CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God we have dreams of living up to your expectations one day. We are determined to be people of sense and sensibility, learning from our mistakes, cultivating the spirit of willingness, building our stamina and energy to extend ourselves in generosity and love. We confess our desire to be good at being Christians as if it is a skill to be acquired. We have a tendency sometimes to think that if we just knew the bible better, could quote scripture, or knew how to pray on the spur of the moment, that we would be well on our way to being better Christians. Because we see ourselves as deficient in these and other things, we have excused ourselves as being inadequate to serve. Remind us Lord, that Jesus began his service to you with a smile, a handshake, a word, the touch of his hand on someone’s tears, an embrace, a moment of fellowship over a meal, offering love, hope and assurance. These are things we already know; teach us so to use them in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
Matthew told me a marvelous story this week about how three wonderful men helped to support him while he was in seminary in 1945. Three Bishops J. W. Pickett, C.D. Rockey, and E.S. Jones each gave Matthew $1.00 (one dollar) a month to help him with incidentals laundry, paper and pencils, etc. His remark was, that people have no idea what even a single dollar can accomplish in a person’s life.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
September 12, 2010 "ONCE WAS"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious God, Sovereign of the universe, we offer you thanks and praise remembering that all that we are and all that we have you have given to us. When we have erred in our work or our relationships, taken a wrong turn in this life or when we have made a decision we regret, remind us, dearest Lord, that if we will but turn to you, you offer us comfort, solace, and a guiding hand. You wipe away every tear, and cleanse us from all shame. We need not live in the dark place of regret, but walk forth in the light of your gracious countenance. We confess who we have been, how we once were and in the same breath we confess who we long to be. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and make us the instruments of your goodwill. If we can find no speech, but complaint let us be circumspect. If we have time to find fault when things don’t turn out as we hoped they would or thought they should, call us to patience. Move our hearts and imaginations to embrace our mission of transformation, even as it includes ourselves. These things we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
How do you remember the past, those bygone days so many are want to call “The Good Old Days?” Are you among those folks who wonder about the days when the church was filled to the brim, when going to church with the whole family was the routine with no distractions. We tend to remember the world as a different place during those good old days when the behavior of its citizens was more civil, more controlled, more obedient, more respectful, and more honorable. The church has always been the place where we hone these qualities trying them out on one another and then the world.
Glorious God, Sovereign of the universe, we offer you thanks and praise remembering that all that we are and all that we have you have given to us. When we have erred in our work or our relationships, taken a wrong turn in this life or when we have made a decision we regret, remind us, dearest Lord, that if we will but turn to you, you offer us comfort, solace, and a guiding hand. You wipe away every tear, and cleanse us from all shame. We need not live in the dark place of regret, but walk forth in the light of your gracious countenance. We confess who we have been, how we once were and in the same breath we confess who we long to be. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and make us the instruments of your goodwill. If we can find no speech, but complaint let us be circumspect. If we have time to find fault when things don’t turn out as we hoped they would or thought they should, call us to patience. Move our hearts and imaginations to embrace our mission of transformation, even as it includes ourselves. These things we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
How do you remember the past, those bygone days so many are want to call “The Good Old Days?” Are you among those folks who wonder about the days when the church was filled to the brim, when going to church with the whole family was the routine with no distractions. We tend to remember the world as a different place during those good old days when the behavior of its citizens was more civil, more controlled, more obedient, more respectful, and more honorable. The church has always been the place where we hone these qualities trying them out on one another and then the world.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
September 5, 2010 "EXCUSES, EXCUSES"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God on this Labor Day Sunday we are reminded that glorifying your name is not only done with the words spoken from our hearts, but through the work of our hands. Today we re-commit ourselves, our prayers, our creative thoughts, our hearts and our hands to laboring in this vast vineyard, cultivating the ground, nourishing the soil so that the vines may flourish and bear fruit worthy of your kingdom. Remind us always that laboring for the well-being of your creation is honorable work. You have given us the gift of life so that we might eat and drink and take pleasure in our toil. We humbly acknowledge, O Lord, that whatever You do, endures forever. Nothing can be added to it nor anything taken away. You have done this so all should stand in awe before You and yet there is nothing you want more for us than to be happy and to have joy in this life. When we understand this truth we shall be tireless in our endeavors. In the name of the Christ we offer you thanks and praise. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
Remember when you needed a written excuse from your mother if you were absent from school because you were sick or had to go to the dentist? There were before and after excuses. Mom always wrote my excuses on her best stationery. If such a document was forged in a fit of delinquency by a felonious child, the school authorities always seemed to know. The formal excuse has been replaced by something called the “No show.” Perhaps the “No Shows” think they won’t be missed. NOT!
