 53 years. Many of us have embraced a whole new spiritual life here understanding at last, that your love for each one of us is not only immeasurable, but unbreakable as well. We pray never to forget the enormity of your grace and patience when it comes to dealing with human foibles. Give us hearts full of hope and spirits ready for anything. Let us not dwell in doubt, but lead us into a new day of discovering your will and way for us. All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
That expression “too close for comfort” is the idiom we use to describe the physical and psychological dis-ease we feel when we have had a “close shave” or a “near miss” or our personal space invaded by something or someone. Remember when you were a kid wondering how all those clowns fit into the clown car at the circus? Remember the teens of the 50’s working out just how many bodies could be crammed into a phone booth? Admittedly we like to see the church filled with worshipers, but if it was the case every Sunday, we would begin talking about the need for breathing room. The church is called to make a place for every soul. It is only your support that sustains us in that calling.

June 3, 2018 "HARD HEARTED HANNAHS"

A PENTECOST AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
In the beginning, the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters,
and brought the world into being.
That same Spirit breathes life into us.
The Spirit of God conceived a Messiah,
the Son and beloved One who would be the revelation of God’s steadfast love and mercy.
Throughout his life, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit.
When he died on the cross he commended his spirit into God’s keeping,
and God raised him from the dead.
This Spirit is THE VOICE that speaks to us in our present, moving ever onward
as the enlightened body of Christ into our future.
The Spirit teaches us to speak the language of salvation and empowers us to tell the stories of Jesus and his love.
The Spirit compels us to be at our spiciest when things look bleak,
to be the light in someone’s darkness, and to dance even when we are weary.
The Spirit urges us to be resilient and steadfast in our witness, while we have life and breath, proclaiming the Good News to and for all!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Beloved Creator, we lift our prayer of praise and thanksgiving, assured of your ever-presence with us. From the beginning of all things, you have believed in your creation, unabashedly proclaiming that everything made with your hands was good. Help us to embrace without hesitation, without fear or timidity the goodness and authenticity you have breathed into each one of us. When we get anxious about what’s next, what’s new and different, what is to come, what may or may not change, remind us that you are walking with us through all of it. Who knows change better than you, anyway? Plant the seeds of possibility in our fertile hearts, O God, and we shall bring glorious things to flower in the name of the Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The third verse of Hank William’s famous song goes like this: You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry. You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from life, to try it just ain't smart? Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart? I think similar words came tumbling from Jesus’ mouth any number of times as he encountered broken, hurting people in his ministry. As many as were healed, I am guessing there were many others who wouldn’t risk it, because that would require letting go of the past where the slights, hurts, disappointments, and regrets live. The church invites the whole world to risk being healed; the community of faith builds hearts of good courage to sustain it.