AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: One Act in Jesus Christ ***
In the vastness of the Universe there is one God the creator of all things, the gracious redeemer of humanity, merciful forgiver and eternal reconciling presence.
Jesus Christ came into the world that we might see the face of the invisible God, in whose image all are created. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus, the Beloved One, bringing the Christ of God into our hearts, we are re-created becoming new beings in his name.
Through Jesus all things hold together from beginning to end. We are bound together by our common faith in him. We who were strangers, wandering and disconnected from God, have been brought close, once again, by Jesus’ self-sacrificing love, even unto death on the cross. God did not give Jesus up to death, but raised him from the dead as promised.
Neither did God leave us desolate and alone, but gave us the gift of The Holy Spirit who walks with us through this life until Jesus will present us holy, blameless, and irreproachable before God.
Therefore, we are steadfast in our faith, clinging to the gospel hope, promised and proclaimed. We are pleased to serve our Lord, each day, offering ourselves, our prayers, our gifts and
our witness that we may bear good gospel fruit. Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Dear Lord our Abba Father, we pray not to be foolish in our faith, forgetting how you have kept your promises and remained steadfast in your covenant even when we turned away. We confess our days full of bruised egos, frustrated plans, and missed opportunities to communicate patiently and with purpose. Erring is a human trait, but it cannot be an excuse for non-participation in kingdom work. It is the pursuit of human perfection that seems to trip us up. Help us pursue the way of Christian perfection, searching for the path that leads to loving one another as you love us. Let us breath in the spirit of your holy presence in this place and be renewed, revitalized, and replenished for the work you set before us. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
In all the years I attended church as a church member I seemed never to be ready for the offering time. I mean I seemed always to be scrambling for my checkbook to write out my offering the week. I couldn’t seem to get it through my thick head to have it prepared before I got to church in the envelope ready to put in the plate. Nowadays I watch people passing their smart phones over little reader machines at the Starbuck’s and realize that somehow they are paying their bill with their phone. We haven’t arrived at that level of sophistication yet, so I hope this little message has given you enough to rummage through your wallet or scramble for your check.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer these tokens of thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
July 14, 2013 "GOSPEL FRUIT"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Dearest Lord, O wondrous bestower of Grace, we relish the opportunity to worship together this morning assured that, in some way, our souls will be fed and our spirits lifted. Maybe singing a favorite hymn will restore us or hearing the voice of one who is truly in adoration mode. Maybe the smile on our face is a reflection of the smiles on the faces of our children. Reflecting on the scripture may well fill our hearts with hope or give us the challenge we have been waiting for. We confess that in these hot summer months, if we haven’t migrated to cooler climbs, we can tend to hibernate in our air-conditioned homes. Inspire us, Lord, with visions of what we can accomplish in the name of the Christ today, and all the days of summer. In his name we pray; Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
Every year when I go to Guatemala new folks volunteer. Becky brought about 6 people from her church and Carol and Don brought 2 people from theirs. Their congregations raise funds to help church members have the “Guatemala Mission Experience” because it is eye opening and life changing. Today I am making the first contribution to a Guatemala Mission Experience Fund. I will make contributions to this fund regularly over the next year, above and beyond my regular tithe so that church members eager for this experience can go with me to Guatemala. Let’s find a way to send several people from our church.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer these tokens of thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
Dearest Lord, O wondrous bestower of Grace, we relish the opportunity to worship together this morning assured that, in some way, our souls will be fed and our spirits lifted. Maybe singing a favorite hymn will restore us or hearing the voice of one who is truly in adoration mode. Maybe the smile on our face is a reflection of the smiles on the faces of our children. Reflecting on the scripture may well fill our hearts with hope or give us the challenge we have been waiting for. We confess that in these hot summer months, if we haven’t migrated to cooler climbs, we can tend to hibernate in our air-conditioned homes. Inspire us, Lord, with visions of what we can accomplish in the name of the Christ today, and all the days of summer. In his name we pray; Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