Gracious God on this Labor Day Sunday we are reminded that glorifying your name is not only done with the words spoken from our hearts, but through the work of our hands. Today we re-commit ourselves, our prayers, our creative thoughts, our hearts and our hands to laboring in this vast vineyard, cultivating the ground, nourishing the soil so that the vines may flourish and bear fruit worthy of your kingdom. Remind us always that laboring for the well-being of your creation is honorable work. You have given us the gift of life so that we might eat and drink and take pleasure in our toil. We humbly acknowledge, O Lord, that whatever You do, endures forever. Nothing can be added to it nor anything taken away. You have done this so all should stand in awe before You and yet there is nothing you want more for us than to be happy and to have joy in this life. When we understand this truth we shall be tireless in our endeavors. In the name of the Christ we offer you thanks and praise. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
Remember when you needed a written excuse from your mother if you were absent from school because you were sick or had to go to the dentist? There were before and after excuses. Mom always wrote my excuses on her best stationery. If such a document was forged in a fit of delinquency by a felonious child, the school authorities always seemed to know. The formal excuse has been replaced by something called the “No show.” Perhaps the “No Shows” think they won’t be missed. NOT!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
August 29, 2010 "ENTITLEMENT ISSUES"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious and every creating God, bless us with your presence this morning as we focus our minds and hearts in worship. You have bestowed upon us immeasurable love and endless mercy particularly when we believed we didn’t deserve it. We confess our moments of fear and frustration, our self-centeredness, and our lack of spiritual stamina. We have neglected to nourish our faith fully, failing to partake of all of the means of grace set before us. Inspire us to ruminate on your word and to indulge in prayer, sating our hunger and quenching our thirst for righteousness. Give us the strength to put our faith into action not only for the comfort, care and benefit of others, but for the comfort and care of our own souls. Carry us ever forward, dearest Lord, moving us through life’s griefs and disappointments to that place of blissful assurance, which has always been your delight to give to those who love in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
In chapter 12 of Luke’s gospel Jesus is requested to adjudicate—arbitrate between two brothers who are arguing over the family inheritance. Jesus warns the man: “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” How do we form attachments to objects? Someone said the things we collect are only valuable if someone else wants them. How do we measure abundance? How do we measure enough? What, If anything, is actually ours?
Glorious and every creating God, bless us with your presence this morning as we focus our minds and hearts in worship. You have bestowed upon us immeasurable love and endless mercy particularly when we believed we didn’t deserve it. We confess our moments of fear and frustration, our self-centeredness, and our lack of spiritual stamina. We have neglected to nourish our faith fully, failing to partake of all of the means of grace set before us. Inspire us to ruminate on your word and to indulge in prayer, sating our hunger and quenching our thirst for righteousness. Give us the strength to put our faith into action not only for the comfort, care and benefit of others, but for the comfort and care of our own souls. Carry us ever forward, dearest Lord, moving us through life’s griefs and disappointments to that place of blissful assurance, which has always been your delight to give to those who love in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
In chapter 12 of Luke’s gospel Jesus is requested to adjudicate—arbitrate between two brothers who are arguing over the family inheritance. Jesus warns the man: “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” How do we form attachments to objects? Someone said the things we collect are only valuable if someone else wants them. How do we measure abundance? How do we measure enough? What, If anything, is actually ours?
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