Sunday July 26, 2020
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 9:58AM This Sunday and next Sunday (August 2) we will offer a simplified worship time that will focus on a study of the letter to the church at Rome. Thank you for worshiping with us today!
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, people of God, and worship the Lord, for you have been given mercy and grace.
Come, people of God, and praise the name of Jesus, for you have been given eternal life.
Come, people of God, and receive the Spirit's blessing, for you have been given the privilege of sowing seeds for the reign of God.
(From Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Words for Worship 2, 5)
PRAYER TIME
Pause for individual prayers: Take a moment to silently lift your prayers and praises to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this time of silence.
The Jesus who invites all to come to him, also teaches us to pray. So let us join together with the words of the Lord’s Prayer:
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 READING: Romans 8:26-39
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
MEDITATION: Romans Part 1 (The Bible Project)
A poster that gives an overview to the book of Romans can be downloaded HERE.
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 Mosaic 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.
SENDING BLESSING
May there be love and understanding in our hearts and in our world.
May peace and friendship offer shelter from life's storms.
May we be released from our deep fears and our fruitless guilt.
May we have the courage to speak truth against violence and suffering.
Guiding Spirit, bless our journey with these good companions, that we may be drenched with the longing for peace, to make justice blossom on earth. Amen.
(From Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Words for Worship 2, 155)