Every year when I go to Guatemala new folks volunteer. Becky brought about 6 people from her church and Carol and Don brought 2 people from theirs. Their congregations raise funds to help church members have the “Guatemala Mission Experience” because it is eye opening and life changing. Today I am making the first contribution to a Guatemala Mission Experience Fund. I will make contributions to this fund regularly over the next year, above and beyond my regular tithe so that church members eager for this experience can go with me to Guatemala. Let’s find a way to send several people from our church.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer these tokens of thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
JULY 7, 2013 "AND THEN LOVE STEPPED IN" Dr. Eddy McLachlan ~ preaching
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Dearest and Loving Lord how wonderful it is to be in this sanctuary, where we can quiet our hearts and minds and focus our thoughts only upon you. We confess that we tend to let the world take us over when we are in it, getting caught up in trying to meet society’s demand for productivity and effectiveness. There are days when it seems we live more by the clock than by faith; getting to appointments, or meetings or just taking our medication on time. When we get caught up in the tilt-a-whirl lifestyle; when it seems as if we are doing for the sake of doing; help us pause for a moment. Remind us that in being so busy we just might miss the opportunity to touch someone’s soul, to reach out in love and offer them a moment of prayer. Thank you, in the name of the Christ. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
When you pledge to the church you insure the support of programs that might very well help you in a time of need. Those who have suffered in the disasters of tornadoes, hurricanes and floods in these United States are cared for with relief and comfort and more through your gifts and offerings —-YES, they are cared for by the people of the United Methodist Church! The ushers will now come forward to receive your expressions of love and support for the work of the Lord.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer our thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
Dearest and Loving Lord how wonderful it is to be in this sanctuary, where we can quiet our hearts and minds and focus our thoughts only upon you. We confess that we tend to let the world take us over when we are in it, getting caught up in trying to meet society’s demand for productivity and effectiveness. There are days when it seems we live more by the clock than by faith; getting to appointments, or meetings or just taking our medication on time. When we get caught up in the tilt-a-whirl lifestyle; when it seems as if we are doing for the sake of doing; help us pause for a moment. Remind us that in being so busy we just might miss the opportunity to touch someone’s soul, to reach out in love and offer them a moment of prayer. Thank you, in the name of the Christ. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
When you pledge to the church you insure the support of programs that might very well help you in a time of need. Those who have suffered in the disasters of tornadoes, hurricanes and floods in these United States are cared for with relief and comfort and more through your gifts and offerings —-YES, they are cared for by the people of the United Methodist Church! The ushers will now come forward to receive your expressions of love and support for the work of the Lord.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer our thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
June 23, 2013 "ONE IN CHRIST"
AN ELEMENTAL AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ***
God, our creator, is neither distant nor afar off, never casual or detached, but always close at hand, vigilant and searching to be a part of our lives even when we try to hide behind rocks.
In Jesus we discover that God knows all of the sorrows and trials the human heart bears in a lifetime. Because God would not abandon the Beloved One to death on a cross, but raised him from the dead; we are assured that God will not abandon us even if we should abandon ourselves.
The Holy Spirit was, is and will be poured out in fullest measure upon all who seek God. This outpouring fulfills another promise reminding us of God’s hope that we should know joy in this life and the next.
In all our diverse shapes, colors and sizes we are part of God’s colorful creation mosaic, pieces of a vast and gloriously expanding puzzle that has no fixed boundaries up, down, behind or before – we are the church.
