Sunday May 24, 2020 Easter 7
Monday, May 18, 2020 at 3:39PM
PREPARING OUR HEARTS & MINDS FOR WORSHIP:
"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." (Galatians 5:22-23)
Read this short article about the Freedom Riders of the civil rights movement.
How do you see faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control embodied in the lives and actions of the riders?
CANDLE-LIGHTING:
We light this candle as a reminder of God’s presence with us. The candle reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world, and that Jesus is Lord. And the light also reminds us that we are gathered here as the Church: the church has never been “closed,” because the church is not a building. We are Christ’s Body, and we have never stopped worshipping, serving, and loving our neighbors. And we welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit, who joins us in our worship time each week. AMEN.
CALL TO WORSHIP:*
Let us come together with humility.
How good a thing it is when all of God’s people live together in unity.
Though we may be tempted to use harsh words, let us come together with gentleness.
How good a thing it is when all of God’s people live together in unity.
Though we may want everything to happen quickly, let us come together with patience.
How good a thing it is when all of God’s people live together in unity.
Though the world around often encourages hate, let us come together in love.
How good a thing it is when all of God’s people live together in unity.
In humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity,
let us worship the God who has called us together.
HYMN: "Great is Thy Faithfulness"
PRAYER TIME:
We are going to create some space for silent reflection and prayer. Feel free to pause the video and pray and meditate as long as you like.
During this time you are invited to offer your prayers to God—whatever prayers and praises you have within you today. We also want to use this time to continue to offer a silent remembrance for the lives that have been lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. We remember them and hold them before our God of steadfast love and mercy, even as we seek to honor and benefit the most vulnerable among us.
Let’s pause now, and silently offer our prayers to God.
Congregational Prayer** and Lord's Prayer:
Redeeming God, you call us to be one with you, as you are one with Christ. As his perfect love casts out our fear, and changes it to love, unite us by your Spirit of peace, that we may be one with you, as you are one with Christ.
Spirit of God, bless us with a word of life this day
to restore, support, and strengthen us
as we seek to be one with you.
Make the fruit of the Spirit grow in our lives as we seek to live more like Jesus, who taught us to pray saying…
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. AMEN.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Galatians 5:22-23; Lamentations 3:22-23; Acts 1:6-11
MEDITATION:
OFFERINGS:
God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory).
We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.
HYMN: "Revive Us, Again"
SENDING BLESSING:
Friends, God cares for each of us. Therefore, cast all anxiety on God, and keep alert, so that we may remain steadfast in faith with Christ, who supports and strengthen us in all things.
May the abundance of God bless you, the strength of Christ keep you, and the Spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, shine upon you forever.***
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- Can you name some new things you learned about the fruits of the Spirit this Easter season?
- What Bible passages help you reflect on the faithfulness of God? How do we reflect God’s faithfulness in the way we live our own lives?
- Why do you think people are sometimes not gentle toward others? When do you personally find it most difficult to exercise gentleness to others, and why?
- How are you a witness of Jesus to your neighbors during the pandemic?
* “Unity,” Words for Worship 2 (Herald Press, 2009), number 17.
** Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Pentecost (168).
*** Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Pentecost (170).