Thanks be to God! Amen. (***) Written with thanks to Paul Achtemeier by Rev. Dr. Amanda J. Burr
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Loving Lord, there is, in truth, nothing more wondrous in life than to have a sense that the songs we sing, the prayers we offer and the work we do, pleases you. The very idea of your smiling countenance looking upon us, is what strangely warms us from the inside out and gives us the strength, determination and energy to continue in service to you and your creation. We pray not to get so caught up in our own projects that we fail to see the larger picture. Help us to be moved and inspired by the vision of others; to see how embracing their idea, or involving ourselves in their efforts will advance the mission of transformation and a renewal of all that you created and saw was good in the beginning. We are your instruments of peace and renewal. Empower us to do your will in the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
I leave for Guatemala tomorrow morning. I will take with me one of our prayer shawls to give to our friend Juan Toj who has been ill. I am not going on vacation, but to work with Interfaith Action International’s Guatemala Mission Project, which was begun 21 years ago by Carol Conger-Cross. You may think that putting wood efficiency stoves in a few peoples’ homes, doesn’t accomplish a lot, but it does. Less wood used to cook means less deforestation. Less deforestation means fewer devastating mudslides when it rains. No smoke in the kitchen means fewer deaths from years of smoke inhalation. The long and short of it our work means fewer broken people, fewer broken families and fewer broken lives. Now that’s a good thing. If you wish to donate to the mission project, please designate your gift for Interfaith Action International.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer our thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
God, our creator, is neither distant nor afar off, never casual or detached, but always close at hand, vigilant and searching to be a part of our lives even when we try to hide behind rocks.
In Jesus we discover that God knows all of the sorrows and trials the human heart bears in a lifetime. Because God would not abandon the Beloved One to death on a cross, but raised him from the dead; we are assured that God will not abandon us even if we should abandon ourselves.
The Holy Spirit was, is and will be poured out in fullest measure upon all who seek God. This outpouring fulfills another promise reminding us of God’s hope that we should know joy in this life and the next.
In all our diverse shapes, colors and sizes we are part of God’s colorful creation mosaic, pieces of a vast and gloriously expanding puzzle that has no fixed boundaries up, down, behind or before – we are the church.
Thanks be to God! Amen. (***) Written with thanks to Paul Achtemeier by Rev. Dr. Amanda J. Burr
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Loving Lord, there is, in truth, nothing more wondrous in life than to have a sense that the songs we sing, the prayers we offer and the work we do, pleases you. The very idea of your smiling countenance looking upon us, is what strangely warms us from the inside out and gives us the strength, determination and energy to continue in service to you and your creation. We pray not to get so caught up in our own projects that we fail to see the larger picture. Help us to be moved and inspired by the vision of others; to see how embracing their idea, or involving ourselves in their efforts will advance the mission of transformation and a renewal of all that you created and saw was good in the beginning. We are your instruments of peace and renewal. Empower us to do your will in the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
I leave for Guatemala tomorrow morning. I will take with me one of our prayer shawls to give to our friend Juan Toj who has been ill. I am not going on vacation, but to work with Interfaith Action International’s Guatemala Mission Project, which was begun 21 years ago by Carol Conger-Cross. You may think that putting wood efficiency stoves in a few peoples’ homes, doesn’t accomplish a lot, but it does. Less wood used to cook means less deforestation. Less deforestation means fewer devastating mudslides when it rains. No smoke in the kitchen means fewer deaths from years of smoke inhalation. The long and short of it our work means fewer broken people, fewer broken families and fewer broken lives. Now that’s a good thing. If you wish to donate to the mission project, please designate your gift for Interfaith Action International.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer our thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
June 16, 2013 "LIVING TO GOD"
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR PENTECOST
It was the Spirit of God who moved over the face of the waters and brought the world
into being. That same Spirit breathes life into us today.
It was the Spirit of God who conceived a Messiah, the Son and beloved One.
His very name, Jesus, signified salvation. He was our Emmanuel; God with us.
When Jesus gave up his life for ours, he entrusted his Spirit to God’s hands and God raised him from the dead.
It was the Spirit of God who poured the language of salvation in Jesus into the hearts, minds and mouths of the Apostles empowering them to tell their story to all the world.
And it is the Spirit of God who moves in and through the Church, the Body of Christ,
empowering us to witness to the truth of Christ, in loving service to all.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Ever Creating and Redeeming God, you are the bright spot in the universe, the light that shines out of the great darkness capable of filling every void. Where there was chaos, your spirit sorted it all out bringing forth from it life and a sense of order. Help us realize that you exist as a part of our every breath. Your Holy Spirit is an integral part of our very being. We confess some angst as we gather years. Maybe it is a longing for contentment in this wearisome world. Please understand, it is not that we long to live comfortable lives —although that is always nice — rather we long to feel comfortable in our own skin. Perhaps it is more truthful to say, we hate making mistakes, making poor choices, putting our feet in our mouths. These faux pas make us feel unworthy of your patience, and love. We don’t relish the days of wondering what we are meant to do and be. Are we just taking up space, acting as place holders for those more deserving. Help us realize that even before we were born you called us by your grace to be your witnesses, nothing more. Give us, then, the words to proclaim the gospel, the will to live into it, and the spirit to love through it. All this we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
I confess that I watch the TV show “Justified.” In our society we tend to use the word justified when condoning the harsher actions of someone who wages revenge or takes the law into his or her own hands. She was justified in taking him for every last dime, because he cheated on her. He was justified in shooting the neighbors dog, because the dog bit him. To justify means to administer justice, to show something to be just or right. Justification for Christians is by faith. It means that our active ongoing faith in Jesus shows us to be just or right, to be A-OK in the sight of God. This is the better context for being justified and the reason we give thanks for the church which makes an effort to remind us of these truths.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer our thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
It was the Spirit of God who moved over the face of the waters and brought the world
into being. That same Spirit breathes life into us today.
It was the Spirit of God who conceived a Messiah, the Son and beloved One.
His very name, Jesus, signified salvation. He was our Emmanuel; God with us.
When Jesus gave up his life for ours, he entrusted his Spirit to God’s hands and God raised him from the dead.
It was the Spirit of God who poured the language of salvation in Jesus into the hearts, minds and mouths of the Apostles empowering them to tell their story to all the world.
And it is the Spirit of God who moves in and through the Church, the Body of Christ,
empowering us to witness to the truth of Christ, in loving service to all.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Ever Creating and Redeeming God, you are the bright spot in the universe, the light that shines out of the great darkness capable of filling every void. Where there was chaos, your spirit sorted it all out bringing forth from it life and a sense of order. Help us realize that you exist as a part of our every breath. Your Holy Spirit is an integral part of our very being. We confess some angst as we gather years. Maybe it is a longing for contentment in this wearisome world. Please understand, it is not that we long to live comfortable lives —although that is always nice — rather we long to feel comfortable in our own skin. Perhaps it is more truthful to say, we hate making mistakes, making poor choices, putting our feet in our mouths. These faux pas make us feel unworthy of your patience, and love. We don’t relish the days of wondering what we are meant to do and be. Are we just taking up space, acting as place holders for those more deserving. Help us realize that even before we were born you called us by your grace to be your witnesses, nothing more. Give us, then, the words to proclaim the gospel, the will to live into it, and the spirit to love through it. All this we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
I confess that I watch the TV show “Justified.” In our society we tend to use the word justified when condoning the harsher actions of someone who wages revenge or takes the law into his or her own hands. She was justified in taking him for every last dime, because he cheated on her. He was justified in shooting the neighbors dog, because the dog bit him. To justify means to administer justice, to show something to be just or right. Justification for Christians is by faith. It means that our active ongoing faith in Jesus shows us to be just or right, to be A-OK in the sight of God. This is the better context for being justified and the reason we give thanks for the church which makes an effort to remind us of these truths.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pour out your glorious Spirit of Blessing upon these our offerings most loving and gracious Lord. May every ministry they support, every program they nurture, every comfort they provide glorify your name. We are indebted to you for our every breath and blessing, however we give not because of our indebtedness, but because of our gratefulness. We offer our thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
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